Ernest Caskey

Ernest Glen Caskey, age 94, of New London formerly of the Raymond area, died Saturday morning, May 12th, at the Glen Oaks Care Center in New London.
Services will be held at 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, May 16th, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Raymond. The interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery in Raymond. Military Honors will be provided by the Austin F. Hanscom American Legion of Willmar. Visitation will be from 5-7 P.M., Tuesday, May 15th at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Ernest "Ernie" Glen Caskey was born on August 22, 1917, in Rembrandt, Iowa, the son of Anna (Siefken) and Willis Caskey. They moved south of Jackson, Minnesota in 1921 where he received his education in the District 60 school. The family moved to Mountain Lake in 1937 and then to Kandiyohi County in 1940. Ernie enlisted in the Navy in 1941 and served in World War II until 1945. During his tour of duty he traveled over 200,000 miles on The Montpelier in the South Pacific. He returned to the area and on October 22, 1947, he was married to Alice Mae Halder at Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar. They made their home and farmed northwest of Priam where they were blessed to have two children. In 1972 they moved to Lake Andrew, where they were fortunate to have good neighbors. After his retirement from farming, Ernie did carpentry work and enjoyed helping others. He was a member of the Willmar American Legion and VFW.
He enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, sharing his vegetables, canning, helping his grandchildren and great grandchildren fish, and visiting with his neighbors.
He is survived by his son; Dennis (and JoAnn) Caskey of Raymond and daughter, Diane (and Dennis) Gronli of New London. Also surviving are six grandchildren; Brian (and Nikki) Gronli of Dell Rapids, SD, Amy (and Jay) Olson of Willmar, Travis Gronli of Spicer, Kristi Gronli (and Mark Walsh) of New London, Kelli Gronli of New London, and Mindy (and Aaron) Joneson of Fargo, ND and ten great grandchildren; Hunter and Brooke Gronli and Drew and Jamison Bach, Ashley and Austin Olson, Morgan Gronli, Ethan and Evan Nelson, and Kim-Xuyen Joneson , four sisters; Evelyn Hemple of Jackson, Dorothy Blomgren of Willmar, Opal Holmgren of Willmar and Joyce (and Gil) Clemons of Sheridan, WY and four sisters-in-law; Hazel Caskey of Raymond, Myrtle Caskey of Willmar, Delores Caskey of Pennock and Frances Halder of Minneapolis, besides other relatives and friends.
Ernest was preceded in death by his parents, wife (Alice in 2000), six brothers; Raymond, Lawrence, Roy, Richard, Donald and Harold Caskey and one sister Hazel Pederson