1916
Melvin
2012
Melvin Werder
July 20, 1916 — November 9, 2012
Melvin Joseph Werder, 96, of Willmar, died Friday, November 9, 2012 at Bethesda Heritage Center in Willmar. His funeral will held be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Willmar. Burial will be in Cloverleaf Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Monday at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
Melvin was born in Ellsworth Township in Meeker County, Minnesota on July 20, 1916 as the second child to Arthur and Martha Werder. He attended school in Hutchinson and at Prinsburg country school. He graduated from eighth grade on July 7, 1930, and was confirmed at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Raymond on April 13, 1930. He worked on a farm near Raymond and taught himself carpentry by studying four volumes of carpentry instruction. In 1940, Melvin began to work as a contract carpenter in Willmar and met Violet Ehrreich through Redeemer Lutheran Church. Melvin and Violet were married in 1941 in Willmar. He went to Alaska as a builder on an Air Force base early in the war, and then brought Violet and baby Pat to Idaho to help build Farragut Naval Station in Coeur d'Alene for about a year. Melvin and Violet raised eight children through 71 years of marriage, and was even awarded "Father of the Year" and rode in the Kaffe Fest parade. He loved to work with his hands and built many houses and apartments in the Willmar area throughout his long career. Melvin's carpentry skills also involved furniture making and countless custom projects. Melvin loved his days at the family cabin on Lake Florida in all seasons, and taught many children and grandchildren how to fish and have fun. Melvin enjoyed gardening and bird watching in his retirement years.
Surviving are his wife, Violet and eight childrena�"Pat (& Dave) Becker of Sun Prairie, WI; Bette (& Darrel) Seabaugh of Jackson, MO; Carol (& Les) Foster of Nokomis, FL; Judy (& Barry) Sargent of Sturgeon Bay, WI; Jim (& Cindy) Werder of Willmar; Jerry (& Michelle) Werder of Park Rapids, MN; Ron (& Beverly) Werder of Willmar; and Jon Werder of Corcoran, MN; and 24 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brothers and sisters-in-law Joey Werder, Marian Werder, Gert Jacobson of Willmar and Harley Wold of Elk River and many nieces and nephews.
Melvin is preceded in death by three brothers and four sisters, his parents, and infant son.
Melvin was born in Ellsworth Township in Meeker County, Minnesota on July 20, 1916 as the second child to Arthur and Martha Werder. He attended school in Hutchinson and at Prinsburg country school. He graduated from eighth grade on July 7, 1930, and was confirmed at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Raymond on April 13, 1930. He worked on a farm near Raymond and taught himself carpentry by studying four volumes of carpentry instruction. In 1940, Melvin began to work as a contract carpenter in Willmar and met Violet Ehrreich through Redeemer Lutheran Church. Melvin and Violet were married in 1941 in Willmar. He went to Alaska as a builder on an Air Force base early in the war, and then brought Violet and baby Pat to Idaho to help build Farragut Naval Station in Coeur d'Alene for about a year. Melvin and Violet raised eight children through 71 years of marriage, and was even awarded "Father of the Year" and rode in the Kaffe Fest parade. He loved to work with his hands and built many houses and apartments in the Willmar area throughout his long career. Melvin's carpentry skills also involved furniture making and countless custom projects. Melvin loved his days at the family cabin on Lake Florida in all seasons, and taught many children and grandchildren how to fish and have fun. Melvin enjoyed gardening and bird watching in his retirement years.
Surviving are his wife, Violet and eight childrena�"Pat (& Dave) Becker of Sun Prairie, WI; Bette (& Darrel) Seabaugh of Jackson, MO; Carol (& Les) Foster of Nokomis, FL; Judy (& Barry) Sargent of Sturgeon Bay, WI; Jim (& Cindy) Werder of Willmar; Jerry (& Michelle) Werder of Park Rapids, MN; Ron (& Beverly) Werder of Willmar; and Jon Werder of Corcoran, MN; and 24 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brothers and sisters-in-law Joey Werder, Marian Werder, Gert Jacobson of Willmar and Harley Wold of Elk River and many nieces and nephews.
Melvin is preceded in death by three brothers and four sisters, his parents, and infant son.
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