William "Bill" Brummer, died on Friday, June 29, 2007 at the Hillcrest Nursing Home in Red Lake Falls, MN.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 AM, Friday, July 6, 2007 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN with Father Tim Bushy and Monsignor Gerald Noesen co-officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Red Lake Falls, MN.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 PM on Thursday, July 5, 2007 at the Johnson Funeral Service in Red Lake Falls with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral mass on Friday at the church.
William John Brummer was born on October 7, 1923 to William John Brummer and Ida (Hanebuth) Brummer. He grew up in Staples, MN and attended the Sacred Heart School in Staples and graduated from Staples High School in 1941. He worked at the bakery in Staples for a short time before entering the US Army. He served in North Africa and Italy.
After his honorable discharge from the Army he attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis to become a baker. He purchased the City Bakery in Red Lake Falls, MN in 1948. He operated the bakery until 1959. He became the Red Lake Falls city clerk until 1966. He also served as the Veterans Service Officer in Red Lake County. He then became assistant director of the Inter-County Community Council in Oklee. He served as Executive Director of the Tri-Valley Opportunity Council in Crookston. He retired in 1988.
He was united in marriage to Lucille Lemire on June 19, 1948 in Coleraine, MN. They made their home in Red Lake Falls, MN. Lucille died in 1983.
Bill enjoyed fishing, hunting, and boating. He enjoyed tinkering and fixing things. He served on the Red Lake Falls Volunteer Fire Department and was a past fire chief. He was a member of the American Legion Gunder Austad Post 22, where he served as a past commander. He was active with the color guard honoring many veterans. He was also a life time member of the VFW. He was very civic minded and served on numerous nonprofit boards. Among them were the Multi County Housing Authority in Mentor, the HRA board in Red Lake Falls, NW Legal Services of MN and the Food Bank in Crookston. He had a soft spot in his heart for the poor and worked many years at bettering peoples lives.
He was united in marriage Bernice Fjeld on July 2, 1994. Bernice died in 2002.
Bill is survived by 6 children: Jeff (Dikka) Brummer, Burnsville, MN; Scott (Lisa) Brummer, Fergus Falls, MN; Mary Kay (Berway) Swanstrom, Dayton, MN; John (Jeanie McMerty-Brummer) Brummer, Moorhead, MN; Cindy (Jim Tchida) Brummer, Bovey, MN; Kris Brummer, Eveleth, MN; 20 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, 2 sisters Lauretta (Wally) Hanson, Paynesville, MN; Rosella Hall, Brainerd, MN; 2 sisters in-law: Jo Brummer, St. Joseph, MN; Pat Brummer St. Paul, MN; 1 brother in-law Joe (Judy) Dragich, St. Paul, MN; 5 step children: Dennis (Karen) Fjeld, Twin Valley, MN; Bonnie (Marvin) Merkens, Pelican Rapids, MN; Jerry (Darlene) Fjeld, Fargo, ND; Diana (Marlyn) Woltjer, Twin Valley, MN; Charlene (Dennis) Brandt, Ada, MN; 10 step grandchildren; 17 step great grandchildren.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife Lucille, wife Bernice, parents, 2 brothers: Jim and Warren Brummer and his dog, Ripper.
Family condolences can be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com
Organist:
Reader: Jeff Brummer and Mary Kay Swanstrom
Gift Presenters: Sylvia Steinert, Anne Healy, Hazel Perras
Special Music: Matt McMerty-Brummer, Amie Brummer, Judith Brummer
Pallbearers: Matt McMerty-Brummer, Mark Swanstrom, Sam Brummer, Charlie Brummer, Adam Woltjer, Tim Brandt
Honorary Pallbearers: Hannah Brummer, Naomi Brummer, Laura Brummer, Judith Brummer, Paul Brummer, Karl Brummer, Abby Brummer, Seth Brummer, Ben Brummer, Sarah Brummer, Eric Swanstrom, Michelle Swanstrom, Tom Brummer, Jennifer Brummer, Amie Brummer, Danny Brummer
Military Honors: Red Lake Falls American Legion