Elmer Churchill

Elmer Lyle Churchill was born December 22, 1923, at his home farm in North Hero Township, Redwood County, the son of Henry and Anna (Kronback) Churchill. He graduated from Lamberton High School in 1942, then farmed with his father for 8 years. Elmer was united in marriage to Avis Natterstad on June 5, 1948, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Storden. He worked at the Revere Farmers Elevator for 23 years before moving to Hopkins where he worked in maintenance at the Westbrook Apartment Complex. The couple moved to Springfield in 1979, where Elmer worked at St. Paul Lutheran Church and was the caretaker of St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery. He married Mitzi Krueger on February 26, 1994, at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Elmer was a former member of the Revere Lutheran Church where he served on the church council for many years, Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Hopkins, and was a current member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Revere Fire Department for several years and served as Fire Chief. Elmer enjoyed watching the Minnesota Twins, fishing, playing cards, woodworking, and drawing bunnies on the grandchildren's hands. Elmer Churchill died Wednesday, March 28, 2012, at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis at the age of 88 years. He is survived by children- Sherry Fenger of Springfield, Chuck and wife Diane Churchill of Chaska, and Tom Churchill and special friend Jennie Stewart of Eden Prairie; grandchildren- Jason (Kelly) Fenger, Chuck (Michelle) Fenger, Crissy (Mike) Rogotzke, Jenny (Brian) Timm, Mike (special friend Brooklynn) Fenger, Shelly (Charlie) Leatham, Chad (Jennifer) Churchill, and Mark (fiance' Robyn Meyer) Churchill; 16 great-grandchildren; 2 step-great-grandchildren; step-children- Karen Welch of Faribault, Jim (Paula) Hansen of New Richland, Jolayne (Doug) Hauge of Apple Valley, Cindee (Doug) Broeska of Carmen, Manitoba, Sandy Gentz of Lake Tahoe, NV, and Mary (Kent) Salonek of Springfield; brothers- Richard Churchill of St. Paul, and Chet (Winifred) Churchill of Lamberton; sister Laura Sogge of Osakis; and special friend Erna Kieper of Springfield. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Avis in 1990; wife Mitzi in 2002; son-in-law Robert Fenger; and brothers- Vernon, Maurice, Lawrence, Henry 'Dutch', James, and Myron. First Visitation 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Sunday, April 1, 2012 Sturm Funeral Home, Springfield 407 N. Jackson Springfield, Minnesota, United States 56087