Marvin Beranek

Marvin H. Beranek was born into this world on September 11, 1926 and rejoined Our Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven on December 14, 2004. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 18, 2004 at 10 a.m. from St. Mathias Catholic Church in Wanda. Visitation will be Friday, December 17, 2004 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the church and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Interment will be in the St. Mathias Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield. Marvin was the youngest of four children born to Peter and Margaret (Schunk) Beranek on the family farm just south of Wanda. He was such a homebody that he spent the rest of his life in the same house he was born in. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Mathias Catholic Church in Wanda. Growing up, Marvin enjoyed working on his family's farm in Willow Lake Township and playing left field for the Wanda baseball and fastpitch softball teams for over 30 years. He loved playing ball and it would always continue to be a part of his life. He was also an avid Minnesota Twins fan. He received his formal education through the Wanda Consolidated Public School and Lamberton High School, graduating in 1944. On September 6, 1951, he was joined in marriage to the girl who lived just across the field, Patricia Marie Jenniges. They made their home on the family farm where they raised corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle and four children - David Alan, Michael Peter, Joann Marie and Colleen Gail. He loved farming and enjoyed being with his children as they grew. Although he officially retired from farming in 1991, we all know that a true farmer never really retires. He contined to help his son, Michael, with the farm work right up through this fall's harvest season. Over time he was blessed with six grandsons, although he never understood why none of his children felt the need to name any of their children Marvin. He really enjoyed spending time with his grandsons, whether it was teaching them how to fish, taking them for rides in the tractor, letting them get away with things they weren't supposed to or greeting them when they got off the bus from school. Marvin was an avid fisherman and spent more than 20 summers at the lake cabin in the Glenwood area. He always made sure he fished enough so his family could enjoy many good fish dinners. He loved spending time at the lake and on his acreage he owned by Glenwood. Most recently, he went on his last deer hunting trip to his land in November. He was a member of the St. Mathias Catholic Church, a Willow Lake Township board member, an election judge, formerly on the St. Mathias Church Council, a former Wanda Elevator board member, he helped organize the N.F.O. in Willow Lake Township, volunteered with the Groundswell Toy Project each year and wrote an occasional story for the Groundswell newsletter. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Patricia; his sons David and his wife Carol of Faribault and Michael and his wife Krista of Wanda; his daughters Joann of Wanda and Colleen Anderson and her husband Bob of Foxboro, Wisc.; his six grandsons - Alan and Christopher Beranek, Chance and Shane Beranek and Brandon and Blake Anderson; brother Clem Beranek of Wanda; sister Berniece Zwach and husband Paul of Tracy; mother-in-law Elizabeth Sorenson of Wabasso; and many nieces, nephews, sisters and brothers-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Lester Beranek and sister-in-law Magdaline; sister-in-law Dorothy Beranek; and his two fathers-in-law A.C. Jenniges and Lowell Sorenson.