Willmar Loewen

Willmar Loewen, the son of Nic F. and Katie (Dick) Loewen was born on January 20, 1915, at Mountain Lake, MN. He received his education at a country school near his home. On May 31, 1936, Willmar was baptized upon confession of his faith and became a member of the First Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake, where he remained an active member. Willmar was united in marriage to Helen G. Klassen on June 8, 1939 at the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church in Mountain Lake. They made their home in the Mountain Lake area where he worked at the Mountain Lake and the Trimont grain elevators until 1943. In 1943 he began farming southwest of Mountain Lake, where they remained until retiring and moving into Mountain Lake in 1985. For many years he would drive truck for Balzer Manufacturing in the fall and winter months. For five years he would do construction work during the winter months for Children's Haven International in Reynosa, Old Mexico. For many years he served as Treasurer for the Mountain Lake Township Board and he was alsoTreasurer for his church's Sunday School for many years. He enjoyed activities with the Neighborhood Club, and volunteering at the Care and Share and with Meals on Wheels. Willmar died on Wednesday evening, July 13, 2005, at the Windom Area Hospital in Windom, MN. Willmar is survived by a son, Kenneth and his wife Betty Loewen of Minnetonka, MN; a daughter, Elva and her husband Daniel Bailey of Sutton, ND; four grandchildren, Carin Loewen and her husband Aaron Krehbiel, Kim and her husband Jeff Ross, Susan and her husband Josh Kendrick, and Steven Bailey; a great grandson, Cole Ross; two sisters, Estella Harder of Mountain Lake, MN, and Erna Taillfer of Minneapolis, MN; a brother, LeRoy and his wife Barb Loewen of Mountain Lake, MN; many other relatives andfriends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Helen on October 5, 1998.