Fred Edenloff, Jr., 78

Fred William Edenloff Jr., age 78 of Osakis, passed away early July 1, 2011 at Community Memorial Home in Osakis after a brief but courageous battle with an aggressive pancreatic cancer.

Fred was born April 23, 1933 in Gordon Township, Todd County, to Fred W. and Olive (Grover) Edenloff Sr. He attended District 17 country school and then graduated from Osakis High School with the class of 1951. He worked at the local lumberyard and then in 1953, he served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was stationed in Germany.

After his honorable discharge in 1955, Fred married his sweetheart, Kathern Hensley, on May 17, 1956 in Robbinsdale. Fred worked as a tender to the bricklayers that were building the Osakis Lutheran Church and afterwards he decided to make bricklaying his chosen profession. He attended St. Cloud Area Vocational School in 1955 for masonry and completed his apprenticeship in 1958. He would continue laying brick for 42 more  years. Central Minnesota is dotted with the many schools and hospitals that Fred worked on. He was a lifetime member of the Minnesota and North Dakota Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen Union. He was even an assistant masonry teacher at the Alexandria Technical College Masonry program after his retirement in 1995.

In 1976,  Fred and his family owned and operated the little grocery store on Main Street, known as Fred’s Little Store. In 1981 the Edenloffs moved back to “Snoose Valley” in rural Osakis, which was Fred’s home stomping ground.

He was a member of Osakis Lutheran Church, the New Testament Church and finally Grace Baptist Church in Alexandria. Fred was a lifelong sports fan. He followed professional boxing and cheered for the Minnesota Gopher football and basketball teams as well. He was competitive himself and enjoyed having ping pong and basketball tournaments with his family, cousins and friends. He also enjoyed doing woodworking, hunting, and “cruising around the block,” which was taking a ride around the lake road to enjoy the scenery and the wildlife.

He kept his bird feeders full and watched the birds come all year long. Another activity that brought him joy was watching cartoons with his grandson Cooper. He was a kind and loving husband, father, grandpa and brother who will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Fred is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kathy Edenloff of Osakis; his children, Danny (Anne) Edenloff of Alexandria, Dora (Mark) Striemer of Phoenix, AZ, Darla (Scott) Calverley of Finlayson, and Scotty Jon (Karla) Edenloff of Osakis; 16 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; brothers, Marvin (Jean) Edenloff of Minneapolis and David (Sue) Edenloff of Circle Pines; sister, Orpha (Gail) Sibell of Osakis; many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents; three grandchildren, Samuel and Sterling Striemer, Irene Kay Edenloff; brothers, Lester Orville and Charles Richard Edenloff; and a sister, Luella Christine Edenloff.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 6 at Osakis Lutheran Church with pastors Ron Calvert and Peter Reishus officiating. Organist was Pat Converse and the soloist was Tony Pitschka. Interment was at Sauk Valley Cemetery in rural Osakis with active pallbearers Jamie and Shane Edenloff, Jordan Calverley, Cooper Jon Edenloff, Josh Schoeck , Nick Hinnenkamp, Grant Striemer and Lee Edenloff. Honorary pallbearers were his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Military honors were provided by the Minnesota National Guard Honors Team and the Osakis VFW Post #7902.

Blessed be his memory.

Arrangements are with Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis; www.royhetland.com.

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