Garland 'Gary' Vongroven 1928-2003

VONGROVEN, GOODNO, CHRISTOPHERSON, BIELEMA, BALE, HARSTAD, CROOK

Posted By: SGF (email)
Date: 4/16/2003 at 20:27:35

WINONA, Minn - Garland "Gary" Vongroven, 74, of Route 4, Winona (Cedar Valley), died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2003, at his home. Gary was born March 24, 1928, to Lewis and Laura (Goodno) Vongroven in Allamakee County, Iowa. He attended Waterloo Ridge rural school as well as Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church, where he was baptized and confirmed. He worked as a farmer most of his life, farming in Pleasant Valley for 28 years. He also worked for the Housing and Redevelopment Authority for 17 years, retiring in 1991. On June 6, 1951, he married Marjorie Ann Christopherson at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. He served as chairman of the Pleasant Valley School board for 13 years until its consolidation. He belonged to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher, usher and vestry member. He was a fire warden for 40 years. He also served as president of the Pleasant Valley Cemetery Association since 1980. He was a member of the Winona County Old Settlers and former member of the Red Men's Club and Sons of Norway. He enjoyed woodworking, feeding the birds, watching all wildlife, playing cards, meeting his brothers and friends for coffee, reading, history and watching the Discovery Channel. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie of Cedar Valley; two sons, Steven (Lynn) of Mora, Minn., and Scott (Pam) of Canton, S.D.; four daughters, Kristen (Alan) Bielema of Wadena, Minn., Laurie (Willis) Bale of Eyota, Minn., Lynn (Charles) Harstad of Chatfield, Minn., and Kari (Kenny) Crook of Holmen, Wis.; 14 grandchildren, Matthew, Brett and Clinton (Steven and Lynn); B.J. and Abbey (Kristen and Alan); Amanda (Joe) Fogarty and Anthony (Laurie and Willis); Joshua and Sara (Lynn and Charles); Kyle and Shelby (Scott and Pam) and Kira, Olivia, and Anya (Kari and Kenny); two brothers, Silas (Beulah) Vongroven of Canton, Minn., and Lester (Alvina) Vongroven of Spring Grove, Minn.; two sisters-in-law, Mary Cady and Karen Haedtke of Winona; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Dale and Norman; and brothers-in-law Jack Cady and Ervin Haedtke. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Winona, with the Rev. Maggie Rose Muldoon officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Valley Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Martin-Myhre Funeral Home, where there will be a closing prayer at 8 p.m. Visitation will also be held at the church after 10 a.m. on Thursday. Casketbearers will be Gary's grandsons, Matthew, Brett, Clinton, Brian Joseph, Anthony, Joshua and Kyle.

source: LaCrosse Tribune, LaCrosse, WI; 2/18/2003