PEDERSEN, Ervin D.

PEDERSEN, JOHANSEN, BRINK, LUCAS, WARD, HANLEY

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/6/2013 at 09:45:20

ERVIN D. PEDERSEN
ROCKWELL — Ervin D. Pedersen, 81, of Rockwell died early Thursday morning (March 20, 2003) at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City, due to complications of kidney failure.
According to his wishes, Ervin was cremated.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 502 Second St. S. in Rockwell. Inurnment will take place immediately following services at the Rockwell Cemetery in Rockwell, with military rites accorded by Gallagher American Legion post No. 208 of Rockwell.
Ervin was born Aug. 6, 1921, the son of Arthur and Mary (Johansen) Pedersen, in Dodge Center, Minn. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served during World War II and earning three Bronze stars. Ervin and his first wife, Jean, farmed in the Swaledale area before moving to Rockwell in 1971. Ervin’s wife Jean died in 1980.
On April 1, 1983, Ervin was united in marriage to Opal Brink in Ventura.
Ervin was also employed as a bus driver for the Rockwell-Swaledale school district for 14 years.
He was a past member, past governor of the Loyal Order of the Moose, its chairs, the ritual team and initiation of new members. He was also a member of the Gallagher American Legion Post No. 208 of Rockwell.
Ervin will be remembered dearly as a devoted and dedicated family man to his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Following his retirement, in 1986, the couple took special trips to Europe, an Alaskan cruise and traveled to Texas to visit with his Army Sergeant. They continued to stay in touch with his Army friends.
Ervin enjoyed gardening. His Saturday mornings were spent at the American Legion in Rockwell, challenging other opponents to games of cribbage or other card games.
As a youth he liked motorcycling, which he later enjoyed upon retirement.
Grateful for having had the privilege of sharing in his life is his wife, Opal (Brink) Pedersen, of Rockwell; three children, Tom Pedersen and his wife, Jan, of Louisville, Ky., Marlene Lucas and her husband, Ken, of Sebring, Fla. and Shirley Ward and her husband, Tim, of Plymouth, Minn.; a step-son, Doug Brink, of Manly; a step-daughter, Janelle Scheller, of Tohatchi, N.M.; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; and two stepgreat-grandchildren; a sister, Alma Hanley, of Clear Lake; and two brothers, John of Swaledale and Robert of Lake Mills; along with other relatives and friends who mourn his death.
Ervin was preceded in death by his first wife, Jean; his grandson, Jamie Overson; parents, Arthur and Mary; and a brother, Clarence.