KIRCHGATTER, Earl Albert 1921-2009
KIRCHGATTER, GREINER, BOWERS
Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 3/6/2009 at 09:58:25
Kirchgatter, Earl Albert
ST. ANSGAR, IOWA - Earl A. Kirchgatter, 87, of St. Ansgar, passed away on Wednesday (March 4, 2009) at his home in rural St. Ansgar.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 7, 2009, at St. Ansgar United Methodist Church, St. Ansgar, with the Rev. Peter Chang officiating. Burial will be in Woodbury Cemetery, rural Lyle, Minn. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to services.
Earl was born on April 1, 1921, in Newburg Township, Mitchell County, the second son of Richard and Amanda (Bowers) Kirchgatter. Earl graduated from St. Ansgar Schools and played on the high school basketball team.
He married Doris Louise Greiner of Meltonville, on October 29, 1941. Earl honorably served his country in the Army during World War II. When he returned home from the war, he worked in construction for August Reuchel.
In 1953, Earl and Louise and their family moved to the Kirchgatter family farm, just west and north of town. He raised his children working the farm, raising livestock as well as working for the St. Ansgar Elevator until 1983, when health issues forced him to retire.
Earl enjoyed having family and friends around. It was not unusual for there to be a house full on Saturday evenings or Sunday afternoons with potluck dinners with brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews. Saturday night was often card night with neighbors and friends. He also loved basketball - both playing it and watching it. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan.
He enjoyed watching his grandsons play sports during their high school days. He never missed a Saints basketball or baseball game when his grandsons were playing.
The love of his life was his wife Louise. They were inseparable. They did everything together, right down to the end. He loved her dearly and she adored him. They were a good team.
He was an active member of the United Methodist church in St. Ansgar and the American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his son Keith; sister, Freida Lillibridge; brother, Ellery; sister, Bernice Edgar; and brother Karl.
Earl is survived by his wife of 67 years, Louise of St. Ansgar; son, Gary of St. Ansgar; daughter, Shirley Kirchgatter Waddle of Waterloo; son, Kevin (Mary Lynn) of St. Ansgar; grandsons, Todd (Sandy) Kirchgatter, of Apple Valley, Minn.; John Kirchgatter, of Fort Dodge, Brian (Allison) Kirchgatter, of Coralville; Jason (Elizabeth) Kirchgatter of St. Ansgar; great-grandchildren, Kaela, Karly of Apple Valley, Minn., and Ethan and Jaxon of St. Ansgar.
Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, 641-713-4920.
[Published in the Mason City Globe Gazette online - 3/6/2009]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------(The photo is his 1938 St. Ansgar high school graduation photo)
Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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