WESTREM, Marvin George John 1920-2007

WESTREM, SCHULZE, PRIEM

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 10/7/2009 at 23:08:50

Marvin Westrem Funeral March 16

Marvin Westrem, 86, of St. Ansgar, died March 13, 2007, at St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center. Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 16 at 11 A.M. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar, with Reverend Dr. Byron Northwick officiating. Burial will be at St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery, Toeterville, with military honors by Walter T. Enneberg Post #358. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 P.M. Thursday at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar and one hour before service Friday.

Marvin George John Westrem was born on December 19, 1920 at the family home in Union Township, Mitchell county, Iowa. He was the son of Earl and Mabel (Schulze) Westrem. He was baptized on June 30, 1921 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Toeterville, Iowa by Reverend Lehman. Marvin reaffirmed his faith through confirmation in March 1934.

In 1922 the family moved to a farm near Rose Creek, Minnesota. Marvin attended public schools in Nevada Township. The family moved to northern Iowa in 1933 where they farmed until 1938 when they moved to Toeterville. Marvin worked two years at Hormel’s in Austin, and nine years at the REA in St. Ansgar. Marvin was inducted into the U.S. Army in September 1945 and served in the Field Artillery Signal Corps until his honorary discharge at Fort Knox, Kentucky on December 5, 1946.

Marvin was united in marriage to Gladys Priem on June 28, 1947. Their marriage was blessed with three sons, David, John, and Lester. Marvin managed his own electrical business in St. Ansgar for 17 years. He was also employed by the St. Ansgar Community Schools and retired in 1986 from Culver-Hahn Electric Supply in Mason City.

Marvin was a life long member of Walter T. Enneberg Post #358 American Legion. He was past commander, adjutant and county adjutant. Marvin was a fireman from 1958 until 1984. Marvin was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, a member of the voters assembly, served as an elder, trustee and usher. He was a member of the Lutheran Layman’s League and past president of A.A.L. Branch #570. He also served as church custodian for 23 years. Marvin enjoyed coaching and sponsoring men’s and women’s softball teams over the past 30 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and mother and father-in-law.

Marvin is survived by his wife, Gladys; children, David (Joanne); John (Hoyce); and Lester (Paula); grandchildren, Jeremy (Fiance, Amber); Amanda (Jay) Melcher; and Allison; step grandchildren, Matt (Erin) Pohlman; Nick (Samantha) Pohlman; and Christina and fiancé James Drier; Nathen Cunningham; and four step-great-grandsons.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, are in charge of arrangements.

[St. Ansgar Enterprise, 2007 – from St. Ansgar Museum Collections]