Ulring, Joseph Clement Paul -- 1923 - 2001

ULRING, PLOIUM, SOUTH, CHRISTIANSON, LARSON, WOLD

Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 7/30/2010 at 08:36:01

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, April 24, 2001

Joseph Ulring

Joseph Ulring, 78, of Decorah, died Wednesday, April 18, 2001, in Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital after a sudden illness.

Funeral services were Saturday, April 21 at 3 p.m. at First Lutheran Church with Rev. Steven Jacobsen and Rev. Thomas Miller officiating.

Organist was Rev. Marion J. Miller and Deacons were Nora and Kermit Hendrickson.

Congregation hymns were "O Day Full of Grace", "The King of Love, My Shepherd Is", "Thine is the Glory", "For All the Saints", "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling", "Children of the Heavenly Father", "Let All Things Now Living" and "Great Is Thy Faithfulness". The First Lutheran Adult Choir also provided music.

Casket bearers were James Ulring, Scott Ulring, Jon Christianson, Judd Larson, Chad Troy, James Russell, Benjamin Larson and Brian Christianson.

Burial was in Phelps Cemetery, and Fjelstul Funeral Home of Decorah handled arrangements.

Joseph Clement Paul Ulring was born Jan. 26, 1923 in Grand Forks, Neb, the son of a Lutheran pastor, Rev. Edwin Ulring and Emma (Ploium) Ulring.

He grew up in Rothsay, Minn., and attended Fergus Falls Lutheran High School.

In 1942, Joseph Ulring enrolled at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn. He then served in the U.S. Naval Air Force from 1942-1945.

In 1946, he returned to Augsburg, where he met Aleta South. They were married August 25, 1946 in Goodrich, Minn. She first noticed the "sparkly blue-eyed fellow" when Joseph Ulring, running down some steps while singing, winked at her.

Joseph and Aleta Ulring had a daughter, Janet, and moved to Decorah in 1949. While in Decorah, the couple had four more children - April, Beth, James and Scott.

Joseph opened the New York Life Insurance office in Decorah. He also served three terms on the Decorah City Council from 1967 to 1972.

The family left Decorah for LaCrosse, Wisc., in 1972, then moved to Sioux City, Iowa, in 1976. Joseph and Aleta returned to Decorah in 1999.

Joseph Ulring loved to sing. He was a member of a barber shop quartet in the 1960s which included Dr. Eugene Swella, Jim Sexter and Don Allen.

Since retiring, Joseph enjoyed singing with the Luren Singers and had looked forward to a trip with them to Norway this June.

Joseph loved to fish, especially for lake trout in Canada. He Ioved to tell jokes, play cards, eat lefse and was faithful and active in the church his entire life.

He loved to build and landscape, and worked tirelessly, helping build three cabins in northern Minnesota. He also remodeled his homes and offices in LaCrosse, Sioux City and Decorah.

Survivors include his wife, Aleta Ulring; five children, Janet and Jon Christianson of Arden Hills, Minn; Bishop April Ulring Larson and Judd Larson, of LaCrosse, Wisc.; Beth Ulring and Chad Troy of Stoughton, Wisc.; James and Nancy Ulring of Decorah and Scott and Ann Ulring of Golden Valley, Minn.

Additional survivors include two brothers, Rev. Morris Ulring of Minneapolis and Donald and Sherri Ulring of Poulsbo, Wash.; one sister, Ruth and Rev. George Wold of Maple Grove, Minn.; 13 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.