Whalen, Lenis J. 1923 – 2002

WHALEN, RYAN, BUDRAKA, ROELOFS, NEEDHAM, VASKE, ENGESSER, THOMAS, ARMSTRONG, DENNEHEY

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:45

Source: Times Plain Dealer; May 15, 2002 Page A-3
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by Joy Moore

Services held for L.J. Whalen, 78, on Wednesday, May 8
Funeral services For L.J. Whalen of rural Harmony, MN were held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8 at Assumption Catholic Church in Canton, MN with Rev. Steven Peterson officiating. Interment was in St. Agnes Catholic Cemetery at Plymouth Rock, rural Cresco. Pallbearers were grandsons: Michael Roelofs, Matthew Engesser, Jeffrey Whalen, Jacob Whalen, Andrew Engesser, and David Needham. Lindstrom Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
L. J., 78, died Saturday, May 4, 2002 in his sleep at Green Lea Manor in Mabel, MN where he was recovering from surgery.
L.J. Whalen was born July 17, 1923 in Canton, MN, the son of Lenis Edward and M. Loretta (Ryan) Whalen.
On the deck of the USS Cummings 365 he witnessed the air raid at Pearl Harbor . His South Pacific Naval duty lasted 54 months where he served as an electrician during World War II.
On January 16, 1947 he married Alice Jean Budraka in Sioux City. They settled at their present home on the State Line road in 1960.
He enjoyed his work as an electrician, playing cards, dancing, and raising Belgian horses.
He is survived by his wife Alice; his children: Jan Roelofs of Cedar Rapids, Dr. Len Whalen of Zephyrhills, FL, Ralph of Taiwan, John of Harmony, Mary Engesser of Spring Valley, MN, Karen Needham of Houston, TX, Ruth Vaske of LeMars, and Laura Thomas of Willow, AK; 24 grandchildren; two brothers: Dean Whalen of Northglenn, CO and Loren Armstrong of Waterloo; and one sister: Sybil Dennehey of Sioux City.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and four brothers: Arden, Ryan, Neil, and Robert.

Transcriber’s Note: Cemetery records indicate this was Lenis J. Whalen.

St. Agnes Cemetery
 

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