Fred William PALS, Sr.

PALS, WOLTERS, LUNDIN, NELSON, CLARK, LOCK, VIERKANT, HEMMES, LINDIG

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/27/2008 at 11:18:36

RUSH CITY, Minn. — Fred William Pals Sr., the son of Peter H. and Gesena (Wolters) Pals, was born July 2, 1904, at Meservey. He grew up there, attended the local schools and, with his family, attended the German Reformed Church in Meservey. Following his graduation from high school, Fred enrolled in classes at the Telegraphy & Business College in Minneapolis. He completed the required courses and graduated as a telegrapher in November 1925. He was then employed as a telegrapher in the St. Paul, Minn., area. Fred met the former Helen Lundin, and they were married at Pine City, Minn., on June 2, 1927. Fred and Helen returned to Iowa and farmed for a time in the area near Meservey and also in northern Iowa. During the spring of 1945, Fred and Helen moved to their present home, a farm near Rush City, Minn. Although he farmed full time, Fred always worked at a job off the farm also. He worked on the railroad section crew and power line at Finland, Minn., and at the time Minneapolis Moline closed, Fred was a 15-year employee. Following his retirement, Fred and Helen stayed on the farm. He then had time to indulge in his favorite pastimes of deer hunting and fishing.

Helen died in 1985, and Fred continued to live alone at the farm until recent health problems caused him to become a resident of the Hillcrest Health Care Center in Rush City. He died there on Sunday, Jan. 10, 1999, having reached the age of 94 years.

He is survived by their six children, Robert E. (Lois) Pals, James (Marian) Pals, and Margie (Darwin) Nelson, all of Clear Lake, Carol Clark, of Ponca City, Okla., Gene (Janet) Pals, of Pine City, Minn., and Fred (Martha) Pals Jr., of Stanchfield, Minn.; 21 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; sisters, Lena Lock, of Mason City, Marie (Bernard) Vierkant, of Jacksonville, Texas, and Lydia Hemmes, of Hampton; brothers, Henry Pals, of Mason City, and Andrew (Lucille) Pals, of Meservey, and many nieces, nephews, cousins; and other relatives and friends. Fred was preceded in death by his parents; Peter and Gesena Pals; wife, Helen; grandchildren, Cindy Pals, Danny Nelson, and Steven Pals; great-grandson, Brandon Lindig; and son-in-law, Ronald Clark.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, 1999, at First Lutheran Church, in Rush City, with the Rev. Laurie O'Shea officiating. Organist was Ms. Doris Swanson and soloist was Ms. Kaye Lindig. Honorary casket bearers were Butch Behrendt, Duane Anderson, Aldo Lindstrom, Art Swenson, Wendell Johnson and Vern Dahl. Casket bearers were Randy Pals, Bruce Pals, Mike Pals, Jason Pals, Barry Clark and Greg Pals. Interment was at First Lutheran Cemetery, in Rush City. Olson Funeral Chapel, Rush City, Minn. was in charge of arrangements.

January 19, 1999
Mason City (Iowa) Globe Gazette