Herman T. STATLANDER

STATLANDER, DIRKS, SCHMIDT, SUNTKEN, BILLS, DECKER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/30/2009 at 07:04:38

MESERVEY - Herman T. Statlander, 86, of Meservey lost his battle with cancer on Sunday (Oct. 25, 2009) at the Belmond Rehabilitation Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Reformed Church in Meservey with the Rev. Rodney Meester officiating. Burial will take place in the Meservey Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today, Tuesday, at the Retz Funeral Home in Meservey and one hour prior to services at the church.

Herman Statlander, the son of Carl J. and Grace (Dirks) Stadtlander, was born Oct. 7, 1923, in Hancock County. He was baptized at Meservey in March 1924. Herman attended school at Thornton and worked as a hired hand for various farmers. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943. He completed basic training in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Herman was united in marriage to Phyllis I. Schmidt in Meservey on Aug. 14,1943, and was sent overseas to join other troops in World War II shortly after. He was wounded in combat and underwent surgeries at various military hospitals. He was awarded the Purple Heart and was honorably discharged in November 1945. Upon return from service, he worked for an area farmer. He was also employed by Fischer Implement and Sunray Fertilizer in Meservey. He later worked for Raecker Chevrolet and Duke's Auto as a mechanic. In the early 1970s, he and a partner purchased the business, renaming it D & H Auto. He retired in 1985. Herman served as Meservey's mayor for several years. He was a lifelong member of Meservey American Legion Post 171, VFW and DAV. He enjoyed fishing and took many trips to Canada with friends and family. He loved gardening and tending his apple trees. He also did some woodworking and refinishing. After retiring, he spent numerous hours tinkering in his shop. He had a talent for fabrication and there was very little he couldn't create when given a few small parts.

He took great joy in his five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Phyllis; his daughter, Patricia (Lloyd) Suntken of Meservey; and his sons, Gary (Nancy) Statlander of Mason City and Jerry (Janette) Stadtlander of Belmond; his grandchildren, Anjanette (Adam) Bills of Dodge Center, Minn., and their children, Peyton and Mason; Darin (Erin) Suntken of Sheffield, and their children, Alexandra, Sage and Dax; Torey (Gwen) Statlander of Owatonna, Minn., and their children, Madeline and Owen; Melissa (Bob) Decker of Mapleton, Minn., and their children, Ellie, Casey, Noah and Thayne; Travis (Sarah) Statlander, of Overland Park, Kansas and their daughter, Reghan; one brother, Myron (Sally) Stadtlander, of Rockford; five sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Grace Stadtlander; one sister, Berniece; and three brothers, Louis, Leonard and Delbert Stadtlander. Retz Funeral Home.

Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa
10/27/2009