Herman W. Grefe

FAIRMONT — Services for Herman W. Grefe, 82, of Fairmont, Minn., will be 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fairmont. Burial with military honors by the Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post 36 and the Martin County V.F.W. Post 1222 will follow at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Cemetery near Truman.

Herman passed away Wednesday morning, May 14, 2008, at the Fairmont Medical Center. Visitation will be 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Herman William Grefe was born January 11, 1926, to Theodor and Clara (Wessel) Grefe, in Fairmont. He was baptized on February 7, 1926, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Fairmont, by Pastor O.H. Zemke and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Truman on May 5, 1940. He grew up on farms in rural Truman and attended St. Paul’s Lutheran elementary school and then graduated from Truman High School in 1944.

He joined the U.S. Army in February of 1945 and served in Japan and was honorably discharged in November, 1946. In 1947, Herman attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., where he majored in Business Administration and graduated on June 3, 1951. Six days later, June 9, 1951, he married Darla Mae Wohlrabe, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Truman. They lived their entire married life in Fairmont.

Herman’s first employment was payroll accountant for the Hodgeman Construction Company. He was then employed by Fairmont National Bank and later by Martin County National Bank, totaling 40 years in the banking business. At the time of his retirement on December 31, 1991, he was chairman of the board of directors at the Martin County National Bank. Herman and Darla Mae enjoyed traveling to all 50 states and many foreign countries. He also loved to spend time in his garden.

Herman was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fairmont and held many offices in the church and received a plaque for his 50 years as an usher. He was treasurer of the Jaycees for several terms and was finance officer of the American Legion when they purchased the White Feather Hatchery that became the Legion building. He helped to re-start the Martin County Banker’s Association and served as its president. He also served one term as Martin County’s representative to the Minnesota Banker’s Association. Some time was spent as chairman of the Martin-Faribault County American Institute of Banking Group. He was a member of the noon Kiwanis Club for 27 years, chairman of the King Korn Days Parade, chairman of the Fairmont Area Bicentennial Committee and helped to start Heritage Acres. He served 20 years on the Martin County Soil and Water Board, several terms as chairman, 19 years he was a commissioner of Friendship Village, the last several years as chairman. He was a lifetime member of the Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post 36 and the Martin County V.F.W. Post 1222.

Those that are left to cherish his memory include his wife, Darla Mae Grefe of Fairmont; two daughters, Juleen Breitbarth and her husband, Neal, of Fairmont, Laurel Engquist and her husband, Lee, of Northfield, Minn.; one son, Thomas Grefe and his wife, Mary, of Nicollet, Minn.; ten grandchildren, Adam N. Breitbarth, Michael (and wife, Sara) Breitbarth, Rebekah Breitbarth, Andrew and Katie Engquist, Seth, Ethan, Joshua, Caleb and Jacob Grefe; one great-grandson, Mitchell Breitbarth; three brothers, Fred Grefe and his wife, Susie, of Mesa, Ariz., Raymond Grefe of Walnut Grove, Minn., William Grefe and his wife, Sharon, of Maple Grove, Minn.; three sisters, Marie Nolting and her husband, Albert, of Burnsville, Minn., Clarine Hendrickson and her husband, Gary, of Moorhead, Minn., Martha Broscheit of Wheat Ridge, Colo.; sister-in-law, Bonnie Grefe of Truman; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Herman was also preceded in death by one sister, Lucia Colston; two brothers, Paul and Earnhart Grefe; three brothers-in-law, Elmer Boesch, Craig Colston, Louis Broscheit; three sisters-in-law, Esther, Wilma and Joan Grefe.

Memorials are preferred to St. Paul Lutheran Church or school or donor’s choice.