Alcuin Ettel

Alcuin "Al" Ettel, age 91 of Freeport, died peacefully on Tuesday, July 15, 2014 surrounded by his family at the CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, July 21 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Roger Klassen, O.S.B. officiating and Rev. Ken Thielman concelebrating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call from 12 to 2 p.m. Monday at the church in Freeport.

Alcuin "Al" Ettel was born July 25, 1922 in Freeport, Minnesota to Joseph and Christina (Goebel) Ettel. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1944 to 1946 during WWII and was honorably discharged. On June 2, 1947 he married Lori Borgerding at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. He owned and operated Ettel Trucking Milk Haulers of Freeport. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, and taking care of his yard.

Al was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport, Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050, and St. Peter's Court 1556 Catholic Order of Foresters.

He is survived by his children, Fred (Judy) Ettel of Freeport, Doris (Bob) Hock of Melrose, Dick Ettel of Black Duck, Judy Merwin of New Hope, Mary (Larry) Shoemaker of Alexandria, Linus (Geri) Ettel of Freeport, Gary Ettel of Melrose, Terri (Chris) Ellering of Melrose, and Mark (Michelle) Ettel of Melrose; 15 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; and half-sister, Kathy (Mark) Middendorf of Freeport.

Al was preceded in death by his wife, Lori Ettel on May 6, 2009; parents; granddaughter, Amelia Ettel; son-in-law, Dave Merwin; brothers and sisters, Justin Ettel, Mildred Kowski, Sister Elaine Ettel, O.S.B., Clarence Ettel, and infant sister, Mary Ettel.

Serving as casket bearers will be his grandchildren, Matt Merwin, Jeff Ettel, Brian Ettel, Alex Ellering, Nathan Ellering, and Kiersten Wimmer. Cross bearer will be his great-grandson, Bennett Wimmer, rosary bearer will be his great-granddaughter, Hayley Ettel, and scripture bearer will be his granddaughter, Amanda Nundahl. Mass servers will be his grandchildren, Zachary Ettel and Ethan Ettel. Gift bearers will be his daughters, Doris, Judy, Mary, and Terri. Eucharistic Ministers will be his daughter and son-in-law, Geri Ettel and Chris Ellering. Eulogy will be by his granddaughter, Kiersten Wimmer.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.