Alex Bromen

Alex L. Bromen, age 82 of Sauk Centre, died on Monday, October 13, 2003 at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 16 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery with military honors provided by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Veterans prayer service will be 7 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 8 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home in Sauk Centre.

Alex Bromen was born on December 11, 1920 in St. Cloud, Minnesota to Alex and Theresa (Unger) Bromenshenkel. He graduated from Sauk Centre High School and then served on LST's in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific theatre. On April 18, 1945 he married Catherine Dahlem at St. John's Cathedral in New York, New York. Following his service during the war he returned to Sauk Centre, where he owned and operated Bromen's Quality Dairy until 1965. He also owned and operated Bromen's Ornamental Iron and U-Lock-It Storage, was a long-time salesman for Empire Memorials and drove school bus for many years. For over thirty years he worked as a funeral assistant in Sauk Centre, first for the Corrigan Funeral Home, then Schad Funeral Home and finally at Patton-Schad Funeral Service. He loved seeing and greeting people in their time of need while working at the funeral home.

Alex was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church and a former choir member, member of St. Paul's Catholic Aid, Sauk Centre Lions Club, past commander of both Paul F. Donart VFW Post 2853 and American Legion Post 67, past president of both Sauk Centre Area Chamber of Commerce and Sauk Centre Country Club. He served for many years on the boards of St. Paul's Cemetery and Greenwood Cemetery Association and Sinclair Lewis Foundation. He was a former member of Bishop Busch Council 4863 Knights of Columbus and Queen of Peace General Assembly of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus and was a former scoutmaster for the Sauk Centre Boy Scouts. He was proud to serve on the draft board during the late 1960's and early 1970's. He loved flying and being involved in community affairs.

Survivors include his wife, Katie Bromen of Sauk Centre; five children, Alex R. "Bob" Bromen of Olympia, Washington, Don (Pam) Bromen of Stillwater, Bill Bromen of Sauk Centre, Cathy (Rick) Arendt of Seattle, Washington, Joann "Joni" (Tom) Maleska of Melrose; six grandchildren; brothers, Rev. Silvan Bromenshenkel, OSB of Collegeville, Rev. Fintan Bromenshenkel, OSB of Nassau, Bahamas, Vernon (Viola) Bromen of Sauk Centre; sister, Theresa "Patty" (Cliff) Knier of Clear Lake.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Julian and Donald Bromenshenkel; sisters, Cecilia Tegels and Sylvia Determan.

Serving as casket bearers will be nephews. Cross bearer will be Jim Winters and scripture bearer will be Mary Winters. Sauk Centre Lions Club will be honorary bearers.