Alex Marthaler

Alex M. Marthaler, age 72 of Sauk Centre, died peacefully surrounded by his family after a short but courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at his home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 26 at St. Alexius Catholic Church in West Union with Rev. Andrew Marthaler officiating. Interment will be in St. Anthony of Padua Cemetery in Padua.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be held at 5 p.m. followed by the Knights of Columbus at 7 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Alex Martin Marthaler was born April 14, 1942 in West Union Township, Todd County, Minnesota to Herman and Elizabeth (Knoblach) Marthaler. He attended West Union Country School and graduated from Osakis High School. Alex drove milk truck for Osakis Creamery until 1966. On June 14, 1966 he was united in marriage to Darlene Rousslang at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Padua. The couple farmed near Osakis until moving to their current farm north of Padua in 1970. Alex and Darlene farmed together until 1988 when their son Harold joined them in the farming operation.

He was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church until its closing, Saint Michael's Council #3176, Knights of Columbus, National Farmers Organization, Villard Co-op board member, and was on the Raymond Township board for 18 years. Alex enjoyed farming and going to tractor pulls with his sons and grandsons and loved tinkering with tractors and farm equipment. He liked to drive around to check out the fields and would spend time at MBC Drainage shop. Most recently, Alex enjoyed going to Osakis for coffee.

Survivors include his wife, Darlene Marthaler of Sauk Centre; children, Wendy (Scott) Drobny of Sauk Centre, Glen Marthaler of Mott, North Dakota, Harold Marthaler of Sauk Centre, Howard (Kathy) Marthaler of Sauk Centre, Tammy Marthaler of Sauk Centre, and Jason (Angi) Marthaler of Sauk Centre; 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; brother, Herb (Barb) Marthaler of Osakis; brothers-in-law, Richard "Dick" (Darlene) Rousslang of Sauk Centre and Clarence (Vickie) Rousslang of Sauk Centre; and sister-in-law, Carol (John) Marthaler of Osakis.

Alex was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Elizabeth Marthaler; father and mother-in-law, Jack and Sally Rousslang; and brother, Eugene Marthaler.

Serving as casket bearers will be his sons, Glen Marthaler, Harold Marthaler, Howard Marthaler, and Jason Marthaler. Cross bearer will be Herb Marthaler, scripture bearer will be Wendy Drobny, and serving as flower bearer will be Tammy Marthaler. Gift bearers will be Dennis Marthaler, Peter Rousslang, and Brian Rousslang. Anthony and Eugene Marthaler will serve as lectors.