Alphonse Ellering

Alphonse J. “Al” Ellering, age 87 of Melrose, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at the CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, January 21 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Meire Grove with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating, Rev. Ken Thielman concelebrating, and Deacon Ernie Kociemba assisting. Inurnment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Melrose at a later date.

Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Meire Grove.  Parish prayers will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Alphonse Joseph Ellering was born January 28, 1931 in Grove Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Alphonse and Elizabeth (Welle) Ellering.  He graduated from Melrose High School in 1949.  On October 9, 1952 he was united in marriage to Carlyn Pappenfus at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose.  Al owned and operated the Greenwald, De Graff, and Grove City elevators.  He also owned hog and turkey farms in the area.

He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose and the Knights of Columbus Council #1633. Al was an avid outdoorsman.  He enjoyed hunting a variety of game including deer, elk, antelope, waterfowl, and pheasants.  Al loved traveling out west for hunting and wintering with his wife in Florida.  Together they traveled to every state in the United States.  Al also enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Survivors include his loving wife of 66 years, Carlyn Ellering of Melrose; children, Paul (Joan) Ellering of Big Birch Lake, Ann (Kevin) Viere of Big Birch Lake, Lee Ellering of Alexandria, Chris (Terri) Ellering of Melrose, John (Karen) Ellering of Roseville, and Patrice Ellering of Big Birch Lake; 15 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren with one on the way; and sisters, Ann (Mel) Roerhl of Melrose and Mary Jacobs of Melrose.

Al was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Joseph and Anthony Ellering.