Ambrose Finken

Ambrose F. "Am" Finken, age 89 of Freeport, died peacefully Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Sauk Rapids.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 26, 2006 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. Rev. Roger Klassen, OSB will officiate with interment following in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in MELROSE and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. Parish prayers will be at 8 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Ambrose Finken was born Aug. 29, 1916 in Freeport to Conrad, Sr. and Mary (Stangler) Finken. He married Arlene G. Butkowski on June 5, 1939 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa. Together they lived and farmed near Freeport. Ambrose also worked for Finken Water Center in Melrose until 1973 and Hanauer Machine in Avon until 1977. In 1984 he retired and the couple moved to Upsala. Ambrose loved woodworking and it showed through the many bookcases and wall shelves he made. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport.

Survivors include his wife, Arlene Finken of Freeport; children, Mildred Voigt (Charles) of St. Cloud, Irene Schwinghammer (Mike) of St. Nicholas, Rita Sunder (Henry) of St. Joseph, Ralph Finken (Maureen) of St. Joseph, Roger Finken of Monticello, and Betty Frieler (fianc+ Steve Kerr) of Pierz; 19 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; 1 step-great-grandchild; and brother, Carl Finken (Ida) of Melrose.

Ambrose was preceded in death by his parents; brothers and sisters, Robert, Anthony, Bernard, and Conrad Finken, Jr., Magdalena Atkinson, Regina Schiller, two infant sisters, one infant brother; and grandson, Luke Frieler.

Serving as casket bearers will be Brian Voigt, Todd and Mike Schwinghammer, Glen Sunder, Shawn Frieler and Mark Finken. Cross bearer will be Lora Manthei and scripture bearer will be Lisa Spoden.