Arthur Van Havermaet

Arthur W. "Art" Van Havermaet, age 85 of Sauk Centre, died Friday, September 20, 2013 at his home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, September 23 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Greg Paffel officiating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church. Parish prayers will be at 5:15 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Arthur Walter Van Havermaet was born November 20, 1927 in Kent, Minnesota to Bernard and Susan (May) Van Havermaet. He was a life-long resident of Birchdale Township, Todd County, Minnesota where he farmed. He also served in the U.S. Army and then for many years was a bouncer at Diamond Point and the Golden Eagle. He was also well-known to children fishing at the pier at Sauk Lake in Sinclair Lewis Park.

In 1974 he began digging graves in the Sauk Centre area cemeteries. He took great pride in his work and was well-known by the vault companies and cemeteries for the excellent way he completed the grave and closed it up.

He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church and Catholic United Financial.

Survivors include brothers and sisters, Lawrence (Lorraine) Van Havermaet of Rochester, Mabel Rousselange of Browerville, Veronica Van Havermaet of Sauk Centre, Francis (Sonja) Van Havermaet of Seattle, Washington, Regina Coan of Clearwater and Cecelia Bieringer of Round Prairie; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Joseph Van Havermaet.

Serving as casket bearers will be Peter, Paul, Bruce and Charles Van Havermaet, Vernon Rousselange and Patrick Bieringer.