August Middendorf

August "Happy" Middendorf, age 95, of Freeport, died Thursday, June 19, 2008 at his home in Freeport.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 23 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Roger Klassen, O.S.B. officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church in Freeport. Goldenaires Senior Citizens will pray at 4 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 5 p.m. Sunday evening.

Happy Middendorf was born July 19, 1912 in Millwood Township, Stearns County to Henry and Mary (Westendorf) Middendorf. On May 12, 1936 he married Bernadette Roering at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich. The couple farmed near Freeport for 29 years, retiring in 1963. Happy then worked as an inspector for 26 years at Jennie-O Foods in Melrose, retiring in 1989. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport.

Survivors include his daughters, Verla (Arnold) Herzog of Melrose, Yvonne (Harvey) Doetkott of Grey Eagle, Nancy (Harvey) Notch of St. Joseph and Karen (Bruce) Nelson of Osseo; nine grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; sister, Clara Michael of Freeport; and sister-in-law, Helen Middendorf of Freeport.

Happy was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Bernadette Middendorf on May 11, 1986; grandson, Steve Herzog; brothers, Fred, Joe, Henry and Herman Middendorf; sisters, Elizabeth Brickweg, Josepha Hiltner, Aurelia Goebel, Ann Klaphake and Marie Heidgerken; and brother-in-law, Henry Michael.

Casket bearers will be his grandchildren, Stan Herzog, Sandra Herzog, Jay Doetkott, Kay Hammergeren, Toni Schneider, Kurt Notch, John Notch, and Eric Meyer. Cross bearer will be his granddaughter, Sara Pojar.