Carl Finken

Carl P. "Carly" Finken, age 86 of Melrose, died peacefully Monday, March 29, 2010 at Pine Villa Nursing Home in Melrose, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 31 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa with Rev. Art Hoppe officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Parish prayers will be at 5 p.m. followed by the Holy Name Society rosary at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Carl P. Finken was born March 11, 1924 in Freeport to Conrad, Sr. and Mary (Stangler) Finken. He grew up most of his life on a farm near Freeport. On June 25, 1951, he married Ida Gangl at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. The couple has resided on a farm near St. Rosa since 1954. His enjoyment came from camping, traveling, fishing at their cabin on Big Birch Lake, and being with his horses. Carl also loved spending time with his entire family, especially his grandchildren.Carl was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa, Holy Name Society, Albany Pioneer Club and the England Prairie Pioneer Club in Verndale, MN.

Survivors include his wife, Ida Finken of Melrose; daughter, Linda (Steve) Tschida of Melrose; grandchildren, Dawn (Tom) Rakotz, Chris (LaShana) Tschida, Mary (Paul) Beuning, and Gary Finken, Jr.; great-grandchildren, Glenn Taft, Jr., Alexis Taft, Alec Beuning, and one on the way.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Conrad, Sr. and Mary Finken; infant son, Stanley Finken; son, Gary Finken, Sr.; grandson, Carl S. Finken; brothers, Tony, Robert, Ambrose, Bernard, and Conrad, Jr.; and sisters, Madeline Atkinson and Regina Schiller.

Serving as casket bearers will be Chris Tschida, John Rakotz, Tom Rakotz, Paul Beuning, Mark Weichman, and Jacob Weichman. Cross bearer will be Glenn Taft, Jr. and scripture bearer will be Alexis Taft.