Celestine Braegelmann

Celestine "Mike" Braegelmann, age 86 of Melrose, died peacefully with family members present on Friday, December 13, 2013 at his home in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 21 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating and Rev. Al Stangl concelebrating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 11a.m. Saturday at the church. Melrose Veterans Honor Guard will pray at 6 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m. Friday evening.

Celestine Michalis Braegelmann was born February 23, 1927 in Richmond, Minnesota to Leo and Mary (Olk) Braegelmann. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. On June 10, 1947 he married Ruth Schlicht at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. Mike worked for Litchfield Produce Company in Melrose. He owned and operated a trucking business hauling cattle and freight. He retired from Stearns Electric Co-op in 1989 after 32 years of service. Mike enjoyed golfing, carpentry, and the annual deer hunt with his sons, grandsons and friends.

Mike was a member and served as trustee at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, member and served two terms as post commander of the Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050, member of the American Legion Post 101, Melrose Lions Club, and a board member of the Melrose School District.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth Braegelmann of Melrose; children, JoAnn (Gary) Jasicki of Weyerhauser, WI, Michael (Zona) Braegelmann of Tucson, AZ, Patrick (Sandy) Braegelmann of Birch Lake, Russ (Linda) Braegelmann of Melrose, Roger (Roberta) Braegelmann of Tucson, AZ, Jeffry (Becky) Braegelmann of New Ulm, and Jerry (Lauren) Braegelmann of Woodstock, CT; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; sisters and brothers, Celina Althaus of Melrose, Cyril (Doris) Braegelmann of Melrose, Gysella Moore of Eagle Lake, and Nick Braegelmann of Melrose.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Mary Braegelmann; sister, Leona Althaus; and granddaughter, Jenna Lagergren.

Serving as urn bearer will be Russ Braegelmann. Cross bearer will be Chantel Braegelmann and scripture bearer will be Erik Braegelmann. Gift bearers will be Killian Braegelmann, Nicole Braegelmann, Rachel Dunlavy, and Sophia Botz.