Donald Emslander

Donald "Don" Emslander, age 65 of Elrosa, died Friday, September 8, 2006 at his home surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 16 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa. Rev. Jeff Ethen will officiate with inurnment following in the parish cemetery. Military honors will be provided by VFW Post 1825 of Belgrade.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa. Parish prayers will be at 8:30 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Don Emslander was born September 17, 1940 in Morton, Minnesota to Leo and Mary Anne (Haus) Emslander. On June 16, 1962 he married Mary Lou Illies at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa. He served in the U.S. Navy from February 1958 to November 1978, when he retired as an AXC. Don was a mechanic, transportation supervisor, and bus driver for District 736 in Belgrade. He drove a milk truck for 11 years for Braegelmann Trucking, then drove truck four years for Minnesota Sawdust & Shavings in Sauk Centre and retired in 2004.He was a member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, the Fleet Reserve Association, and VFW Post 1825 of Belgrade.Don enjoyed his grandchildren, camping, fishing, hunting, playing cards and reading.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Emslander of Elrosa; sons, Donald (Raymie) Emslander of Sauk Centre, Michael (Mary) Emslander of Elko and Anthony (Marcelle) Emslander of Hammond, Louisiana; grandchildren, Jon and Samantha, Tiffany and Shawn, and Anthony and Angela; brothers and sisters, James Emslander of Elk Grove, California, Donna Mae (Martin) Tomporoski of Foley, David (Rosie) Emslander of Foley, Dennis (Sue) Emslander of Foley, Joyce (Jim) Loidolt of Sauk Rapids, Roselyn (Pat) Thommes of Sauk Rapids, Leo (Laurie) Emslander of St. Cloud, and Linda (Ron) Buersken of Albany; and sister-in-law, Janice Emslander of Pine City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Martha Emslander; brothers, Robert and Charles Emslander; sisters-in-law, Anne Marie and Jan Emslander.

Serving as urn bearer will be Tiffany Emslander. Cross bearer will be Samantha Simonson and scripture bearer will be Shawn Emslander.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Michael's Hospice in Sauk Centre or Poor Clare's Monastery in Sauk Rapids.