Donald Vener

Donald J. "Don" Vener, age 86 of Sauk Centre, died Monday, April 21, 2008 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 25 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Rev. Todd Schneider will officiate with interment following in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 8 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be at 5:15 p.m. followed by United Veterans prayer service at 7 p.m., and Knights of Columbus and Christian Mothers at 7:30 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.

Don Vener was born January 19, 1922 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to Frank and Catherine (Schommer) Vener. He graduated from Sauk Centre High School in 1940 and entered active duty in the U.S. Army in 1942. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for valor for his service in Okinawa during World War II.On June 3, 1947 he married Lidvina Finken at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Employed for 30 years by Standard Oil of Indiana, later Amoco, and now BP, the couple raised their three children in Moorhead, Minnesota. For the last eleven years of his career with Amoco, he was transferred to Dubuque, Iowa. When he retired in 1984, they moved back to Sauk Centre, where he spent the next 24 years fishing avidly, volunteering, listening to concertina and accordion music, and enjoying family and friends. In 2007, he and his wife, Lidvina, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.Don was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, Bishop Busch Council 4863 Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post 67, and Paul F. Donart VFW Post 2853.

Survivors include his wife, Lidvina Vener of Sauk Centre; three children, Diane Vener of St. Paul, Beverly (Tom) Atwood of North Branch, and Larry Vener of Lakeland; one grandson, Zachary Atwood of North Branch; sisters-in-law, Mildred Vener of Sauk Centre, Marcella Vener of Maplewood, and Darlene Vener of Lake Elmo; brother-in-law, Elvis Bartylla of Woodbury; uncle, Vivion Vener of Sauk Centre; aunt, Cecilia "Sis" Vener of Sauk Centre; numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Donald Vener, Jr.; brothers and sister, Richard, James, and Robert Vener, and Phyllis Bartylla.

Serving as casket bearers will be Mark and Judith Vener, Dan and Philip Finken, Sharon Didier, and David Bartylla. Cross bearer will be Dan Vener and scripture bearer will be Greg Vener.