Edmund Tiemann

Edmund C. "Ed" Tiemann, age 87 of Melrose, died Sunday, August 23, 2009 at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, August 27 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vincent Lieser officiating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be held at 7 p.m. followed by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Edmund Conrad Tiemann was born March 28, 1922 in Melrose, Minnesota to Bernard and Elizabeth (Kluempke) Tiemann. Ed was a graduate of Melrose High School and attended St. John's University and the University of Minnesota. In 1943 he served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theatre during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. He was united in marriage to Geraldine Cumming on October 31, 1946 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. On February 12, 1947, he joined Service Co., 136th Inf., 47th Infantry (Viking) Division, MNARNG, at Sauk Centre. He remained in the military for over 39 years, retiring as a Brigadier General, Army of the United States, in 1991. After his retirement he was given an honorary promotion to Major General (Brevet), MNARNG by Adjutant General James Sieben. On June 24, 1950, he filed for election to the Minnesota House of Representatives. He represented Western Stearns County in the legislature for 12 years, resigning in 1962. Ed was a charter member of Post 7050, Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member of American Legion Post 101, an honorary life member of the Melrose Knights of Columbus, and Charter President of the Melrose Lions Club. Ed served on the Melrose Hospital Board for 12 years and was a member of the Melrose Flying Club, receiving his pilot's license on April 30, 1966. Ed worked for the Melrose Telephone Company as an Office Manager for 17 years, the Minnesota Association of Electrical Cooperatives in Minneapolis, as an Assistant General Manager for seven years, and the Minnesota Telephone Association in St. Paul, as an Executive Secretary-Treasurer for ten years, retiring in March of 1987.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Geraldine Tiemann of Melrose; children, Marilyn Larson of Beaver Dam, WI, Susan (Michael) Shay of Naperville, IL, Barb (Russ) Vogel of Sauk Centre, Pat (Don) Ostendorf of Albany, Gini (Dick) Walsh of Lino Lakes, and Lisa (Jason) Fletcher of Alexandria; 11 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; and brothers, George (Lorraine) Tiemann and Walter (Anne "Trinka") Tiemann both of Melrose.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Elizabeth Tiemann; brothers, Len Tiemann and Gib Tiemann; and sister, Vi Stanislowski.

Serving as casket bearers will be Alicia Larson, Ryan Ostendorf, Andrew Shay, Thomas Ostendorf, Patrick Shay, and K.C. Shay. Cross bearer will be Marilyn Larson and scripture bearer will be Susan Shay. Serving as honorary bearers will be Ralph "Curly" Wiehoff, Earl Wiehoff, Clyde Tise, Bob Wensman, Don Veeder, and G. Mike McCarthy.