Elmer "Fud" Hellermann

Elmer B. “Fud” Hellermann, age 91 of Melrose, passed away suddenly, surrounded by his family on Saturday, December 24, 2022 at the CentraCare Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 29 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church in Melrose. Parish prayers will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Elmer Bernard Hellermann was born September 23, 1931 in Melrose Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Henry and Rosina (Wessel) Hellermann. After his dad died, Elmer farmed with his mother and five siblings. On Tuesday, September 7, 1954, he married Anna Herdering at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa. After their marriage, they stayed living on the family farm for five years. Many years later, Elmer’s son, Dale, took over the homeplace. In 1959, Elmer purchased his own farm north of Melrose and in 1981, his son, Donnie took over the family farm. Elmer and Anna then moved to Melrose and Elmer began working at Jennie-O Foods in Melrose in maintenance for the next ten years and worked numerous other jobs including Mayers Dragline, Mayers Bus Company, Patty Brakes Catering Service, Melrose Fertilizer, and at the Melrose skating rink. August 5, 2022, Elmer moved to Parkview Center Assisted Living in Melrose.

Elmer was a man of faith and could talk to anybody. He loved to socialize, joke around, and was a master at giving everyone a nickname. He appreciated his friends, neighbors, and was proud and truely loved his family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Elmer liked helping others and staying busy. He enjoyed 50 years of deer hunting, snowmobiling, bowling, taking walks, playing cards, casino bus trips, helping his sons on their farms, fishing, going to fish fries, and making memories at the Long Lake. He was happy to have traveled to Germany many times and loved hosting German relatives.

Elmer was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose, Sts. Bernard & Elizabeth Society, and Catholic United Financial.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Anna Hellermann of Melrose; children, Donald (Debbie) Hellermann of Melrose, Dale (Debbie) Hellermann of Melrose, Gary “Fritz” (Jean) Hellermann of Melrose, Denise (Steve) Rieland of Sauk Centre, and Diane (Paul) Brickweg of Alexandria; 18 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Henry “Hank” Hellermann of Vadnais Heights, Dorothy (Alvin) Schneider of Sauk Centre, Simon (Mary) Hellermann of Sauk Centre, and Roselyn Lehner of Shakopee; and sisters-in-law, Kathy Elfering of Melrose, Rita Hellermann of Sauk Centre, and Bernice Hellermann of Melrose.

Elmer was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Gary Hellermann on February 10, 1956; brothers, Paul, Norbert, Richard, and Roman Hellermann; and sisters, Mary Ann Primus, Marcella Frericks, and Loretta Hinnenkamp.