Francis Unger

Francis E. Unger, age 83 of Sauk Centre, died peacefully Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at his home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota surrounded by his family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 2 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. James Statz officiating and Rev. Sylvester Kleinschmidt concelebrating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be 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 held at 5 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home followed by the Knights of Columbus at 6 p.m.

Francis Emil Unger was born April 4, 1928 in West Union, Minnesota to Leo and Louise (Didier) Unger. On May 17, 1955 he was united in marriage to Dorothy J. Felling at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa. The couple moved to California where they lived for three years before returning to the family farm southwest of Sauk Centre. Francis farmed for over 30 years before retiring and moving north of Sauk Centre, where the couple has lived for the last twenty years. Francis loved hunting and nuisance trapping. He also enjoyed his time serving as the Ashley Township Fire Warden and on the Board of Directors for Stearns Electric.

Francis was a member of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church and the Bishop Busch Council 4863 Knights of Columbus. He was very active in the church, serving as an usher and as a member of the finance committee.

Francis is survived by his wife of 56 years, Dorothy Unger of Sauk Centre; children, Ken (Linda) Unger of Sauk Centre, Kevin (Jeannie) Unger of Sauk Centre, Karen (fiancé, Dana Anderson) Petermeier of Coon Rapids, Karla (Kevin) Kruger of Andover, Fran (Mary) Unger of Lake Mills, Iowa, and Kris (Kevin) Notch of Lincoln, Rhode Island; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and brothers and sisters, Betty Campbell, Mary Ann Bentler, Robert (Gayle) Unger, Lorraine (Wally) Morgan, Irene Drehsen, Richard (Marie) Unger, and Margaret (Jim) Messerich.

Francis was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Louise Unger; and brothers and sisters, Jerome Unger, William "Bill" Unger, Leo Unger, Alexia "Lex" Sanders, Jane Lull, and infant sister, Rita.

Serving as casket bearers will be Jim Blair, Joe Unger, John Wruck, Raymond Messerich, David Bentler, and Dean Bentler. Serving as cross bearer will be Jesse Unger and scripture bearer will be Curran Notch.