Gary Finken

Gary C. Finken, Sr., age 54 of Freeport, died unexpectedly Saturday, February 3, 2007 at the Melrose Area Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 7 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa with Rev. Roger Klassen, OSB officiating. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call Tuesday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be 5 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home in Melrose.

Gary was born March 9, 1952 in Melrose, Minnesota to Carl and Ida (Gangl) Finken. He married Shirley Tesch in April of 1977. He was a member of the National Guard in 1971. Gary farmed most of his life. He was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa.

Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Shirley of Freeport; children, Mary Beuning (Paul) of Melrose, Gary Finken, Jr. at home, and Jennifer Finken of Melrose; three grandchildren, Glenn Taft, Jr., Alexis Taft and Alec Beuning; parents, Carl and Ida Finken of Melrose; sister, Linda Tschida of Melrose.

He was preceded in death by a son, Carl S. Finken in 1999 and an infant brother, Stanley Finken.

Casket bearers will be Nick Tschida, Nick Klemmer, Jeron Hellermann, Paul Beuning, Stan Tschida, Wayne Herdering, Glen Schmidt and Jeff Kerfeld.