Norbert Gartner

Norbert J. Gartner, age 87 of Sauk Centre, died Monday, February 18, 2008 at the St. Michael's Nursing Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 23 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. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be at 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Norbert Joseph Gartner was born on August 21, 1920 in Melrose, Minnesota to George and Julia (Fuhrman) Gartner. He farmed in rural Sauk Centre and worked in the gold mines of Juneau, Alaska, before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1942, where he served in the South Pacific as an Aviation Machinist Mate. Upon Honorable Discharge in 1946, he returned to farming for a short time. It was during this time, he met and fell in love with Evelyn L. Sunderman. They were married in 1949 and moved to North Dakota where Norb began work as a telegrapher for the Great Northern Railway.After approximately 12 years with the railroad, he moved to Grey Eagle, Minnesota, where he operated the Standard Oil Bulk Fuels delivery service for several years. In 1964, Norb moved to Sauk Centre to work in the office of the Sauk Centre Public Utilities Commission, retiring in 1982. He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church were he served as a Eucharistic Minister and a Funeral Usher. Norb enjoyed spending time in his large garden and his yard. He had a knack for being able to repair most anything around the house. He also enjoyed square dancing and "old-time" dancing with Evelyn. They both enjoyed wintering in Alamo, Texas. He suffered a stroke in July of 1997 and lived the balance of his life in the loving care of his wife, family and caring staff of the St. Michael's Nursing Home.

Norbert is survived by his wife, Evelyn Gartner of Sauk Centre and his children, Tom (Marie) Gartner of Glenwood, Cheri (Patrick Barton) Gartner of Littleton, Colorado, Mark (Julie) Gartner of St. Cloud, Julie (Todd) Hagemann of Aurora, Colorado and Jim Gartner of Sauk Centre; 3 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; 3 sisters and 1 brother, Alvina Schaefer of Minneapolis, Helen Wruck of Salem, Oregon, Aurelia (Robert) Thibodeau of Juneau, Alaska, and Jerry (Marge) Gartner of New Richmond, Wisconsin.

Norbert was preceded in death by 3 brothers and a sister, Edward, Raymond, Gilbert and Sister Mary Regis, O.S.F.