Edward Louis Wentzlaff

Memorial mass for Edward Wentzlaff, age 95, of Milaca, will be Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 10:30 AM St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Milaca with Fr. James Remmerswaal, OSC and Deacon Tom Pinataro officiating. Visitation will be Friday, September 13, 2013 from 5:00-8:00 PM at the Sturm Funeral Home in St. James, MN and one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Interment will take place aboard the USS Arizona in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 7, 2013. Edward Louis Wentzlaff was born November 16, 1917 to Henry and Leocadia (Berger) Wentzlaff in Nicollet, Minnesota. He was baptized at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Nicollet and confirmed in North Mankato. He graduated from Nicollet High School in 1935. He was united in marriage to Alice Mork in May 1947 and she later passed away on May 21, 2011. Ed entered the U.S. Navy on December 8, 1937 and he was aboard the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941 during the Pearl Harbor attack. Ed was honorably discharged as a chief warrant officer and was a lifetime member of the USS Arizona Society. Ed served the community in many ways, including PTA president, board of public education and mayor of Butterfield; commander and lifetime member of VFW Post #9607 in Butterfield and served 46 years on the firing squad; Watonwan County Commissioner; Grand Marshal of the Milaca Parade and Milaca Legion member. Ed passed away Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at the VA Medical Center in St.Cloud. He is survived by his children, Judith (William) Atkinson, Steven (Carol) Wentzlaff, Mary (John) Flock, Peter (Kim) Wentzlaff, and Paul Wentzlaff; grandchildren, Sarah Bell, Dena (Todd) Hasz, Joanna (Darryl) Mitchell, Diana (Matthew) Udovich, Ericka Friesen, Christopher Wentzlaff, and Tara Wentzlaff; great-grandchildren, Ashley, Dylan, Paige, Alex, Trace, Grace, Sheriya, Marcus, Isaac, Hunter, Savannah, Tucker, Cael, Blaise, and Jenna; great-great grandchildren, Jovani and Carmen; sisters, Eunice Ranweiler, Virginia Christle, Geraldine Leonard, and Shirley Peterson; brother, Bob (Vonnie) Wentzlaff,; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Elsie Skarda, Dorothy Armstrong, and Mary Wentzlaff; brother, Henry Wentzlaff.