Lealund H. Gehrke, age 78, of Clearwater died on April 19 at Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis.

 

Funeral Services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, April 23 at Zion Lutheran Church in Annandale with Rev. Thomas Queck officiating.  Burial will follow at Corinna Cemetery. Visitation was Friday and will be 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, both at the church. A prayer service was held Friday at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the donor’s choice. 

 

Lealund Herbert Gehrke was born on February 12, 1938 at his home in Fairhaven Township to Fritz and Clara (Schauer) Gehrke.  He was baptized on May 6, 1938 at Concordia Lutheran Church in Fairhaven and was confirmed on March 18, 1951 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Popple Creek near Foley.  He was united in marriage to Joan Fuellner on November 27, 1965 at Zion Lutheran Church in Annandale.  Lealund served his country with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1960-1964; he served in San Diego, Japan, Hawaii and the Philippines.  He worked for 23 years at Robel Packing House in St. Cloud and 20 years as a spot welder for Electrolux in St. Cloud.  Lealund was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Annandale.  He enjoyed working in the woods, garden and lawn, watching movies, deer hunting and taking trips to the casino.  Lealund loved his time with family; especially his grandchildren.

 

Lealund is survived by his wife Joan Gehrke of Clearwater; children Laura (Dan) Buechner of New Ulm, Eric (Karen) Gehrke of St. Cloud, Karla (Adam) Gehrke of Fairhaven and Sheila (Randy) Czech of Hutchinson; grandchildren Samantha, Brody, Bree, Adrianna and Erika; sisters Clista DeChaney of Virginia Beach, VA, Florance DeHeer (fiancé Norm) of Watkins, Clementine “Mae” (Dwane) Schmidt of Annandale and Linda Schlueter of St. Cloud.  sisters-in-law Donna Fox, Marilyn (Steve) Clark, Linda (Jim) Mulkey and Patricia Gehrke; and brother-in-law Willy Fuellner (Diane Hoffman).  He is preceded in death by his parents Fritz and Clara Gehrke; brothers DelRoy Gehrke and Baby Gehrke; sister Orvella Malikowski Babineau; brothers-in-law Lloyd DeHeer, Eugene Schlueter, Robert Fox and LeRoy “Mac” Malikowski.

 

The casket bearers will be Virgil Bragelman, Earl Gehrke, Brody Gehrke, Bree Gehrke, Dwane Schmidt and Willy Fuellner.  Honorary casket bearers will be Samantha Stueve, Adrianna Czech and Erika Czech.  The Minnesota National Guard Honor Guard and the Maple Lake American Legion and V.F.W. Honor Guard will provide military honors.  Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services of Annandale.