Eugene Wilfred Mann, 87, formerly of Luverne, died Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, at Quiet Oaks Hospice in St. Augusta, Minnesota.
A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, with visitation beginning at 1 p.m., at Bethany Lutheran Church in Luverne. Burial will follow at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne. Per MN Executive Order, masks will be required.
Memorials may be directed to Lutheran Social Services in memory of Eugene Mann for Meals on Wheels; or to Quiet Oaks Hospice House.
Eugene Mann was born on Nov. 12, 1932, to Harry and Auguste “Hattie” (Beyer) Mann in Luverne. He was baptized on Nov. 20, 1932, and confirmed on July 6, 1947, both at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. He attended Rural District School #12 through the eighth grade and graduated from Luverne High School in 1950.
He married Arlene Burmeister on Dec. 27, 1953, at St. John Lutheran Church. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955. He completed basic training in Fort Gordon, Georgia, and was then sent to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, where he specialized in communications. Arlene joined him in New Jersey after their marriage. The remainder of his service was spent at Fort Sheridan, Illinois.
After his discharge from the Army, Eugene and Arlene returned to Luverne and began farming. They ended up on the same farm where Eugene grew up. In 1966 Eugene also began working for the U.S. Postal Service as a letter carrier, which he did for 32 years while farming.
In 1982 the couple retired from farming and moved to Luverne. From 1997-2012 Eugene was employed with Glen’s Food and Fuel. He and Arlene enjoyed traveling around in their camper and taking cross-country trips to visit their children.
Eugene became a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Luverne in December 1996. Over his lifetime he served the church as congregational president, elder, deacon, and Sunday school teacher, and Board of Christian Education member.
In 2014 Eugene and Arlene became residents of Bethany Meadows in Brandon, South Dakota. Arlene died in November 2017.
Eugene is survived by his children, Belinda (Daniel) Kroska of St. Joseph, Brian (Patty) Mann of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Brenda Mann Harrison of Snohomish, Washington, Bryce (Stacey) Mann of Lewes, Delaware, and Benita (Scott) Dingman of Bemidji; 13 grandchildren, Josh Mann, Eric Mann, Angi Pense, Shari Gilbert, Elizabeth Harrison DeVivi, Leah Naccarato, Blake Mann, Brynn Mann, Bryan Mann, Alexis Burger, Victoria Burger, Ryan Dingman and Mya Dingman Totzauer; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Arlene; and his brothers and their spouses, Robert (Alice) Mann and Virgil (Elaine) Mann.
Arrangements are provided by the Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
(1029 F)