Lloyd A. Perau, 81

Lloyd August Perau, age 81, of Austin, died Tuesday morning, Oct. 8, 2002, at Clarkson Hospital in Omaha, Neb.

He was born June 3, 1921, to Willie Henry and Ella Lydia (Reimann) Perau in Elgin, N.D. He grew up in the Austin area attending schools in Mona, Iowa and Austin. After receiving training for welding in Portland, Ore., Lloyd enlisted in the Navy in 1942, serving for six years. During World War II he was stationed aboard the USS Delta, a repair ship based out of San Diego, Calif.

He married Anna Mae Gunderson of Sargeant on April 15, 1945, in Austin. Lloyd and Mae lived in San Diego where their first daughter, Janet (Flagg) was born. Shortly after returning to Austin he began work as a welder mechanic at the Hormel plant, retiring after 32 years. Lloyd also owned a sideline portable welding business. In the early 90's he worked part time at Regner's Welding of Austin.

His favorite pastime was constructing things. He made everything from decks, pontoons and camping trailers to cradles, games and puzzles. He built garages, sheds, beds, buffets, rocking chairs and even a beautiful spinning wheel. Other hobbies he enjoyed were camping fishing, gardening, antiquing, wine making, pickling, sausage making and reading. Visiting with friends was important to him, spending many happy hours square dancing and playing 500. He and Mae loved traveling the U.S., seeing relatives and doing extensive family tree research. All of his interests, such as planting 3,000 trees one Arbor Day to making his own homemade apple cider, reflected his zest for living. He was active at St. John's Lutheran Church, serving as an usher and trustee. His spiritual leadership was highly appreciated by all his family. Over the last three years he maintained a positive, inspirational attitude while enduring multiple medical problems. He will be greatly missed by friends and family.

Survivors include his daughter, Janet (Kenneth) Flagg of Arlington, Texas; Judy (Robert) Morrell of LaVista, Neb.; son, Dr. Dale (Penny) Perau of Sargeant; nine grandchildren; five step grandchildren; two step great-grandchildren.

His parents, his wife, Mae, and brother, Allan, preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Austin. Friends may call at Worlein Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and at church one hour before the service. Interment is at Evanger Lutheran Cemetery, rural Sargeant with military rites by American Legion Post 91 and VFW Post 1216.

David H. Johnson, 64

David Harlan Johnson, 64, of Austin, died Monday, Oct. 7, 2002, at Austin Medical Center emergency room.

He was born April 6, 1938, in Blooming Prairie, to Palmer and Ora (Hanson) Johnson.

He graduated from the Blooming Prairie High School in 1956 and attended the Austin Vocational-Technical School. He served in the United States Navy and was married to Patricia Anne Lightley on March 17, 1961, in Mason City, Iowa.

David worked as a mechanic for H&S Carburetor and Electric, L.C.L. Transit and A.B.F. Freight, retiring on Sept. 25, 1998.

He was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and the Teamsters.

Survivors include wife, Pat Johnson, Austin; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Brad Stout, Austin; sons and daughters-in-law, Ross and Mary Johnson, Rochester; Wade and Grace Johnson, Spring Valley; five grandchildren; sisters and brothers-in-law, Beverly and Joe Swenson, Blooming Prairie; Marlys and Richard Spinler, Austin; Hjordes and Bruce Ebeling, Blooming Prairie; brother and sisters-in-law; Darrell and Mary Ann Johnson, Blooming Prairie; Sharon Johnson, Geneva; mother-in-law, Clarice Lightly, Austin; sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, Karen and Roger Kruger, Austin; Dean Lightley, Austin; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, Marvin Dean; brother, Gale.

Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 11, 2002, at the funeral home and Saturday at the church for one hour before the service.

Service: 2 p.m., Saturday, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with the Rev. Roberta Flood officiating. Casket bearers will be Jody Johnson, Peter Kruger, Jon Kruger, Craig Spinler, Don Peterson and David Symes.

Interment: Oakwood Cemetery in Austin.

Funeral Home: Clasen-Jordan Mortuary, Austin.

Robert P. Blackwood, 77

Robert P. Blackwood, 77, of Green Valley, Ariz., formerly of Austin Minnesota, died Friday, Oct. 4, 2002, in Green Valley, Ariz.

He was a Hormel retiree, an Air Force Captain, a member of P-51 Pilots Association and the Quiet Birdmen.

Survivors include children, Roberta Blackwood, Minneapolis; Grant Blackwood, Rochester.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn Blackwood.

Service: A memorial service will be held later this fall in Austin.

Reka E. Neitzel, 63

Funeral services for Reka E. Neitzel, age 63, of Albert Lea, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002, at Calvary Baptist Church. Pastor Glen Stevens will officiate. Interment will be in Hollandale Cemetery. Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. today at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services at the church.

Reka was surrounded by her family at home as she entered the presence of Jesus, her Savior, after a courageous battle with cancer. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, she will be dearly missed.

Reka Eleanor Neitzel was born June 26, 1939, to Melvin and Mary (Loverink) Waalkens in Rose Creek. She attended Hollandale Elementary and Albert Lea High Schools. Reka was a lifelong resident of Freeborn County. On March 14, 1959, she was united in marriage to Dale Neitzel in Hollandale. Reka was a member of Crossroads Evangelical Free Church and active in a Tuesday Bible Study group. She volunteered for Naeve Partners in Health, enjoyed traveling, attending Southern Gospel Music Festivals with her husband, and spending time with her family and friends. Family was very important to Reka.

Survivors include her husband of 43 years, Dale Neitzel; daughter, Carla Neitzel of Anoka; son, Rod Neitzel and wife Deb of Owatonna and children Rachel Powell and husband Mason and their daughters, Chelsea and Corrie of Owatonna, Jennifer Douty and husband Andrew and their children, Samantha and Jacob of Austin, and Kim Nelson and her daughter, Alyssa of Austin; daughter, Mary Knutson and husband Tim and their children, Jordan, Jonah and Hannah of Albert Lea; daughter, Sharon Evenson and husband Jamie and their children, Ashley and Ryan of Albert Lea; son, Scott Neitzel of Albert Lea; and "chosen daughter," Cindy Harris of Anoka; brother, John Waalkens and wife Judy of Glenville; sisters, Marge Buckmaster and husband Louie of Shawnee, Okla., Babe Enderson and husband Larry of Albert Lea, and Bev Huston and husband Lynn of Austin; sisters and brothers-in-law, Deli Neitzel of Coon Rapids, Audrey Sorenson and husband Howard of Albert Lea, Richard Neitzel and wife Susie of Mankato, and Karen Hendrickson and husband Laurel of Albert Lea; and nieces and nephews.

Reka was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Mary Waalkens; her mother and father-in-law, Ralph and Augusta Neitzel; her brother-in-law, Myron Neitzel; and her nephew, Bruce Neitzel.

Memorials are preferred to the Crossroads Evangelical Free Church Harvest the Land Fund or to the Crossroads Community Hospice.