Obituaries for February 24, 2003

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, February 26, 2003

Marvin G. Pierce, Jr., 62

Marvin G. Pierce, Jr., 62, of Austin, died Friday, Feb. 21, 2003, at Comforcare Good Samaritan Center.

He was born Jan. 7, 1941, in Trego, Wis., to Marvin Sr. and Esther (Maricle) Pierce. In 1947, his family moved to Spring Valley where he attended school.

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In 1966, he married Evelyn Dunn. They had three sons, Robert, John and Larry. They were later divorced. In 1972, he married Lynda Erickson. They had a daughter, Theresa, and a son, Tony. They were divorced 1980. In 1981, he married Linda Thorpe and adopted Allen (Thorpe) in 1986. They later divorced.

Marvin loved spending time with his grandchildren, being outdoors, fishing, hunting and driving. He had coffee in a restaurant every day.

He enjoyed driving 18-wheelers until his health kept him off the road. He was a member of the Mower County Sheriffs Posse.

Survivors include sons, Robert (Stacy) Pierce, Austin; Larry Pierce, Winona; Tony (Amanda) Pierce, Albert Lea; Allen Pierce, Austin; daughter, Theresa Pierce-Belland (Mark), Burnsville; stepdaughter, Lisa Canady, Lincoln, Ill.; 14 grandchildren; brothers, Myron Pierce, Spring Valley; Duane (Nancy) Pierce, Rochester; sisters, Norma (Ken) Northway, New Albany, Ind.; Charlene (Merlin) McElyea, Spring, Texas; former wives, Evelyn Dunn, Winona; Lynda Erickson, Burnsville; Linda Thorpe, Austin; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and infant son, John.

Visitation: Wednesday for one hour before the service at the mortuary.

Service: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, at the mortuary with Chaplain Cathy Mannel officiating. Casket bearers will be Robert Pierce, Larry Pierce, Tony Pierce, Allen Pierce, Myron Pierce and Rodney Hutchinson.

Interment: Etna Cemetery, Spring Valley.

Funeral Home: Clasen-Jordan Mortuary, Austin.

Memorials: Preferred.

Robert L. Watts, 64

Funeral services for Bob Watts will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003, at the LeRoy Lutheran Church with the Rev. Thomas Kolden officiating. Burial will be at the LeRoy Cemetery.

Bob Watts, age 64, owner of the Travel Inn and Watt's on 1st in LeRoy, died Sunday, Feb. 23, 2003, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.

Robert Lee Watts was born Feb. 7, 1939, in Boon, Iowa, to Donald and Dorothy (Peachy) Watts. They moved to the Lansing, Minn. area where he was raised. In the early 50's he started working at Lansing Corners Supper Club. This was where he learned his restaurant skills. In 1958, he graduated from Austin High School. From 1959 to 1961 he worked at and owned, with his dad, Bob's Drive Inn in Austin. This was one of the first restaurants to do broasted chicken in the area. They opened The Plaza Restaurant at the Pure Oil Truck Stop in 1962. This was one of the first 24-hour restaurants in the area.

On Oct. 4, 1963, he married Linda Groen in South Dakota. They bought the Stardust Night Club in Austin in 1967 and, in 1970, they moved to LeRoy and bought the Travel Inn from the Rich family. In 1998, they added Watt's on 1st, expanding their business with a bowling alley and banquet facilities. He continued to run the businesses until the time of his death.

He was very active in Ducks Unlimited and enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, pool, bowling, and he truly loved being on the water in his boat.

Bob is survived by his wife, Linda of LeRoy; three sons, Todd Watts of LeRoy, Troy Watts of McIntire, Iowa, and Scott (Christina) Greenameyer of Orange County, Calif.; one daughter, Kim (Bob) Biffen of New Jersey; seven grandchildren, Kenzie, Dylan, Cole, Jimmy, Danny, Dana and Kyle; one brother, Kermit (Melodie) Watts of Austin; one step-sister, Sheila (Gene) Windfelt of St. Cloud; and his stepmother, Toni Watts of Austin.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, 2003, at the LeRoy Lutheran Church and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. Memorials preferred to the family.

Elizabeth J. Dion, 58

Elizabeth J. Dion, 58, of Ranier, died Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003, at her home.

She was born Nov. 10, 1944, in International Falls, to John and Kathleen Nagle. She graduated from Falls High School.

She was married to Louis Dion for over 40 years. A military wife, Elizabeth lived in numerous states and Europe. She was a wife, mother and mentor for her grandchildren.

She enjoyed fishing, ice fishing and camping.

Survivors include her husband, Louis Dion, Ranier; sons, Louis (Karen) Dion, Jr., Rose Creek; daughters, Marilyn (Randy) Hansen, Austin; Michelle (Terry) LaVelle, Austin; nine grandchildren; brothers, Jim Nagle, Nivis; Fred Nagle, Greenville, S.C.; Raymond Nagle, Park Rapids; sisters, Ellen Cox, Seattle, Wash.; Kathy Mannausau, Moorhead; Patty Baker, St. Paul.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Rosetta Bahr; and brother, Russell Nagel, Sr.

Visitation: One hour before the service.

Service: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, at Evangelical Covenant Church with Rev. Larry Connors officiating.

Interment: Forest Hill Cemetery.

Funeral Home: Green-Larsen Mortuary, Inc., International Falls.

Memorials: Preferred.

William S. Wanous, 45

William S. Wanous, 45, of Tucson, Ariz., formerly of Blooming Prairie, died Monday, Feb. 17, 2003, in Tucson, Ariz.

He was born Sept. 6, 1957, to Richard and Helen (Jukes) Wanous in Owatonna. He graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1976.

A heavy equipment operator, Bill moved to Arizona 19 years ago. He enjoyed fishing, baseball and football.

Survivors include a son, William Wanous, and his mother, Deanna, Tucson, Ariz.; mother, Helen Fiebiger, Blooming Prairie; brothers, John (Marilyn) Wanous, Brownsdale; Richard Wanous, Thomas (Julie) Wanous and David (Brenda) Wanous, all of Blooming Prairie; a step-brother; three step-sisters; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents; his father; and step-father, Carl Fiebiger.

Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, with a 4 p.m. Rosary and a 6:30 p.m. Wake Service at the funeral home.

Service: 10:30 a.m. memorial mass Thursday at St. Columbanus Catholic Church in Blooming Prairie with Father Richard Dernek officiating.

Inurnment: St. Columbanus Catholic Cemetery, Blooming Prairie.

Funeral Home: Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home

Tristan C. McDurmott Warrington, 1

Tristan C. McDurmott Warrington, age 1 year, died Saturday, Feb. 22, 2003, after a valiant battle with Rhabdoid cancer.

He is survived by parents, Sam Warrington and Serena McDurmott; twin sister, Mikayla; grandmothers, Virginia McDurmott of Minnesota and Janet Cramer of California; great-grandfather, Don Hollenbeck; aunts and uncles, Bob McDurmott of Oregon; Cyndi McDurmott and Kevin VanOverbeke of Minnesota; Beth and Joe Grubisch of Minnesota; Michelle and Bill Hoversten of Ohio; Genae and Bobby Sundby of South Dakota; Lisa Warrington of Colorado; Eileen and Jeff Cooper of California. He is also survived by 10 cousins and numerous other relatives and loving friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Waconia. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the mass at church. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Austin, Minn. following mass.

Loved by all, his life too short, his legacy of love will live forever.

Arrangements by Johnson Funeral Home, Waconia.

Theodore W. Petersdorf, 84

Theodore William Petersdorf, age 84, of Austin, died at his home Friday, Feb. 21, 2003.

He was born Aug. 25, 1918, to Willis and Cora (Haas) Petersdorf in Zumbrota, Minn. He married Isabel Griffin in Austin.

Theodore worked at Hormel Foods for over 30 years and was also a carpenter.

Survivors include wife, Isabel Griffin; daughter, Linda (Jim) Carothers of Johnston, Iowa; four grandchildren, Matthew and Amanda Carothers; Sara Hoza and Sandra Allen; four great-grandchildren; Mary Klingsporn of Pine Island; Rosella Whitman of Milford, Pa.; Daniel (Cheryl) Petersdorf of St. Paul.

He was preceded in death by two sons, one brother and two sisters.

Private funeral services will be held at a later date. His body was donated to science.