Gerhardt “Slim” Grabau, 91, of Wykoff, Minn., died Thursday morning, May 12, 2011, at the Spring Valley Care Center.

Slim was born March 10, 1920, in Forestville Township, Fillmore Co., Minn., the son of Adolph and Anna (Groth) Grabau. He was raised on the family farm and attended country school. He farmed all his life on the family farm, raising pigs and cows. He married Mildred Schwier Mackey Nov. 5, 1955, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wykoff. The couple made their home on his farm and retired in 1987 and moved into Wykoff. The couple moved to the Spring Valley Estates in February 2007 and then into the care center in August 2007. Slim was a member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church. He enjoyed fishing on rivers and the local ponds, making horseradish, pickled herring, shucking and cracking walnuts, playing cards and was a Twins fan.

He is survived by his wife, Mildred; stepdaughter, Murlie Davis of Gilbert, Ariz.; daughter-in-law, Patty (Steve) Mackey Davis of Lime Springs, Iowa; nine grandchildren, Brian Davis, Steven Davis, Gregory Davis, Jeff Mackey, Kim Mackey Rathbun, Karla Mackey Tart, Jennifer Davis, Jason Davis and Michael Wells; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; five brothers, Arlow Grabau of Spring Valley, Elmer Grabau of Spring Valley, Raymond (Mildred) Grabau of Wykoff, Curtis Grabau of Rochester and Lyndon “Butch” (Helen) Grabau of Austin; and one sister, Eunice Thompson of Spring Valley.

He was preceded in death by a stepson, Dennis Makey; stepdaughter, La Rae Wells; brothers, Elden Grabrau, Reuben Grabau and Gerald Grabau; sister, Bernice Scheevel.

The funeral will be 2 p.m. Monday, May 16, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church with the Rev. Peter J. Sestak officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Monday from noon until the time of service. Online condolences can be left at thauwaldfuneralhomes.com.