Sherman William Walburn, (Sherm) 91, loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, of Austin, Minn., passed from this earth into the arms of his Heavenly Father on Friday, March 2, 2012, at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minn., surrounded by his family.

Sherman was born Feb. 18, 1921, in Clear Lake, Wis., to Clifford and Hattie (Reed) Walburn. He spent his early years in Clear Lake, Chaffee Settlement, Wis. — where he remembered waking up to the smoke of many moonshine stills — Morristown and Austin. Sherm married the light of his life, Frances Fern Tucker, on Sept. 30, 1946, and they have lived happily in the house he built in Austin since that time.

He was a lifetime member of the Cedar River Archery Club in Austin, helping to build the kitchens, gates, fencing and winning many tournament trophies. Sherm and Fran were longtime members of the First United Methodist Church and attended there since 1946. He was employed at the Austin Daily Herald, starting in 1937 holding jobs as paperboy, mailroom worker, janitor, printer’s devil, linotype operator, advertising compositor and shop foreman. He retired in 1986 after 49 years of service. Sherm was proud to be a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and of his military service in World War II in the 9th Infantry Division, M Company, and 60th Infantry Regiment, the famous GO DEVILS. He served in Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy — landing on Utah Beach on D-4, northern France — Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. He won the Bronze Star First Oak Leaf Cluster for meritorious achievement in ground combat against the armed enemy in the European African Middle Eastern Theater of Operations.

Sherm was an expert craftsman, and blue ribbon winning wood worker. He loved to craft items in his

basement wood shop and share them with his family and friends. His handiwork can be found in many places in the Austin area and other places throughout the United States. Sherm also loved spending time with friends and family, and particularly spending time with Fran, his wife of 65 years. He loved camping, fishing, gardening, rock hounding, lapidary work and meeting friends every day for coffee. He enjoyed meeting new people and could strike up a conversation with anyone. Sherm can best be remembered for his kindness, bravery, strength, compassion, hard work, and a willingness to help anyone at any time. Having a sweet, gentle spirit, he had a love for life, a great sense of humor and a smile on his face for all.

Sherman is survived by his wife, Frances Walburn, Austin, Minn.; daughter and son-in-law, Melanie and Denny Davis, Eureka, Mont.; son and daughter-in-law, Gregory and Darlene Walburn, Rochester, Minn.; grandchildren: Zachary Davis, Littleton, Colo., Denise Wee, Reedsburg, Wis., Jennifer Davis, Townsend, Mont., Adam (Kathy) Walburn, Tower City, N.D., Matthew Walburn, Rochester; great-grandchildren: Nevaeh Davis, and Devin, Derian, Breanna, and Bailey Walburn; nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his son, Rodney Walburn; brother, Warren Walburn; mother and father, Clifford and Hattie Walburn.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church on Wednesday, March 7, with the Rev. Marilee A. Benson officiating. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery with Austin Post 91 American Legion in charge of military rites. Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and at the church on Wednesday for one hour before the service.