Eldren Lichtsinn

Eldren Lichtsinn, age 91, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at Sanford Wheaton Hospital in Wheaton, Minnesota.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Rev. Michael Breach officiating. Organist will be Sara Lee Rinke.

Interment will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, rural Wheaton. Pallbearers will be Kyle Cole, Ryan Cole, Grant Lichtsinn, Dillon Lichtsinn, Corey VanHorn and Paul Bjordahl. Honorary Pallbearers will be Eldren's granddaughters and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Friday, February 3rd from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service and Time of Sharing Service at St. John Lutheran Church. Visitation will continue Saturday morning one hour prior to service time at the church.

Eldren Arlis Lichtsinn was born December 13, 1925 in Wheaton, Minnesota to Fred and Henrietta (Ulrich) Lichtsinn. He was baptized January 10, 1926 and confirmed on August 27, 1939 by Pastor Albert Gierke at St. John's Lutheran Church in Dumont. He attended Traverse County School District #49. He furthered his education at the Morris Ag School in Morris, Minnesota. After his education he began farming with his father and brothers just east of Dumont, Minnesota.

On June 16, 1951 Eldren was united in marriage to Mavis Carlson at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church in Wheaton. The couple resided on the family farm where they farmed, raised livestock and sold seed corn. Eldren was awarded the Outstanding Young Farmer Award by the Wheaton Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Eldren was an avid goose hunter and fisherman. He started flying in March of 1947 in his Luscombe 8A two seat airplane with his faithful dog Cubby. He flew well into his middle age with the Wheaton Flying Club. Eldren also enjoyed flying radio controlled airplanes with the Black Sheep RC Club. Eldren served on the St. John's Lutheran Church Council in Dumont where he was also an elder. He also served on the Traverse County Soil and Water Board.

Eldren enjoyed traveling with friends on several cruises and trips to Europe. Eldren was known to take his daily walk to town for coffee at Homers.

Eldren is survived by his wife Mavis of Wheaton; son Kevin (Cyndy) Lichtsinn of Dumont, Minnesota; daughter Colleen (Earl) Cole of Roseville, California; grandchildren: Sara Goche of Watertown, South Dakota; Kelly (Corey) VanHorn of Morris, Minnesota; Joy (Paul) Bjordahl of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Grant Lichtsinn of Duluth, Minnesota; Dillon Lichtsinn of Morris, Minnesota; Ryan (Leane) Cole of Encinitas, California; and Kyle Cole of Roseville, California; eleven great-grandchildren; and one brother Kenneth Lichtsinn of Reno, Nevada.

Eldren was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Russell, sisters Bernice Schulz and Lois Rothfusz and brothers Merton and Norman.