Howard G. Cordes, 88
Howard G. Cordes
Bemidji Funeral Service for Howard G. Cordes, age 88, of Bemidji, formerly of Granada, was held Aug. 13, 2012, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fairmont. Interment was in Lakeside Cemetery in Fairmont. Howard passed away with his loved ones at his side on Thursday morning, Aug. 9, 2012, at Tamarack Court Assisted Living in Bemidji.
Howard was born on May 27, 1924, in Odin, to George and Louise (Wiedenbach) Cordes. He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Trimont. In 1934, the family moved near Amboy where he attended country schools in Nashville and Cedar Townships of Martin County. Howard graduated from Winnebago High School in 1943. He participated in all the sports activities available at that time.
Howard loved the Vikings, the Twins and the Gophers and enjoyed reading newspapers, books and magazine articles about the teams. He listened to many games on the radio in his younger days and watched every game on television that he could. Card playing was special for him, particularly Five Hundred. It never took much encouragement to get him involved in a rollicking game of that or Buck Euchre. Flower gardening was a big part of his life while they lived on the farm and he helped take care of the flowers around Tamarack Court when he could.
Howard and Betty Jane Nelson were married in Blue Earth at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in 1945. In 1947 they purchased a farm near Granada where they lived and farmed for fifty-eight years. Howard worked for Jenkins Plumbing and Heating in Winnebago from 1969 to 1981, and worked for Lakeside Cemetery in Fairmont from 1981 to 1986. They were members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fairmont and contributed many hours of service on various boards and committees and as ushers. In 2004, many post surgical complications landed Howard in the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont for several months and subsequently in Goldfinch Estates for a few more. Howard and Betty moved to Bemidji in 2005, to be closer to their daughter because of the health issues. In Bemidji, they joined Trinity Lutheran Church and continued their Christian walk under the pastoral care of Pastor Matthew Wurm. Their final home together was at Tamarack Court in Bemidji.
Howard loved to fish and they made many trips to Bemidji, where their daughter and son-in-law operate a resort. There, they had numerous reunions with brothers, sisters, in-laws, and their families, children and grandchildren. The reunions and the fishing continued as long as his health held out. He also helped out with improvement and upkeep of the resort.
Howard is survived by his wife, Betty Cordes, of Bemidji; children, Margaret (Earl) McNea, of Bemidji, Sharon Edinger, of Burnsville, and Susan (Dennis) Scheppmann, of Chanhassen; seven grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; brothers, Robert Cordes, of Grove City, and Elvin Cordes, of Fairmont; sister, Norma (Don) Cole, of Brownton; and a host of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, August Cordes; sisters, Dorothy (Vince) Maine, of Amboy; and two great-grandsons, Samuel Morrell and Andre Lareau.
Casket Bearers were Rick Olson,?Jerry Larson,?Kurt Scheppmann, Jeffrey Jung, Scott Morrell, and Kenneth Cordes.