Vernon Flaig

Vernon Francis Flaig, 96, of Willmar, died Monday, November 6th at CentraCare Care Center in Willmar. His Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 am, Monday, November 13th at Church of St. Mary in Willmar with interment in the church cemetery.  Military Honors will be provided by American Legion Post #167.  Visitation will be Sunday, November 12th from 3-5:00 pm at the church with a Knights of Columbus Rosary being prayed at 2:45 pm.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to the mass on Monday.  Funeral arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home.  www.hafh.org

Loving father, grandfather, and great- grandfather passed away, November 6, 2023, just short of his 97th birthday. Vernon Francis Flaig was born November 25, 1926, at Luverne Community Hospital in Luverne, Minnesota, the son of Michael and Florence (Radtke) Flaig.  His early years were spent on the family farm with his brother, Eugene. The family moved to Sanborn prior to him graduating from high school.  Vern was drafted into the Army on February 26, 1945, receiving an honorable discharge on October 12, 1946.  Upon his return home from service, he was hired as a printing apprentice working at the Lamberton City Newspaper.

On June 21, 1952, he married Marjorie Wilt at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lamberton, and moved to Redwood Falls, where they started raising a family of four sons: Richard, Randy, David, and Daniel.  In 1965 the family moved to Willmar where Vern accepted a promotion working for West Central Printing Company, where he worked for 20 years.  In 1985, Vern and Marjorie opened Vern’s Lunch Wagon which was one of the first successful food truck operations outside of the twin cities until his retirement.

Vern loved his family and his many lifelong friends. He volunteered and gave of himself throughout his life. He was an active member of St Mary’s Catholic Church helping out with whatever was asked of him. He was one of the original volunteer members of the Civil Defense Emergency Crew in Willmar. Always ready to help anyone in need. He was a Past Post Commander at the American Legion and even helped “Santa” out at the Legion when he was unable to come from the North Pole for the kids.

In his later years, he enjoyed tremendously his morning coffee with his friends, where they solved many world issues, but mainly, just had a lot of laughs. After Marjorie passed, he lovingly continued to care for and nurture their gardens and flowers. Some of these flowers were from the old family homestead in Lamberton. There was nothing he loved more than splitting plants and gifting them to his grandchildren, which we all cherish as we look over our own gardens!

Survived by his sons: Randall (Ruthie) Flaig and Daniel (Peg) Flaig; daughters-in-law, Lois Flaig and Karen Flaig; grandchildren: Tom (Krista), Ben (Bailie), Suzanne (Isaac). Mark (Joan), Michelle (Dan), Miaja (Dan), Wendy (Eric), Lance (Sherry), Robert, Lee (Stephanie), Carol (Samuel), Katrina, and numerous great-grandchildren. Also surviving are three sisters-in-law: Mary (Dean) Fishel of Westbrook, MN, Rita (Noel) Christiansen of Loma Linda, CA and Rose (Eugene) Flaig of Young America, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Florence, his loving wife, Marjorie; sons, Richard and David; grandson, Steven; granddaughter-in-law, Rachel Flaig; brother, Eugene; and brother-in-law, Noel.

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