Wilfred “Willie” Flaschenriem of Watkins died Friday, April 28, 2017, at Hilltop Health Care Center in Watkins, surrounded by his family. He was 88. 
A funeral service celebrating his life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 3, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in St. Nicholas with Fr. Thomas Olson officiating. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, at Ertl Funeral Home in Watkins with parish prayers at 4 p.m. followed by Wat-Kim-Valley VFW Post 5460 and Watkins American Legion Post 453 prayers at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the funeral service at the church Wednesday. Burial will follow at the St. Nicholas Catholic Cemetery in St. Nicholas.
Wilfred Joseph Flaschenriem was born July 11, 1928, on his family farm in Watkins to John and Frances (Schreifels) Flaschenriem. He entered the United States Army in March 1952 at age 23, and he served in the Headquarters Battery of the 631st Armored Field Artillery Battalion as a mechanic; he was stationed in Hammelburg, Germany, during the Korean War and rose to the rank of Corporal. He served in the Army for two years and returned to the United States in 1954. He married Jean Vouk of St. Cloud in 1955. That year he purchased a 200-acre farm on Island Lake near Watkins; there he and Jean raised five children. After tragedy took the life of Jean on Augsut 4, 1968, Wilfred raised his children alone for three years. He married Ardella Lutgen of St. Nicholas in 1971. Wilfred continued to farm and work as a mechanic at F & F Service in Watkins. He worked at F & F Service from 1969 to 1989 and then started Willie’s Lakeside Repair on his farm in 1989. He farmed his land actively for 52 years, from 1955 until 2007.
Wilfred was an active member of the St. Nicholas Catholic Church all of his life. He was a member of the St. Nicholas Men’s Society, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and the Knights of Columbus. Wilfred was a proud member of the Watkins American Legion Post 453 for more than 60 years, and he also was a member of the Wat-Kim-Valley Post 5460.
Wilfred was preceded in death by his parents, wife Jean (Vouk) Flaschenriem, daughter Susan Flaschenriem, sister Agatha Kunkel, and brothers Andrew, Alois and John Flaschenriem Jr.
He is survived by his wife Ardella (Lahr/Lutgen) Flaschenriem of Watkins; children Debra (and John) Magedanz of Eden Valley, David Flaschenriem (and Ed Burke) of Boston, Mass., Linda (and Tom) Faber of Watkins, Karen (and Bob) Sermon of Ramsey; stepchildren Roger (and Mary Ann) Lutgen of Minneapolis, Allen Lutgen, Shirley Lutgen, Kenneth (and Betty) Lutgen, all of St. Nicholas, Jim (and Anita) Lutgen of Crystal; eight grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren; brothers Lawrence Flaschenriem of Watkins and Edwin Flaschenriem of Tampa, Fla.; sisters Margaret Fuchs of Sartell, Cecilia Jones of Clearwater, Fla, Hildegarde Hahn of Sartell, Irene Rohr of Sacramento, Cal., Agnes Hennen of Brooklyn Center, and Clara Witte of Luxemburg; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Music for the service will be by Julene Faber-Andrusick. Casket bearers will be his grandchildren: Rhonda Alvord, Brian Magedanz, Lisa Moscho, Travis Magedanz, Matthew Faber, Krista Tri, Brad Sermon, and Greg Sermon.