John Bates, 88

John Bates of Watkins died Sunday, Aug. 22, 2004, at the St. Cloud Hospital. He was 88.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Watkins; interment will follow in the parish cemetery.
John G. Bates was born Jan. 13, 1916, in Watkins, to John Sr. and Rose (Boll) Bates. He married Hildegard Boeckmann Sept. 23, 1940, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church; she preceded him in death April 2, 1999. He farmed his entire life on the family farm in Watkins where he was born and raised. John was a member of the St. Anthony Catholic Church in Watkins where he was a member of the bus committee and served as an usher for many years. He was also a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and a 45-year member of Alcoholics Anonymous.
John was preceded in death by his parents; wife Hildegard; brothers and sisters Mary Maus, Hildegard Maus, Rose Gelhar, Norbert Bates, Florian Bates, Louie Bates, Catherine Bates, Monica Arnold, Rev. Joseph Bates, S.V.D., and Sidora Wexler.
He is survived by his children Esther (and David) Pauly of Sebeka, David Bates of Watkins, Patricia (and Roger) Hennen of Marty, Beverly (and Donald) Schmitt of Watkins, Mary Kay (and Roger) Lawler of Watkins, Debra Bates of Chaska; 16 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; and sister Elizabeth Curran of Bloomington. Casket bearers will be Steven Pauly, Allen Pauly, Michael Pauly, Aaron Hennen, Christopher Lawler and Eric Schmitt.
Honorary casket bearers will be members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Arrangements were by Ertl Funeral Home of Watkins.