Services for Willis Rossell

Willis Duane Rossell, 89, passed away on November 22, 2015  at his home under hospice care in Gonvick, MN.

 

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Samhold Lutheran Church in Gonvick, MN. Visitation will be on Friday, November 27, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. at Cease Family Funeral Home in Bagley, MN. Interment will be at Samhold Lutheran Cemetery in Gonvick, MN. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with the arrangements.

 

Willis was born September 28, 1926 in rural Clearbrook, MN, the son of Vernie and Clara (Swenson) Rossell. As a child, he attended the Taflin Country School. He worked different jobs around Clearbrook, Gonvick, and North Dakota until 1951 when he started work at the Hanna Mining Company in Keewatin, MN. In 1952, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Korea. He was discharged in 1953 after two years of service and married Lavone Lien on January 1, 1954 in Trail, MN. They moved to Keewatin where he returned to work at Hanna Mining Company. He retired as a heavy equipment mechanic after 34 years. They then moved to their farm by Pine Lake in Gonvick where he farmed for several years.

 

 Willis was a member of Samhold Lutheran Church, the American Legion in Gonvick, and the VFW in Lengby. He enjoyed restoring tractors, deer hunting, watching the news, and reading the paper.

 

He is survived by his wife Lavone of Gonvick, MN; his daughter Melissa (Jon) Brown and his grandchildren Nicole, Bryan, and Emily of Fayetteville, GA; his brothers Dennis Rossell of Fosston, MN and Frank (Nancy) of SanTan Valley, AZ; his sister-in-law Karleen Rossell of Nashwauk, MN; his brother-in-law Jim (Darlene) Lien of Erskine, MN; and several nieces and nephews.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents Vern and Clara Rossell; his brothers Omer, Charles, and Jim Rossell; and his sisters Virginia Edevold, Adeline Snobeck, and Clarice Johnson.

 

He is laid to rest with his comb and “papa” candy in his shirt pocket and his John Deere blanket on his lap.

Messages of condolence may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com

Richards Publishing

P.O. Box 159
239 2nd Ave
Gonvick, MN 56644
Telephone: (218) 487-5225
email: richards@gvtel.com

 

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