Emery A. Gehring

EMERY ARTHUR GEHRING, age 90 of Lemond, passed away on Sunday, August 18, 2013 at  Lakeshore Inn in Waseca.

Born to Arthur and Emilie (Behr) Gehring in Waseca County, Minnesota on November 18, 1922, Emery was the first of 13 children in his family. He was baptized and confirmed at Wilton Lutheran Church.  Following his graduation from Waseca High School in 1940, he enlisted in the Merchant Marines and spent three and a half years delivering supplies around the world during World War II.  On June 12, 1949 he married Lillian Quickstad at the Pontoppidan Lutheran Church in Lemond.  At that time he was working in a lumberyard in Lyle.  They soon moved to Steele County and began to farm.  In 1955 he began working as a carpenter and contractor and later opened the family business - Gehring Plumbing and Heating.  He continued to work at the plumbing business doing bookwork and business management until his 90th birthday.  Emery and Lillian still reside on the family farm that they purchased 62 years before, with their two sons now working the land.

Emery liked to travel.  He and Lillian travelled much of the United States and made several visits to Europe. In the 1980’s he purchased a used conversion van dubbed the “Fish Mobile”.  The family used it for numerous fishing trips to northern Minnesota and Canada.  He prided himself on passing his love of fishing on to future generations.  Emery enjoyed sports both as a participant and a spectator.  He played baseball, football, golfed and bowled.  He was known to have one game on the radio and one on the television and kept track of scores and statistics on both.  He loved to garden and do crossword puzzles and enjoyed watching the crops grow.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lillian of Lemond; two sons, Duane (Debbie) Gehring of Owatonna, Curtis (Susan) Gehring of Lemond; one daughter, Le Ann Gehring-Ryan (partner Charlie Putnam) of North Mankato; seven grandchildren, Jennifer Gehring (partner Jesse Kuntson) of Owatonna, Jeff Gehring (partner Bethany Van Natta) of Bemidji, Greg Gehring (fiancée Tiffany Johnson) of Mankato, Mark (Karrisa) Gehring of Minnetonka, Ted Gehring (partner Shanna Jurva) of St. Francis, Laura (Justin) Fletcher of Vienna, Austria, and Evan Ryan of North Mankato; and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by four brothers, Marlin Gehring of Waseca, Ronald (Marlene) Gehring of Mound, Gerald (Alice) Gehring of Oakdale and Kenneth of Aztec, New Mexico; two sisters, Velma Lohmann of Alto, Michigan, and Norma Stone of Waseca; two sisters-in-law, Rosalie of Waseca, and Farolyn of Eagan; and several  nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Dennis; three brothers, Orville, Lyle, Virgil; and three sisters, Shirley Thissen, Luverne Krueger, Edna Korman; three brothers-in-law Art Krueger, Melvin Korman, John Stone; and one sister-in-law, Beverly Gehring.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 PM on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at Dennis Funeral & Cremation Services in Waseca, and will continue for one hour before the service at the church on Thursday.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 AM on Thursday, August 22, 2013 at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church in Steele County, with Rev. Mike Walerius officiating. 

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