Ernest John Weinkauf

Funeral services for Ernest John “Ernie” Weinkauf, 89, of Holland, Minn., were Saturday, Aug. 7, at St. James Lutheran Church in Holland, Minn. Burial followed in Holland Cemetery.
Mr. Weinkauf died Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010, at the home of his son and daughter-in-law in Lawrence. He and his wife had lived in Lawrence for the past month.
He was born Dec. 24, 1920, in rural Holland, Minn., the son of Arthur A. and Bertha Wittfoth Weinkauf. He attended two years of high school in Holland and graduated from Pipestone High School in 1938. He also attended a trade school in Minneapolis, Minn.
Mr. Weinkauf was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran. He attended boot camp at Farragut, Idaho, and attended Navy schools in Norman and Purcell, Okla.; Sand Point, Wash.; Klamath Falls, Ore.; and Jacksonville, Fla. Much of his time in the Navy was spent as a gunnery instructor.
After his discharge in April 1946 in Bremerton, Wash., he returned to the family farm and farmed from 1947 until his retirement in 1990.
Mr. Weinkauf was a member of St. James Lutheran Church and American Legion Post 534, both in Holland.
He married Mildred I. Nielsen on Dec. 17, 1950, in Yankton, S.D. She survives, of the home.
Other survivors include two sons, the Rev. Randy Weinkauf and wife Nancy, Lawrence, and Dale Weinkauf and wife Dianne, Lakefield, Minn.; a sister, Alma Schuknecht, Yakima, Wash.; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Kathy Weinkauf.
Warren-McElwain Mortuary was in charge of Lawrence arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent at warrenmcelwain.com.