The funeral service for Donald “Moose” Monson of Alden, will be held 10:30 a.m. on Monday at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. James Berning and Deacon Mike Ellis will officiate. Interment will be in St. Theodore’s Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by Albert Lea veterans organizations. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church on Monday.
Donald died at his home, surrounded by the love of his family on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010. He was 81.
He was born on Oct. 25, 1928, in Burt, Iowa, the son of Henry and Agnes (Weiske) Monson. He graduated from high school in Livermore, Iowa, where he attained the honor of being an All State basketball player.
Donald served our country in the U.S. Navy from September 1946 until September of 1949.
He was united in marriage to Bernice Kalis on May 25, 1953, at St. Theodore Catholic Church.
Living most of his life in Alden, Donald had worked for Ebert Plumbing for more than 30 years and later Jim and Dude’s before retiring. He was a member of St. Theodore Catholic Church.
“Moose” as friends and family knew him, enjoyed golf, snowmobiling and participating and watching sporting events.
He will be greatly missed by his wife, Bernice, of Alden; seven children: Maurie (Debra) Monson of Albert Lea, Ronald Monson of Philidelphia, Pa., Alan (Jean) Monson of Mansfield, Janelle Van Engelenburg (Troy Prescher) of Alden, Greg (Lori) Monson of Williamsburg, Va., Julie (Pat) Aldrich of Rochester, Barbara (Jim) Buckley of Tarpon Springs, Fla.; grandchildren: Chrissy Monson, Ian Monson, Cory (Dena) Monson, Kelsey, and Katie Monson, Vinnie VanEngelenburg, Erin (Doug) Mensen, Kahla and Matt Aldrich, Kelsey and Kristen Buckley, Jordan Prescher; great-grandchildren: Kendall Monson and Kamri Reichl; sister, Margaret Wilder, of New York; brother-in-law, Robert Thul, of West Bend, Iowa; sister-in-law, Betty Monson, of Gilmore City, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and nine sisters.