Funeral services for Erwin C. Andresen of Albert Lea will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, 2002 at the First Lutheran Church of Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Visitation will be held today from 4-8 p.m. at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea, and one hour prior to the service at the church .

The Andresen family is mourning the loss of a husband, father, grandfather, son, brother friend and neighbor. They grieve the loss of a loving, kind community member, a lifelong educator, soloist, handyman, willing listener, a man so generous he would give the shirt off his back if needed.

He died suddenly on Thursday evening, Nov. 7, 2002 of cardiac complications at the Albert Lea Medical Center.

Erwin Curtis Andresen was born on Oct. 23, 1934 in Murray County, Minn. to Einar and Olivia (Pedersen) Andresen. He was baptized in the Lutheran faith at Ellsboro Lutheran Church and was later confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Erwin graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1952. He graduated from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa in 1956 and received a master’s degree in education from Mankato State University in the early 1970s. He married Nancee Larson on Dec. 8, 1956 at Zion Lutheran Church in Rake, Iowa. They had seven children together: Philip and his wife Doris (Polz) and children Sylvia and Claudia of Forst, Germany; Elizabeth Andresen and daughter Caren of Austin; Ruth and her husband Bruce Stadheim and children Jordan, Tara and Jerrod of Hayward; Katheryn Andresen and Jim of Eagan; Maria and her husband Todd King and children Natalie, Philip and Sarah of Mankato; Diane Groth and Dwayne and children Cassandra, Zachariah, and Clarissa, of Albert Lea; and Jennifer Knudtson and Kurt and children Elisha, Tanya, Tabitha and Jonathon of Albert Lea. He is also survived by siblings; Clarine (Floyd) Wallace; Bethlyn (David) Breamer; Merle (Darlene) Andresen; and Thelma (Chuck) Neibuhr. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Joyce Larson of Rake, Iowa, brothers- and sisters in-law and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law, and brother-in-law.

He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.