Dr. Mark P. Virnig, age 93, of Wells, died Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003 at Parkview Care Center in Wells.

Memorial Services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells. The Rev. Eugene Stenzel will officiate. There will be a time of gathering, fellowship and luncheon following the service. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is in charge of arrangements. Interment will be in St. Casimir Catholic Cemetery in Wells.

Dr. Virnig was born on June 27, 1910, in Harvey, N.D., the son of Christian I. and Rose S. (Arendt) Virnig. The family homesteaded near Big Sandy, Mont., then moved to New Richland. He graduated from New Richland High School in 1927 and attended St. Thomas College in St. Paul. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1933, interned at Hennepin County General, and began his practice in Wells in 1934.

He married Genevieve Kelly, a Wells schoolteacher, on June 20, 1938.

His medical and surgical practice in Wells was interrupted from 1942-1946 when he served in the U.S. Navy, attached to a submarine-torpedo squadron in the Aleutian Islands. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Lt. Commander.

Upon completion of his naval service in 1946, Dr. Mark returned to Wells to continue his medical and surgical practice. His brother, Dr. Richard P. Virnig, joined him in 1947. The partnership built and occupied the present clinic building at 36 Third St. S.E. in April of 1962. The clinic building was sold to the Albert Lea Medical Surgical Clinic on Sept. 1, 1983. Dr. Mark retired in 1984. During his 48 years of practice he delivered three family generations in the Wells community.

Dr. Mark received the President’s Award from the Minnesota State Medical Association in 1978 for outstanding service on behalf of the MSMA. He had served a number of years on the board of trustees of the association. In 1984 he was installed in the MSMA Fifty (year) Club. Also that same year, Dr. Virnig was honored by the Wells community in recognition of his many years of service. June 25, 1978, was proclaimed “Dr. Mark Virnig Day.” He also received letters from the United States Senator and the Governor of Minnesota for his outstanding dedication.

He was a member of St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells, the Knights of Columbus, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Association, was a member and past president of the Blue Earth Valley Medical Society and served as their delegate to the MSMA for 15 years. He was also a member of the Wells Kiwanis Club, the Wells Area Chamber of Commerce, the Wells VFW and American Legion posts, was the health officer for the city of Wells, and Deputy Coroner for Faribault County. His hobbies included golf, gardening, fishing, traveling and reading medical journals.

He is survived by three children: one son, Michael C. Virnig of Wells; two daughters: Mary R. Reichel and Maggie B. Fidelman of Denver, Colo.; one daughter-in-law, Bonnie Wells of Denver, Colo.; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister, Genelle Simoni of San Jose, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Mark T. Virnig in 1981; his wife, Genevieve in 1

1997; and two brothers: James Virnig in 1971, and Dr. Richard Virnig in 1985.

Memorials are preferred to the Minnesota Medical Foundation at the University of Minnesota. Any remembrances that you wish to share with the Virnig Family may he directed to: 255 2nd Ave. S.W., Wells, MN 56097.