Virgil Grosland, 79

Published 12:00 am Thursday, January 28, 2010

Funeral services for Virgil Junior Grosland, 79, of Albert Lea, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Chapel. Deacon Mike Ellis will officiate. Interment will be at St. Theodore’s Cemetery with military honors accorded by area veterans organizations. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. 
Virgil died Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010, at Mission Nursing Home in Plymouth.
Virgil Junior Grosland was born on July 8, 1930, to Oscar and Inah (Hanson) Grosland. He graduated from Northwood High School in 1948. Virgil was drafted into service during the Korean War and served his country from 1951 to 1953. He was a member of the Berlin Brigade in East Germany during his time of service.  After his discharge, Virgil attended vocational school for carpentry. On March 13, 1952 he married Kathryn L. Mentel. Virgil had a farm in Northwood, Iowa, where he raised livestock and grain until 1975. He was also employed by Streater in Albert Lea; Hormel in Austin and Freemont, Neb., from 1969 to 1995. Virgil was a member of the VFW, Moose and Eagles Clubs. He loved to dance, work on remodeling projects or carpentry projects. He enjoyed telling jokes, helping someone in need and just visiting with people.
Survivors include his children: Mary Grosland of Owatonna, Teresa (Daryl) Frost of Delano, Valerie (Chris) Madsen of Freemont, Neb., and Todd Grosland of Albert Lea; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brother, David (Diane) Grosland of Fort Dodge, Iowa; sisters: Mavis (Dick) Nelson of Albert Lea, Kerma Hammer of North Point, N.C., and JoAnn (Jim) Villa of Lake Mills, Iowa; in-laws: Talora Grosland of Albert Lea, Marcy Schwartz and Ruth Grosland, both of Austin, and Stella Mentel of Adams; and many nieces and nephews.
Virgil was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Inah Grosland; wife, Kathryn; son, Mark Grosland; brothers: LaVon Grosland and Paul Grosland; in-laws: Harry Mentel, Clarence Mentel, and Melvin Schwartz; and niece, Marilyn (Nelson) Hillman.