Francis L. Wesley, 75

, of St. Peter, died Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, at Benedictine Living Community in St. Peter after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer’s.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Elysian with Friar Michael Ince officiating.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Waterville. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Mankato Mortuary and will continue one hour before the service at the church.

Francis “Luke” Wesley was born April 24, 1935, to Sylvester and Rowene (Harriman) Wesley in Mankato. In 1953, he graduated from Waterville – Elysian High School. On June 22, 1959, Luke was united in marriage to Kathleen “Kathy” Burg at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Peter. From 1960 until 1982, he owned Village Drug in Alden. He had later worked at Kmart in Austin, Snyder Drug in Stewartville and Innovative Food Processors in Faribault, until his retirement in 2002. He was a devout Catholic, volunteer baseball coach, volunteer fireman, and a Minnesota High School Rodeo Association Director. For 35 years he was active in Alcoholics Anonymous. Luke enjoyed hunting, camping, traveling, golf, dancing, playing cards, drinking coffee and watching the Minnesota Twins. He enjoyed every moment he had with his family and friends. In his last years, Luke enjoyed spending time with his special friend, Barb Melby.

Luke is survived by his three children: Mike (Belinda) Wesley of St. Charles, Sue Prosser of Good Thunder and Renae (Gary) Ahrens of Winona; grandchildren: Luke Wesley, Jack and Rose Prosser, Wenonah and Lydia Jaworkski, and Bethany and Jenny Ahrens; sons-in-law: Al Prosser and Tom Jaworski; special friend, Barb Melby; brother-in-law, Jerry Burg; sisters-in-law: Therese Nord and Phyllis Burg; and many nieces and nephews.

Luke was preceded in death by his wife, Kathy, on Sept. 3, 2002; infant son, Patrick; brother, Dick; sister-in-law, Carmen Burg, SSND; and brother-in-law, Cyril Burg.