Manville Wigern, age 83, of Walters, died Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, at his home in rural Walters, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be Monday, Sept. 26, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior’s Church in Kiester. Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. today at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. The Rev. Bonnie Roys will officiate and burial will be in Our Savior’s Lutheran Cemetery in Kiester. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is in charge of arrangements.

Manville Arthur Wigern was born Jan. 20, 1928, the son of Gilbert and Julia (Bendickson) Wigern in Freeborn County. On June 29, 1952, he was united in marriage to Jeanette Schroeder in Lyle. He served in the United States Army, and upon his honorable discharge, was a 50+ year member of the American Legion in Kiester. He was a member of the Foster Township Board. Manville was a farmer his whole life. He loved watching sports and western movies.

Manville is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Jeanette of Walters; son: Larry (Kathy) Wigern of Kiester, two daughters: Karen (Terry) Baynes of Kiester, and Carol (John) Howard of Madison Lake; daughter-in-law: Tammy Wigern of Blue Earth; eight grandchildren: Nicholas (Michele) Wigern, Mitchell Wigern, all of Kiester; James Frey of St. Louis Park, Lindsay (Jason) Braun of Crystal, Allison and Austin Howard of Madison Lake, Andy and Ben Wigern of Blue Earth; one great-grandson: Kade Wigern of Kiester; three sisters: Ardis Schroeder of Wells, Gilma Lamping of Forest City, Iowa, and Betty Ann Elwell of Roswell, N.M.; along with many nieces and nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, five sisters, one brother, son, Gary, in 2006, and one grandson, Patrick Freeberg, in 2010.