The memorial service for Corliss “Corky” Sherman Estergren of Minneapolis will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation with his family will be one hour prior to the service. Military honors will be accorded by Albert Lea veterans organizations.

Corky died July 4, 2012, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis. He was 87 years old.

Corky was born Dec. 1, 1924, in Gordonsville to Carl and Hanna (Utabjaa) Estergren. He resided in Gordonsville and moved to Albert Lea when he was 4 years old. He attended Albert Lea High School. After graduation he enlisted in the Navy where he proudly served from 1943 to 1946. After discharge from the service, he moved to Minneapolis where he attended Dunwoody Institute for drafting and estimating and graduated on Oct. 14, 1949. After taking a job in Osage, Iowa, he met his wife, Catherine Lonergan, and they were married on June 8, 1957. The two settled down in Albert Lea in 1964 and resided there until Corky moved to the veterans home in 2009. He worked for lumberyards the majority of his life, managing Home Lumber in Albert Lea. After a fire in 1974, he rebuilt Home and Farm Lumber where he was a co-owner/manager.

Corky was past president of the Lumberman’s Association, life member of the American Legion, member of the Elks, Moose Club and Falcons Motorcycle Club. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, motorcycles and car racing. He was a well respected businessman and a hard worker.

Corky is survived by his wife, Catherine “Cathy” Estergren of Chaska; daughter, Cherie Bartz and her husband Randy of Shakopee; son, Craig Estergren and his wife Julie of Milton, Wis.; grandsons, Matthew Bartz and Gareth Estergren; sister, Helen Weigel of Albert Lea; brother-in-law, Robert (Jean) Lonergan; sister-in-laws, Grace Lonergan, Bettylou Lonergan and Laura Lonergan; and many nieces and nephews.

Corky is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Aronld (Monetta) Estergren, and Vernon (Mary) Estergren; brothers-in-law, Francis Weigel, Roland Lonergan, Kenneth Lonergan, Dale Lonergan; sister-in-law, Pauline Whalen; one niece and several nephews.