Gifford H. Wermager

Gifford H. Wermager, 105 of Barnesville, Minnesota died Saturday, June 6, 2009, in the Barnesville Good Samaritan Society, Barnesville. Gifford, son of Thor and Serena (Rasmussen) Wermager, was born January 19, 1904 in Gary, Minnesota where he attended school and grew to manhood. He worked in his fathers general store in Gary before attending Aukers Business School in East Grand Forks, Minnesota to learn bookkeeping. Gifford moved to Barnesville in 1939 where he lived for the rest of his life. He married Margaret E. Nelson on June 18, 1949 in Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Barnesville. In the community of Barnesville Gifford worked at Houghs Meat market as a butcher, then as a bookkeeper he worked for First National Bank of Barnesville, The Farmers Oil, The Barnesville Potato Company and the Mainline Potato Company. He also served as treasurer of the Town of Barnesville for 10 years and ran an income tax service in Barnesville for many years. Gifford and Margaret became residents of the Barnesville Good Samaritan Society in 2001. Margaret died in 2004. He was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church, where he participated in the choir. He was the secretary " treasurer of the Lutheran Brotherhood. He participated in church suppers as a pie cutter, until he graduated to cutting the lefsa. He served on the Clay County Fair Board for 25 years. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and kept a cottage on Lake Lizzie for many years. Nothing made him happier than being out in his boat fishing. Of late his greatest joy has been following the Minnesota Twins. May the good Lord judge him big enough to keep. Gifford is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Thomas G. and Linette Wermager of Sharon, Vermont; his granddaughter and her family, Heidi and Scott Olson and their sons Jacob and Jack of Forreston, Minnesota; and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; Margaret, his wife of 55 years; three brothers and four sisters. Visitation: Today from 4:00 " 8:00 in the Dobmeier Funeral Home, Barnesville and two hour before the service on Thursday at the church. Funeral service: Thursday at 2:00 in Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Barnesville. Interment: City Cemetery, Barnesville.