Edward John Donnell
March
13, 1922 – February 9, 2007
Edward John Donnell, 84, of Bemidji,
MN died peacefully February 9, 2007 at his
daughter’s home in Eckle
Township, Minnesota
Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, February 12,
2007 at the St. Mary’s Mission in Red Lake, Minnesota
with Rev. Bill Mehrkens officiating with military
honors provided by the Red Lake VFW
Post.#4889. A visitation will start at 3:00 PM
on Sunday, February 11th at the Redby Community
Center in Redby, MN
and will continue until the time of the service. Burial will be in the Fort Snelling
National Cemetery
in Minneapolis, Minnesota
with full military honors provided by the memorial honor squad at 12:30 PM on
Tuesday, February 13th (gathering at assembly area #4 at the National Cemetery). Arrangements are assisted by
the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji, MN.
Active pallbearers will be Mike Brown, Alvin Donnell, Charlie Hegstrom, Earl Donnell, Charlie Perkins, and Mike Hegstrom, with alternates Duane Bellanger,
and Les Donnell.
Honorary pallbearers will be Lyle Donnell, Louie Hegstrom, Frances
“Chunky” Brun, Loren Lauderbach,
Ronald “Crusher” Hegstrom, and Herman Donnell.
He was born on March 13, 1922 in White Earth, MN, the son of Louis
and Agnes (Thomas) Donnell.
He was raised and educated in Red Lake.
He attended school at the St. Mary’s Mission
Boarding School in Red Lake.
He enlisted in the US Navy and served honorably for 20 years. He served
in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre in WWII, and also during the Korean
Conflict. He was honorably discharged as a Seaman First Class on May 21st,
1962. After retiring from the Navy he worked for the Minneapolis Housing
and Development Corp. for many years, drove Truck, and worked for the Red Lake
Roads Department. He was a member of the Red Lake VFW. He enjoyed watching sports,
including All Star Wrestling, and playing cards.
He is survived by his son Les (Kelly) Donnell of Bemidji; 2
daughters, Ruth Ann (Mike) Brown and Carly Clark,
both of Bemidji; 2 sisters, Teresa Johnson of Bemidji, and Thern
Hegstrom of Redby; 2
brothers, Peter (Genevive) Donnell of Grand Rapids
and Frank Donnell, Sr. of Red Lake; a longtime friend Joan Donnell of Bemidji;
5 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews, and other
relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Donna Donnell
in 2003; a wife Armella Kelly; and 3 brothers,
Leonard, Tony, and Louis Donnell.
Messages of condolence may be sent to www.ceasefuneralhome.com
