Herman R. Flaskerud

Herman R. Flaskerud, age 86, of Decorah, died Friday, December 20, 2013 at home after a short battle with cancer. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, December 27, 2013 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah with Rev. Chad Huebner officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 P.M. Thursday, December 26 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and on Friday beginning at 10:00 A.M., one hour before the service, at First Lutheran Church. Herman Robert Flaskerud was born June 20, 1927 in Calmar, IA, the son of Julius and Anna (Flaskerud) Flaskerud. He was baptized and confirmed at Calmar Lutheran Church. He graduated from Calmar High School in 1945. After enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1946, he was on a ship overseas when Japan surrendered, so he served until 1948 with the Army of Occupation in Japan. Herman married Carolyn Brickner on October 18, 1952 at First United Methodist Church, Decorah. They farmed for the Fillmore County Nursery for a short time, but soon moved back to Decorah to work and build a home on Division Street. Over the years he worked at Norman Berg Construction, S.E. Brickner & Son, Decorah Tire Service and Decorah Builders, and his own Flaskerud Building & Landscaping until retirement. He served as an usher and on the council of First Lutheran Church, Decorah. He was an officer of the Minowa Dancers Square Dance Club. After retirement he was a member in good standing of the “Good ‘Ol Boys” coffee group at McDonald’s, and volunteered for The Food Pantry at First Lutheran Church. He worked hard, but also loved fun with family and friends: roller skating, dancing, camping, sledding, horse trail riding, storytelling and sharing memories. Herman is survived by his wife, Carolyn (Brickner), son Herman “Jay” (fiancé Sherry Kittelson) of Rochester, MN, daughter Christy Hay (John) of Shawano, WI, four granddaughters, Nita of Rochester, MN, Kaya of West Union, Jenna Nuehring (James) of Urbandale, and Anna Oetker (Christopher) of Cedar Rapids, two great granddaughters, Lorelei Oetker and Josie Nuehring, brothers Erick and Laurence and sister Dorothy Halverson, all of Decorah, sisters-in-law Marjorie Johnson of Edina, MN, Nancy Gwynn of Spokane, WA and Audrey Brickner of Maquoketa, IA, and many special nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, Julius, a sister Marie Hegtvedt Rindels, sisters-in-law, Viola (Rude), Adeline “Ann” (Steine) and Lucille (Ramlo), and brothers-in-law, David Brickner, Charles Johnson, and Orville Halverson. The family asks for any memorials to be designated to: The Food Pantry at First Lutheran Church, 604 W. Broadway, Decorah, IA 52101 or Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice, 901 Montgomery St., Decorah, IA 52101.