Kermit Mestad

Kermit Mestad, age 89, of Decorah, IA, died on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at Wellington Place Nursing Home in Decorah, IA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 24, 2013, at the First Lutheran Church, 604 West Broadway St., Decorah, IA, with Rev. Chad Huebner presiding. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery, rural Decorah, Iowa. Friends may call from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, May 23, 2013, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue, Decorah, IA, and also after 10:00 a.m., at the church on Friday morning. There will be a VFW Memorial Service at 6:00 p.m., on Thursday. There will be military rites at the graveside by the Helof Holm VFW Chapter #1977 Kermit Grant Mestad was born on January 26, 1924, the son of Joseph and Nettie Amanda (Gjere) Mestad near Highlandville, Iowa. Kermit attended the Kjome, Exey and Grindeland Country Schools and graduated from the Kjome School. He served in WWII, from Nov. 25, 1942, until Jan. 31, 1945, in the US Navy aboard the USS Millicome. Kermit was in seven major engagements in the Pacific Ocean. He returned to Decorah after the service and was united in marriage to Norma Rude on Oct. 26, 1952, at the Highland Lutheran Church. Together they bought a farm near Highlandville and farmed until they retired and moved into Decorah in 1979. Over the years, Kermit worked for the Upper Iowa Coop, Stoskoph Oil, hauled grain and also drove school bus for Decorah Community Schools for eighteen years. Kermit enjoyed playing cards, woodworking, hunting and fishing. Kermit was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Decorah, the Helof Holm VFW Chapter #1977 in Decorah and the Joseph B. Lund American Legion Post #299 in Mabel, MN. Kermit is survived by his son, Larry (Penny) Mestad, Decorah, IA. One daughter-in-law: Cindy Mestad, Elgin, MN. Four grandsons: Travis (Lisa) Mestad, Tim Mestad, Lucas Mestad and Jacob Mestad. Great Grandchildren: Madison, Gavin and Logan Mestad. One sister: Janet Fossum, Spring Grove, MN. Kermit was preceded in death by his parents: Joseph and Nettie Amanda (Gjere) Mestad. His wife: Norma Jean Delores (Rude) Mestad on Oct. 27, 2001. His son: Daryl Mestad on March 12, 2013. One brother-in-law: Ove Fossum, Jr. in 2008.