Maynard E. Aaker

Maynard E. Aaker, age 93, of Decorah, IA, died Wednesday morning, March 16, 2011 at Barthell Nursing Home in Decorah. Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Monday, March 21, 2011 at Decorah Lutheran Church with Rev. Bryan Robertson and Rev. Wayne Hagen officiating. A Private Family Inurnment will be held at a later date at Holden Lutheran Cemetery in Kenyon, MN. Visitation begins on Monday at 9:30 A.M. at Decorah Lutheran Church, one hour before services. Maynard Elmer Aaker was born May 29, 1917, in rural Kenyon, Minnesota on the Aaker homestead (now recognized as a Centennial Farm), the son of Olaf N. and Ellen (Solberg) Aaker. Maynard was fiercely proud of his rural Minnesota roots and of his family’s Norwegian heritage. He graduated from Kenyon High School in 1936 and Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 1939. At Luther he majored in English and Economics, sang in Schola Cantorum, was a member of the Irving Society, and served on the college newspaper CHIPS staff. He married Minerva Fredrickson of Wanamingo, Minnesota on May 18, 1940 and was a loving father to four daughters: Kathleen, Karen, Ann, and Linda. Maynard began his career with Skelly Oil Company and retired after 27 years. During this time he served Luther College as President of the Alumni Association and as a seven-year member of Luther’s Board of Regents. He left Skelly in 1967 to serve Luther College, as Director of Special Projects and later as Assistant Development Director. Maynard and his development team along with then President E.D. Farwell, were instrumental in funding and completing the Preus Library, the Center for Faith and Life, the Salisbury Live Animal Center addition to Valders Hall of Science, and Jenson (now Jenson-Noble) Hall of Music. He retired as Vice President of Advancement Emeritus in 1982. In 1984, Aaker was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award for “Outstanding achievement, leadership and dedication to the professional fields served by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education” (CASE). In 1995 Maynard and wife Minerva were recognized as Life Members of Luther College’s President’s Council, the college’s most prestigious giving club. Maynard was honored to receive the Spirit of Luther Award in 2004. In awarding this honor President Richard L. Torgerson thanked him for “Pouring so much of your lively energy in making this college a more excellent place.” Maynard’s lifelong love of music motivated him to join the Luren Singing Society in 1967. His engaging communication skills in Norwegian and English, helped coordinate their concert tours to Norway, and other Luren events. He also served as president of the National Norwegian Singers of America. Maynard has always been involved in community service. He was a 70 year active member of Lions Club International. He was a 25 year Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum Board member and was active in Norseman’s Federation, The Sons of Norway, and the Decorah Chamber of Commerce. Maynard chaired the Winneshiek County United Way campaign in 1984 and served as president of the Scandinavian Club of Sun City, AZ. In Maynard’s lifetime his faith was enriched through membership in the congregations of Holden Lutheran (Kenyon), Nokomis Heights Lutheran (Minneapolis, MN), Bethel Lutheran (Madison, WI), Decorah Lutheran, and American Lutheran Church Sun City (AZ). Maynard sang in church choirs, taught Sunday school and the Bethel Series, served on church councils, and served on the Luce Bergeson Endowment Committee as a member of Decorah Lutheran Church. Maynard is survived by his beloved wife and helpmate of 70 years, Mimi; his four loving daughters and their husbands: Kathleen (Carl) Casperson, Minneapolis, MN, Karen (Larry) Chellevold, Tucson, AZ, Ann (Bob) Naslund, Decorah, and Linda (Curt) Ritland, Tempe, AZ; ten adoring grandchildren, and fifteen wonderful great grandchildren: Steven and Debi Casperson, Nara and Lucas, Minneapolis, MN, David and Jamye Casperson, Caitlin and Jacob, Minneapolis, MN, Julie (Chellevold) and Jeff Berman, Emma and Mackenzie, Camarillo, CA, Amy (Chellevold) Hillenbrand, Lauren and Brock, Tucson, AZ, Michael and Kathy Naslund, Oswego, IL, Jennifer (Naslund) and Perry Numedahl, Brendan, Josie and Mya, Decorah, Laura (Naslund) and Ben Ready, Ella and Ingrid, Sioux Falls, SD, Kelly (Ritland) and Jeff Davis, Rob and Ryan, Tempe, AZ,Christine (Ritland) and Mark Bainbridge, Phoenix, AZ, and Thomas Ritland, Tempe AZ. He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Neal, Arnold, Leonard Aaker, his grandson Bradley Chellevold, and many friends. Buried in the Luther archives is a memo entitled, “Maynard’s Swan Song.” It was addressed to his colleagues in the Luther Development Office on his last day as Vice President in 1983. Maynard thanked his team and shared some final bits of wisdom: “Remind yourself several times a day how wonderful life is,” “Pray daily for a good opinion of yourself and others,” and “Resolutely forget yourself and your gripes—lose yourself in something worthwhile. The Aaker family wishes to thank all who shared Maynard’s life journey and the many kind caregivers at Mathilda A. Barthell Nursing Home and WMC Hospice nurses who so tenderly helped us walk him HOME. His love and his kind heart were as big as the man. HEAVEN IS SINGING……. The family respectfully requests that gifts be sent to Luther College for the Maynard and Minerva Aaker Scholarship Fund or WMC Hospice of Decorah.