Florain "Mike" Ehresmann

Florian P. “Mike” Ehresmann, age 77 Cold Spring August 25, 1929 – September 15, 2006 Mass of Christian Burial will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 19, 2006 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring, MN for Florian P. “Mike” Ehresmann, age 77, who died Friday at his home surrounded by family after his courageous battle with cancer. Fr. Cletus Connors, O.S.B. will officiate and burial will follow immediately after the funeral in the parish cemetery. Family and friends may call after 4:00 p.m. Monday and from 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring. Parish prayers will be at 7:00 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home. Florian was born in Luxemburg, MN to Peter J. and Mariam (Kear-Zieglmeier) Ehresmann and spent his youth working on the family farm in Cold Spring. On October 30, 1950 he married Elizabeth “Betty” Loso in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, St. Joseph, MN. He then moved to St. Paul, MN where he began his career with Whirlpool Corporation and started his family of five children. In July 1955, the family moved to the budding city of Bloomington, MN. For 15 years Florian was active in the Bloomington Athletic Association coaching his three son’s baseball, football, basketball and hockey teams. Under his leadership, these teams captured numerous city championships. In 1984, Florian was asked to follow Whirlpool’s move to Danville, KY to help facilitate the start up of the new factory. He retired in 1987 as a Senior Process Engineer, and moved back to Minnesota, initially to New London, then Alexandria and finally settling in his hometown of Cold Spring. During his years of retirement, Florian spent 17 winters in the South Padre Islands. Here he enjoyed warm sunny days, walking the beach, and hanging out on the deck with many dear friends from around the country. Florian’s “in moderation” life philosophy rewarded him with luxuries and pleasures, but none so meaningful to him as the precious times spent with friends and family, especially with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Whether he was at a sporting event, playing at the park with the grand/great-children, sharing life lessons on the back of a napkin over afternoon coffee, or playing cards and dominoes, it was these times that afforded him his greatest riches. Florian’s wit, charisma, and determined spirit will be missed dearly by all who knew him. All that we have learned and loved will endure always. Survivors include his loving wife of 56 years, Betty; children, Greg (Cathy) Ehresmann of Wykoff, MN, Barb (Ken) Carigiet of Cottage Grove, MN, Debbie (Greg) King of Winona, MN, Ron (Sue) Ehresmann of Burnsville, MN and Mike (Tiffany) Ehresmann of Moorhead, MN; one sister, Geraldine Lis of Columbia, SC; a brother, Richard Ehresmann of Sauk Rapids, MN; 17 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; 9 sisters, Creola Guggenberger, Violet Froehle, Ione Schnieder, Grace Wolf, Mildred Leistikow, Mary Cook, Joan Blaszczyk, infants, Melba and Rose; 3 brothers, Andrew, Ralph and Ben Ehresmann.