Ewald Johannes

December 13, 1920 - August 21, 2016

Ewald Johannes, died on Sunday, August 21, 2016 at the age of 95 at his home of nearly 60 years, surrounded by his loving family. He was preceded in death by his wife, of 62 years, Leona Faber Johannes, and children, Ronald, Mary Ellen Larson and Roger, daughter-in-law Ann, grandson-in-law Scott, four brothers and two sisters. Ewald was a loving family man, known as “Grandpa” to many. He was never happier than when he was surrounded by his large family. He and Leona were blessed with nine children, 20 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. He will always be remembered by his positive, sweet and loving spirit, mixed at times with a little German vinegar. Born on Dec 13, 1920, in St. Nicholas, Ewald spent most of his life in the Watkins and Cold Spring area. As a home builder of 35 years, he was well known and respected for building scores of homes in Central Minnesota. He was also employed by Kraft Foods in Watkins in his early working years, and the Cold Spring Granite Company. He loved trees and after moving to his current home in rural Cold Spring in 1957, he planted and cared for over fifty thousand trees on his land on Goodner Lake. He was also an avid baseball fan who commandeered the revival of the old Watkins Clippers, managing many years of outstanding baseball in Central Minnesota. He is survived by his children: Jack (Bess) of Inman, SC, Karen (Trevor) Evans, of Big Lake, MN, Thomas, Kathy (Jim) Bell, Randy (Vi), and Mark, all of Cold Spring, siblings: Dorothy, Theresa and Ralph. With his wife, Leona, Ewald spent his entire lifetime living and caring for his family and children. He was active in the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and the St. Nicholas Men’s Society. Services will be held Saturday, August 27, 2016 in the St. Nicholas Catholic Church in St. Nicholas at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery. The St. Nicholas Men’s Society will pray a rosary in the Church at 10:30 a.m. Family will see friends at the Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring on Friday, August 26 from 4 – 8:00 p.m.