Vernon Orville Hollatz

Vernon O. Hollatz, age 81, of Alexandria, formerly of Almora, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 22, 2022, at Alomere Health.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m., Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at Lind Family Funeral Home with Peter Lind, Celebrant. Private family interment will take place at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Almora in the spring.

Visitation is one hour prior to the service.

Vernon Orville was born on December 4, 1941, to Paul and Elda (Johlke) Hollatz in Effington Township, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. At the age of four, his family moved to a farm in West Miltona. Vernon attended District 73 Country School. In 1955, his family moved to a farm near Henning. He was confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Henning and attended Henning High School. He was employed by the Henning Creamery from 1960-1962. Vernon served in the US Army from 1963, until his honorable discharge in 1966. He was united in marriage to Frieda Stocker at Trinity Lutheran Church in Deer Creek on November 26, 1966. Following their marriage, they moved to Minneapolis where they lived until moving to New Hope in 1988. Vernon was employed at Metal-Matic in Minneapolis from 1965-1968. In May of 1968, he worked as an electrical assembler for Tennant Company in Golden Valley for 30 years, until his retirement in February of 1999. In April of 2000, Vernon and Frieda moved to their hobby farm in rural Almora to enjoy the country life. Vernon took great pride in keeping a well-maintained yard, pasture, ditches, and woods. He enjoyed music, fixing things, and using his Massey and Kubota tractors. Vernon also shared caretaking duties at Oak Ridge Cemetery with his wife, Frieda while they lived in the Almora area. In 2018, due to health reasons, a move to Alexandria was made.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Merlin.

Vernon is survived by his wife of 56 years, Frieda; brothers, Jerry (Donna Reese) Hollatz of Carlos, and Eugene (Vicki) Hollatz of Alexandria; sisters, Bonnie (Bill) Brunson of Parkers Prairie and Barbara (Dave) Nelson of Clitherall; sister-in-law, Gloria Hollatz of Alexandria; along with several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.