Chester Westrich

KELSO, Mo. — Chester J. Westrich, 89, of Upsala, Minn., died Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, at Mother of Mercy Nursing Home.

He was born in Kelso, son of Albert and Stella Enderle Westrich. He and Violet Hokenson were married Oct. 16, 1943, in Minneapolis, Minn.

Westrich served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

After the war he worked in Minneapolis as a union carpenter until moving to Upsala in 1949, where he had a dairy and hog farm. He was a member of Farmers Union, American Legion Post 350, Catholic Aid, a charter member and usher of St. Mary's Parish, served on Upsala Co-op Creamery Board and Creameries Blending Board.

Survivors include his wife; four sons, Gary Westrich of St. Michael, Minn., Ron, Dennis and Mike Westrich, all of Upsala; two daughters, Sharon Wielenberg of Freeport, Minn., LuAnn Popp of Rice, Minn.; three sisters, Marie LeGrand of Sebring, Fla., Vera Redfern of Chaffee, Mo., Alma Heisserer of Cape Girardeau; 24 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to service time Friday at Miller-Carlin-Brenny Funeral Home in Albany, Minn. Parish prayers will be at 6 tonight, followed by the rosary at 7.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Upsala. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.