Three family members we lost in 2013

It's high time I updated this blog with important family news, the most significant of which is three obituaries from 2013. That year, we lost Harry Greason, Steve Pepin and Sarah Broberg. Peace to all of them, and to those of us who miss them.

 

Harry A. Greason, of San Diego, died July 16, 2013. He was born in Coleman, Wis., to August and Mollie Greason, on July, 21, 1920. He was one of 12 children. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, five brothers, his wife, Pauline, and a daughter, Jill. He is survived by a daughter, Jan Greason of El Cajon; his partner, Florence Sprick Bye (shown with him in 2010 above) of San Diego and Maplewood, Minn.; a brother, Alvin, of Crivitz, Wis.; a sister, Joyce Schilling, of Wauwatosa, Wis., three nephews and three nephews. Harry was a Marine veteran of World War II’s Pacific Theater, including Tarawa. Services will be held at 11 a.m. July 24, 2013, at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd., San Diego, with military honors and Pastor Jonathan Doolittle officiating.

Steven Edward Pepin, 59, of Red Wing, Minn., died unexpectedly Friday, June 21, 2013 in Red Wing.

He was born on Nov. 25, 1953 in Bloomington, Minn., to Francis and Marjorie (Palmer) Pepin. In the 1960s, his family moved to Red Wing, and he graduated from Red Wing Central High School in 1971. On May 7, 1977 he married Pat Rafferty. He was employed by the Pepin Block Plant, Double J. Lumber, later taking it over as Pepin-Bauer Lumber Co. and most recently owned and operated Pepin Supply and Manufacturing. His family recalls how he enjoyed fishing, doing mechanical work, especially on vehicles, target shooting and his Mustang cars. He also had a love for animals, enjoyed going to Bev’s Café and the Whistle Stop and was a foster parent for more than 30 years.

Survivors include his wife, Pat; four children, David Pepin of Lake City, Christine Pepin and Ben Pepin, both of Red Wing, and Nathan (Jenn) Pepin of Paynesville, Minn.; three brothers, Jim (Debbie) Pepin of Augusta, Wis., Don of Elizabethtown, Tenn., and John of Rochester; his mother-in-law, Florence Sprick Bye of Maplewood, Minn.; a sister-in-law, JoAnne Schmidt of Red Wing, and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 27, 2013 at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel, Red Wing. Memorials are preferred to the Children’s Home Society of Minnesota in St. Paul or the Goodhue County Humane Society.

 Sarah J. Broberg, 48, of Richfield, Minn., passed away from complications of Alzheimer's disease on July 9, 2013. Preceded in death by parents, Marion and Wallace, several aunts and uncles, and other relatives. Survived by brother, Daniel; brother and sister-in-law, Samuel and Bridget; nephews Marty, Nick, Tyler, Alex and Zack, many relatives, friends and her housemates and caring staff at Wingspan. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 12, at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 4343 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis, with visitation one hour prior. Donations preferred to Wingspan or donor's choice. (That's Sarah above with a second cousin, Avamarie Miller, during a family reunion in Lake City, Minn.)