Erwin A. Karger, age 91 of Glenwood, died Sunday, November 20, 2016 at the Glenwood Retirement Village.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 26th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Inurnment will be in St. Donatus Catholic Cemetery in Brooten.  Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home.

Erwin Albert Karger, son of William and Agnes (Blake) Karger, was born on March 18, 1925, in Effington Township, MN.  He grew up on a farm in rural Effington Township along with his eight siblings.  He attended Urbank country school and the Urbank Lutheran Church. On December 30, 1944, Erwin enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served his country for three years before his honorable discharge on January 11, 1947.

On December 31, 1947, Erwin was united in marriage to Rita Rose Bitzan at Our Lady of Seven Dollors in Millerview, MN. Their marriage was blessed with 11 children. Erwin was employed with the Soo Line Railroad for 30 years before his retirement. Over the years the family made their home in Parkers Prairie, MN, Kramer, ND, Egeland, ND, Brooten, MN, and most recently, Glenwood, MN.

Erwin was a member of the Brooten Amercian Legion, the BMWE union, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood. He was a kind and loving family man who expressed himself artistically through woodcarving and painting pictures.  He also enjoyed fishing, yard games, poker parties and dice games.

Erwin passed away at Glenwood Retirement Village on Sunday, November 20, 2016, at the age of 91. He was a man his family can truly be so proud of. He will never be forgotten and lives today, tomorrow and forever in their hearts.

Erwin is survived by Rita, his wife of over 68 years; his children, Gerald (Sharon) of Glenwood, Rick (Linda) of Kandiyohi,  Don (Carmen) of Goodhue, Anthony of Eden Valley, Patrick (Wendy) of Eden Valley, Maylinda (Gary) Reed of Glenwood, Barbara (Terry) Kopka of St. Cloud, and Melissa Crafton of Alexandria;  28 grandchildren; 52 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Lillian Karger; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Agnes Karger; eight siblings, Maylinda Kroegman, Edwin Karger, Esther Noetzelman, Edna Benzinger, Olivia Schmidt, Marvin Karger, Elroy Karger, and Duane Karger; a daughter, Sandra Baker and her two husbands, Michael Torgerson and Gary Baker; two sons, Gregory and Dale; four grandchildren, Amie Redmond, Mitchell Tokach Callenius, Katherine Reed, and Tommy Torgerson, and one great-granddaughter, Glacius Crafton.