Edward August Van Dorpe

Edward August Van Dorpe was born to August and Augusta Van Dorpe on October 19, 1915 in Winona, Minnesota. Ed was schooled in District 12, Ghent, Minnesota, and received his GED in 1994. He married Rita Stassen at St. Eloi Church in Ghent, Minnesota, on October 15, 1947. They farmed outside of Ghent until 1971, when they moved to Minneota. After farming, he was employed by Farm Service in Ghent, where he sold DeLaval milking equipment. He was a mechanic at the International Harvester dealership in Marshall, and Swede’s Service Center in Minneota. He also worked part-time several years for Gislason Hardware in Minneota until he fully retired in his 70’s. He served on the church council for St. Edward Church in Minneota for four years and was a funeral ministry usher for many years. He served on the board for the Minneota Countryside Golf Club for four years, and also served on the board and was active at the Senior Center for several years. He was a Lions Club member for over 30 years. He loved to golf, and had a regular tee time with a group of friends every afternoon. In his younger years, he was an avid square dancer with the Jolly Mixers. He loved to waltz, and he and his wife continued to dance all their married life. In his retirement, he and his wife looked forward to their winters in Arizona, where they had many good friends and stayed active playing rolle bolle, golfing, and dancing. He will always be remembered for his kind and gentle spirit, his great sense of humor, his honesty and integrity, his unwavering faith, and his devotion to his wife and family. Edward died Thursday November 12, 2015 at the Minneota Manor in Minneota. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Rita, and daughters, Barbara (Richard) Verthein of Minneapolis, MN; Delores (Carl) Scott of Jacksonville, FL; Diane (Ray) Klotz of Brooklyn Park, MN; son, Richard (Mary Kay) Van Dorpe of Colorado Springs, CO and daughter Catherine (Jonathan) Willette of Mankato, MN. He is survived by 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and his sister, Louise Stassen. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Louis and Henry, and sister, Marie Andries. Memorials preferred to St. Edward Catholic School, St. Edward Catholic Church (210 W. 4th St, Minneota, MN 56264) or Prairie Home Hospice of Marshall, MN (408 East Main St, Suite 8, Marshall, MN 56258).