Ivan John Himmelright, 96, of Bemidji, MN passed away April 21, 2021 at his home surrounded by family. Ivan was one of seven children born in Nary Minnesota to William and Lettie Himmelright. The family moved to Nebraska where he began school at age 4. They later returned to Guthrie Minnesota eventually settling back in Nary. Part of his education was in a one room schoolhouse which is now a historic Minnesota landmark. He grew up on a farm appreciating the hard work of chores and taking care of animals and living off the land. These values carried forward into adulthood and molded him into the man he became.
He went from being a railway worker to a lumberjack until he was drafted in 1943 at age 19 to serve his country in WWII. He served in Guadalcanal, Papa New Guinea, and the Philippines, until the end of the war and he was able to return home to MN.
It was in 1951 when he met the love of his life. They were set up by family and the rest is history. They were married in 1952 and spent the next 68 years making memories and setting examples for the rest of their family to follow. He was the true patriarch of his family leading always by example of how to be a great man. His kids respected him and his grandkids loved him beyond measure.
Ivan loved spending time in his garden and with his chickens. Tilling the land, planting flowers, and feeding his family with the labor of his bare hands brought him
such joy.
Ivan is survived by his wife Lila Himmelright, children Diane (Steve) Prince, John (Kathleen) Himmelright, and Vicki Himmelright (Aaran Leustek). Grandchildren Heather Michael, Heidi Hoven, Grant Nielsen, Ryan Prince, Nicole Taylor and ten Great Grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his infant son Jimmy, his parents William and Lettie and six siblings.
Funeral Services will be held June 19, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji. Burial will follow at Nary Cemetery with a gathering following at Cantabria Coffee Shop.
He went from being a railway worker to a lumberjack until he was drafted in 1943 at age 19 to serve his country in WWII. He served in Guadalcanal, Papa New Guinea, and the Philippines, until the end of the war and he was able to return home to MN.
It was in 1951 when he met the love of his life. They were set up by family and the rest is history. They were married in 1952 and spent the next 68 years making memories and setting examples for the rest of their family to follow. He was the true patriarch of his family leading always by example of how to be a great man. His kids respected him and his grandkids loved him beyond measure.
Ivan loved spending time in his garden and with his chickens. Tilling the land, planting flowers, and feeding his family with the labor of his bare hands brought him
such joy.
Ivan is survived by his wife Lila Himmelright, children Diane (Steve) Prince, John (Kathleen) Himmelright, and Vicki Himmelright (Aaran Leustek). Grandchildren Heather Michael, Heidi Hoven, Grant Nielsen, Ryan Prince, Nicole Taylor and ten Great Grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his infant son Jimmy, his parents William and Lettie and six siblings.
Funeral Services will be held June 19, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji. Burial will follow at Nary Cemetery with a gathering following at Cantabria Coffee Shop.
Ivan John Himmelright, 96, of Bemidji, MN passed away April 21, 2021 at his home surrounded by family. Ivan was one of seven children born in Nary Minnesota to William and Lettie Himmelright. The family moved to Nebraska where he began school at age 4. They later returned to Guthrie Minnesota eventually settling back in Nary. Part of his education was in a one room schoolhouse which is now a historic Minnesota landmark. He grew up on a farm appreciating the hard work of chores and taking care of animals and living off the land. These values carried forward into adulthood and molded him into the man he became.
He went from being a railway worker to a lumberjack until he was drafted in 1943 at age 19 to serve his country in WWII. He served in Guadalcanal, Papa New Guinea, and the Philippines, until the end of the war and he was able to return home to MN.
It was in 1951 when he met the love of his life. They were set up by family and the rest is history. They were married in 1952 and spent the next 68 years making memories and setting examples for the rest of their family to follow. He was the true patriarch of his family leading always by example of how to be a great man. His kids respected him and his grandkids loved him beyond measure.
Ivan loved spending time in his garden and with his chickens. Tilling the land, planting flowers, and feeding his family with the labor of his bare hands brought him
such joy.
Ivan is survived by his wife Lila Himmelright, children Diane (Steve) Prince, John (Kathleen) Himmelright, and Vicki Himmelright (Aaran Leustek). Grandchildren Heather Michael, Heidi Hoven, Grant Nielsen, Ryan Prince, Nicole Taylor and ten Great Grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his infant son Jimmy, his parents William and Lettie and six siblings.
Funeral Services will be held June 19, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji. Burial will follow at Nary Cemetery with a gathering following at Cantabria Coffee Shop.
He went from being a railway worker to a lumberjack until he was drafted in 1943 at age 19 to serve his country in WWII. He served in Guadalcanal, Papa New Guinea, and the Philippines, until the end of the war and he was able to return home to MN.
It was in 1951 when he met the love of his life. They were set up by family and the rest is history. They were married in 1952 and spent the next 68 years making memories and setting examples for the rest of their family to follow. He was the true patriarch of his family leading always by example of how to be a great man. His kids respected him and his grandkids loved him beyond measure.
Ivan loved spending time in his garden and with his chickens. Tilling the land, planting flowers, and feeding his family with the labor of his bare hands brought him
such joy.
Ivan is survived by his wife Lila Himmelright, children Diane (Steve) Prince, John (Kathleen) Himmelright, and Vicki Himmelright (Aaran Leustek). Grandchildren Heather Michael, Heidi Hoven, Grant Nielsen, Ryan Prince, Nicole Taylor and ten Great Grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his infant son Jimmy, his parents William and Lettie and six siblings.
Funeral Services will be held June 19, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji. Burial will follow at Nary Cemetery with a gathering following at Cantabria Coffee Shop.
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