Caledonia Argus

Posted: 3/25/04

Waldo Franklin Bunge

Waldo Franklin Bunge, 74, of Lanesboro and Preston, MN, died on March 21, 2004 at the home of his son, Andrew in Preston. He had been battling a rapidly developing cancer for the past several months. Waldo was born on March 26, 1929, in Caledonia, MN, to Hilda (Fruechte) and Franklin Bunge. He was the first child in a family of four that included siblings Eleanor (Schaub), Wilfred and Wayne.

On January 1, 1954, soon after his release from the Marine Corps, Waldo was united in marriage with Marilyn Annette Myrah of Spring Grove. Waldo attended Luther College in Decorah, IA, and received his elementary teaching certification and then continued on to graduate with a BA degree in 1956. During 1954/55 he sang with the Nordic Choir. He taught at Hawthorne Elementary School in Rochester for three years, 1956-59. He and Marilyn and their family then moved to Preston where he served as elementary school principal for seven years, 1959-66. Following that he served as principal of the Golden Hill Elementary School in Rochester for five years, 1966-71, and then taught for 15 years at the Jefferson Elementary School in Rochester, 1971-86.

After retirement in 1986, he and Marilyn continued to live on their small farm outside of Preston, where he had been a serious hobby farmer for many years. He enjoyed cooking and hosting guests from various countries. In 1960/61 he managed Camp Minne-Wa-Kan, a Bible Camp of the Evangelical Lutheran Church near Bemidji. He served as chief cook at a Canadian professional hockey camp in northern Minnesota in 1976 through 1979. In 1993 he and Marilyn opened the Cottage House Inn in Lanesboro.

Waldo is survived by his wife, Marilyn; two sons, Andrew (Gail) and Eric (Gayle); a daughter, Mary Docken (Don Lucas); seven grandchildren; his mother, Hilda; a brother-in-law, Stanley Schaub; and brothers, Wilfred (Ruth) and Wayne (Marian); and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Franklin, and his sister Eleanor (Stanley) Schaub.

All are invited to a time for lunch and fellowship with the family in the Fellowship Hall of Christ Lutheran Church in Preston from 12 noon until 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 26. The service will be at 2 p.m. with private committal at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family, at Waldoís behest, prefers memorial gifts to: CTC-Waldo Bunge Memorial, P.O. Box 125, Lanesboro, MN 55949 (to be divided among a scholarship fund at Luther College, a new arts center in Lanesboro and the organ fund of Christ Lutheran Church) or the family encourages contributions in Waldoís name to your favorite charity.

Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston is in charge of arrangements.

Top of Page