IN MEMORIAM MFDA Past President Glenn Thomas Hansen, 81, Duluth, formerly of Moose Lake and Two Harbors, died peacefully on Monday, June 8, 2020 at his home with his family by his side after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on April 6, 1939 in Minneapolis to Conrad and Esther Hansen. He lived in Minneapolis until the age of 14 when his family moved to Two Harbors. Glenn attended Two Harbors High School graduating in 1957 and later entered the United State Navy, serving for two years. On June 25, 1960, Glenn married Carole Sarff in Minneapolis. Glenn attended the University of Minnesota graduating in 1963. Glenn started his career at Simonet Funeral Home in Stillwater for a short time before moving to Moose Lake in 1964 and began working for Wes & Gen Hamlin at Hamlin Funeral Home. In 1976, Glenn and Carole purchased the funeral home and incorporated their name on the business. In 1998, they sold HamlinHansen Funeral Home to Mike Kosloski. They had lived by Gooseberry Falls on Lake Superior since 1993 and later moved to Duluth in 2006. Glenn had served as Minnesota Funeral Directors Association President from 1977-1978. He was also a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Moose Lake where he served as President of the Congregation, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Castle Danger, Family of God Lutheran Church in Duluth, Sons of Norway, and the Moose Lake Chamber where he was recognized as Grand Marshall for the Fourth of July Parade. Glenn loved the game of hockey and was active in the Moose Lake Hockey Program and a very proud UMD Fan and season ticket holder. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, wood carving, playing cards, driving his Corvette in parades, and sharing his great sense of humor. Glenn was a proud Norwegian and in 1994 began researching his genealogy and contacting relatives in Norway and Carole’s relatives in Sweden. They made several trips over to Norway and Sweden and became very close to their relatives through the years. Glenn was preceded in death by his wife, Carole; parents: Conrad and Esther
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Hansen; and three brothers: Douglas, James, and Conrad. He will be lovingly remembered by his two sons: Mark Hansen of Moose Lake and Greg (Becky) Hansen of Duluth; his grandchildren whom he adored: Ashley (Erik) Cooper; Megan Hansen, Keely Hansen, and Thomas Hansen. Visitation was held June 11, 2020 in Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake and continue June 12 at Hope Lutheran Church, Moose Lake. Burial was held June 12 in Diamond Lake Cemetery, Aitkin, MN. To sign the guestbook online or to send a personal tribute video via SendHugs, go to www. hhkfuneralhome.com. Memorials are preferred to the charity of your choice in Glenn’s memory. Blessed be the memory of Glenn Thomas Hansen. Arrangements by HamlinHansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake. Ernest John Gieseke, Minnesota funeral director and owner of Gieseke Funeral Home, was born April 28, 1950 to Herbert H. Gieseke and May Christine (Eidem) Gieseke. He was baptized and confirmed at Zoar Lutheran Church. He grew up at Marietta, MN and graduated Class of 1968 from Marietta High School. He worked at the Marietta Orpheum Theater, the local grain elevator, and for local farmers. Ernie went on to the Willmar State Junior College graduating in 1970 with as A.S. degree and worked summers putting up grain bins. He moved to Minneapolis where he worked for Sundseth-Anderson Funeral Home while finishing his education. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1972 with a B.S. degree in Mortuary Science. He served his Practicum at Albin Chapel in Minneapolis and his apprenticeship at Sundseth-Anderson’s working there until 1975. In 1974 he married Linda Glee Dahle in Milbank, South Dakota. They moved to Detroit Lakes in 1975 where he worked at Donehower Funeral Home. They had a daughter, Christine in 1977 and a son, Andrew in 1980. He purchased
Donehower’s with a partner in 1981, but sold his interest in 1984. He and Linda purchased the Eeg Funeral Chapel and Cedar Chest Floral and Gifts in Greenbush, Minnesota and moved their young family there. They owned Gieseke Funeral Chapel, Floral and Gifts and also Gieseke Trophies. Ernie was baptized, confirmed, and married in the Lutheran Church attending Bethel Lutheran in Greenbush. He belonged to Lions clubs since 1970 and was a charter member of the Greenbush-Badger Lions Club serving as their secretary and treasurer for many years. He was recognized with the Melvin Jones Award (highest Lions award) in 2008. He held a funeral license in Minnesota since 1972 and in ND since 1982. He was a member of the Minnesota and ND Funeral Directors Association and secretary-treasurer for many years for District 10. He also earned the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner for his years of community and professional service. Ernie loved his work and sharing it with his wife. He was very dedicated to his profession and the many families he served. He was very proud of his children and their accomplishments. He enjoyed his grandchildren and visited them when he could. He loved listening to polka music and watching NASCAR races. He had many bird feeders and enjoyed sitting on the back porch watching them. He loved long drives in the country, seeing the changes in the seasons and spotting animals and birds. He is survived by his wife and partner of over 45 years, Linda; One Son Andrew (Jessica) Gieseke of Chaska, Minnesota; two grandsons, Levi Gieseke and Cole Gieseke also of Chaska; one sister Betty Gieseke of Sierra Vista, Arizona; 2 brothers-in-law: Allen (Patricia) Dahle of Watertown, South Dakota and Collis (Brenda) Dahle of Milbank, SD; 4 sistersin-law: Rita (David) Wellnitz of Milbank, South Dakota, Nancy (Jim) Weber of Revillo, SD, Julie (Randy) Kruse of Revillo, SD, and Karen (Lloyd) Tillma of Twin Brooks, SD; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Christine in 2012. Funeral services were held June 12, 2020 at Bethel Lutheran Church, Greenbush.
