Warren Latourelle

Warren Harding "Zonie" Latourelle, age 88, entered into his rest with the Lord on Monday, January 25, 2010. A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held at the McRaith Funeral Home, 711 North State St. Waseca, MN on Sunday, April 25 beginning with a visitation at 1:00 p.m. followed by the memorial service at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Danielle Goette of the Zoar United Church of Christ of Waldorf, MN will conduct the service. Warren's friends Al and Shirley Groskreutz will provide special music.  Warren was born on the family farm in Danville Township, Blue Earth County, Minnesota on April 4th,1921. His parents were Sherman and Edith (Schultz) Latourelle. Doctor Carl Lembke of Minnesota Lake was the attending physician. "Doc" told his parents he was such a fine baby boy that they should name him after the President, and so they did.   Warren attended the District 136 country school that was located on the hill just East of the homestead. History and Geography were his favorite subjects. He spent most of his life on the farm and could often be found in the blacksmith workshop repairing machinery or building model engines. He liked to build go-carts and other toys for the youngsters in the family. He knew everything there was to know about old machinery, tractors, and steam engines. He and his brother Donald ran a sawmill in the woods. Following World War II and the death of his Father in 1950, Warren decided to stay on the farm and help care for his Mother. Warren then worked the farm with his brother Douglas and his wife Margaret who married and built a second home on the farmstead. They raised short horn cattle, pigs and chickens. Warren and Doug were some of the last farmers in the area to continue the tradition of "threshing" wheat, flax and oats well into the 1960's. Warren loved the old farm and threshing days, working in the woods, raising his chickens and gardening. He loved to visit and tell stories of his grandparents and great grandparents who had been among the earliest settlers in Blue Earth County coming from Montreal and Ottawa Canada, settling in Green Lake County, Wisconsin and coming by ox cart to Minnesota in 1858. He enjoyed all kinds of music, keeping up with current events, reading, and going to Steam Engine Shows, parades, county fairs, the Waseca Chautauqua, and Farm America events. Warren sold his homestead in 2001 and retired to Waldorf. Warren's family wishes to thank his wonderful farm neighbors and the kind folks of Waldorf who provided neighborly caring and "assisted" his living. Warren was happy to live out his days at Colony Court in Waseca where for the last years of his life he enjoyed the good friends, caring staff and enjoyable activities of that facility. Through the years, during times of ill health, Warren was grateful for the excellent care he received at various facilities in the area including the Mankato Clinic, ISJ Hospital, Mankato House, Country Neighbors of Mapleton, The Benedictine Living Community of St. Peter, Colony Court and the Waseca Area Medical Center. It is amazing to consider the number of people who worked to contribute to his well being and enjoyment of life over the last 15 years. May God Bless them all. Warren is survived by his sister Helen O'Rourke of St. Paul and many nieces and nephews, and the nieces and nephews of his brother who were all very special to him.      He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Donald and Douglas and their wives, Margaret F. and Margaret E., his sister Irma Burmeister and her husband Leland, and a brother-in-law, Cyril O'Rourke. The family suggests that you honor his memory by sharing family stories, planting some garden seeds, or feeding the pheasants. Don't forget to enjoy some good music and read some good books. Memorial donations can be directed to the Zoar United Church of Christ in Waldorf. Warren's ashes will be buried at the little rural Danville Cemetery located at the site of the Methodist Church of his childhood.