Minerd Thomas Nelson Wareberg obituary submitted
WILLMAR — Minerd Thomas “Mike” Wareberg, 94, of Willmar died Wednesday at Bethesda Pleasant View Nursing Home in Willmar.
The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First Covenant Church in Willmar. Burial will be at Cloverleaf Cemetery in Willmar. Military honors will be provided by Willmar American Legion Post 167.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
He was born Thomas Miner Nelson on Feb. 16, 1913, in Shelby County, Iowa, to Ole and Helga (Wig) Nelson. The family moved to Minnesota when he was 3 and added the name Wareberg to the family name. He grew up on a farm near Spicer and attended District 28 in Green Lake Township. He changed his name to Minerd Thomas Wareberg. He worked on the farm and entered the U.S. Amry on June 10, 1941, during World War II, and attained the rank of staff sergeant. He was stationed in the South Pacific, was wounded in battle and awarded the Purple Heart. His arm was amputated above the elbow. He was honorably discharged on March 7, 1945. He returned to Willmar and then worked for Call Brothers Auto Parts.
He married Gladys Peterson on June 12, 1948, in Willmar. They lived in Willmar. He worked various jobs and received accounting training through correspondence courses. He was co-owner of a Chrysler dealership in Willmar for several years and later bought a sporting goods store, Mike’s Sports and Marine. He worked as an accountant for Willmar Poultry Company and PALS and later transferred to the sales and public relations division. He retired in 1978. Gladys died in 2003. he moved to Bethesda Pleasant View Nursing Home in 2004.
He was a member of First Covenant Church in Willmar, where he was served as Sunday school superintendent, on the board of trustees, and was chairman of the deacon board. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 167, D.A.V., Willmar Twilight Lions and Willmar Area Senior Citizens Club.
He is survived by his siblings: Hazel Petersen of Spicer, Norman Wareberg of Westhills, Calif., Thelma Lindsoe of Willmar; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife and two sisters.