Andrew (Sonny) Kerkaert

Mass of Christian Burial for Andrew “Sonny” Kerkaert, 82, of Melrose, formerly of Minneota, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 21, 2012, at St. Edward Catholic Church in Minneota. Visitation will be Monday from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at Rehkamp – Horvath Funeral Home in Marshall. Visitation will move to Rehkamp – Horvath Funeral Home in Minneota from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Interment will follow the service at St. Eloi Catholic Cemetery in Ghent. Military honors provided by U.S. American Legion Post 199 of Minneota. Andrew Henry Kerkaert was born on January 10, 1930, in rural Minneota, to Charles and Rosalia (Cauwels) Kerkaert. He grew up in rural Minneota and attended school at Island Lake District 62. On December 27, 1952, Andy was united in marriage to Ruth Evenson in Minneota. He served in the U.S. Army from January of 1952 until December of 1953 during the Korean War. After his honorable discharge, he returned to farm and raise his family near Minneota. He also drove truck for his Uncle Andrew and later the Gorecki family and Tillemans family. Ruth passed away in 1994. On July 8, 2000, Andy married Joanne Silbernick in St. Michael. The couple has lived in Melrose since 2003. Andy enjoyed rolle bolle, playing cards, hunting and fishing and spending time with his dogs. He also enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He died on Saturday, August 18, 2012, at the Hilltop Health Care Center in Watkins, MN. He is survived by his wife, Joanne, of Melrose, children Richard (and Gloria) Kerkaert of Dawson, Donald (and Mary) Kerkaert of Windom, David (and Connie) Kerkaert of Watkins, Donna Maxwell of Cottonwood, Judy (and Randy) Scheerhorn of St. Cloud, step-children Deborah (and Gary) Kilian of St. Michael, Diane (and Tim) Revering of Monticello, Denise (and Joe) Daleiden of St. Michael, Delores (and Gary) Lindenfelser of Otsego, 35 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, sister Alice (Leo) Kohler of Tyler, sister-in-law Cathy Kerkaert of Buffalo and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Ruth, infant son Ralph, brother Robert and son-in-law James Maxwell.