Obituary of Gordon Finnern

Funeral services for Mr. Gordon Finnern, 75, of rural Lakefield, Minnesota, will be 10:30 am Monday, August 10, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux Valley, Minnesota. Visitation will begin at 3 pm Sunday, August 9, 2015 with the family present from 3 - 5 pm at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Interment will be at Sioux Valley Cemetery in Sioux Valley. Gordon L. Finnern was born September 29, 1939, the son of Arthur and Clara (Wiese) Finnern. He was raised and educated in Sioux Valley, graduating from Sioux Valley High School. He then attended Mankato State University. Gordon was united in marriage to Shirley Senn on June 7, 1959, in Spirit Lake, Iowa. The couple made their home in rural Sioux Valley, where they raised their family. Gordon was engaged in farming and was a cattle buyer. Gordon was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux Valley, where he was active on the Finance Board and served as an Elder. He was also involved in starting Sioux Valley Lutheran School and served on the school board. He loved hunting, especially coyotes. Gordon was inducted into the Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in honor of his promotion and support. He loved spending time with his family, and especially attending his grandchildren's sporting events and horse shows. Gordon passed away Thursday, August 6, 2015 at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Lakefield at seventy-five years of age. He is survived by his wife of fifty-six years, Shirley; children Randy (Mary) Finnern of Spirit Lake, Scott (Julie) Finnern of Spencer, Jodi (Dale) Sandbulte of Steen, Minnesota; son-in-law Duane (Sue) Vander Veen of Harris, Iowa. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Kyle, Rachel, Stacy, Derek, Cody, Michael, Matthew, Jeffrey and Jessica as well as eight great-grandchildren; other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Clara Finnern, daughter, Vicki Vander Veen and sister, Deanna Smith.