Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, April 18, 2014
Borgert plans for Honor Flight by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
It’s been decades since Gene Borgert visited the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C. He was there quite a few times when he was in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War in the early 1950s. Now he gets to go there again as a member of an “Honor Flight,” a program that flies veterans to Washington, D.C. to allow them to tour the capital and to see the monuments there that honor all the nation’s veterans. Borgert will leave April 22 on a flight with about 100 other veterans from the central Minnesota area. They’ll take a direct chartered flight from St. Cloud to a Maryland airport, then take a bus into Washington, D.C. He will be accompanied by one of his sons. Nearly 70 years ago, Borgert, now 82, served mainly on the Atlantic Ocean on the U.S.S. Newport News, a heavy cruiser. As a machinist mate, he repaired engines, air-conditioning units, airplane cranes and even ice machines. He’d learned all those skills at the Great Lakes Naval Base before being assigned to the U.S.S. Newport News. “I heard about the Honor Flight program more than a year ago, so I talked to a woman at the V.A. (Veterans’ Administrative) Center about it and was accepted to go along on a flight,” Borgert said. “Am I exited about the
Obituary
James “Jim” P. Maier, 76 Sauk Rapids April 11, 1938-April 15, 2014
James “Jim” P. Maier, 76, of Sauk Rapids died April 15 at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center. His funeral was held April 24 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sauk Rapids. The Rev. Jerry Dalseth officiated and entombment was at Sacred Heart Mausoleum, Sauk Rapids. Maier was born April 11, 1938 in Sauk Rapids to Paul and Anna (Otremba) Maier. He married Eleanor Illies on July 7, 1959 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Elrosa, Minn. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Sacred Heart church, the Antique Car Club and American Legion Post 254. Maier owned and operated Countryside Auto in Sauk Rapids since 1963. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, hunting, fishing, stockcar racing, snowmobile racing, horseshoes, cards, softball, volleyball, waterskiing, dancing,
contributed photos
Above: Gene and Lynn Borgert. At right: Gene Borgert in a photo taken aboard his ship circa 1951 during the Korean War. The ship was the U.S.S. Newport News.
trip? You better believe it!” Born in St. Cloud, for many years Borgert was one of the owners of Borgert Concrete, which was founded by his father, Lawrence, nearly 100 years ago. Gene worked there for 27 years. Later, he sold his share of the company to his brother, and the company still thrives after all those years in St. Joseph.
Borgert moved to Sartell after buying two acres of property for just $600 north of the town on the County Road 1 river-road. He and his wife, Lynn, have lived there every since. Borgert has several retirement hobbies: making wooden bowls in his basement wood shop is his main Borgert • page 11
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trap shooting, watching NASCAR and hobby farming. He was a competitive person who will be remembered for his sense of humor and frequent pranks. Survivors include the following: his wife; children, Michelle and Roger Traut of Sartell, Danita and Kenny Traut of St. Stephen, Jacqueline and Bruce Warnert of Mayhew Lake, Victoria Maier of Sauk Rapids and Jonathan and Jenny Maier of Holdingford; siblings, Edward and Helen Maier of Sauk Rapids, Abe and Carole Maier of Clearwater, Dorothy Schmitz of Waite Park, Laura and Val Rau of Richfield, Mildred Felling of Minneapolis, Kathleen Rosa of Sauk Rapids, Sharon and Don Wieber of St. Joseph, and Maxine and Vernon Goebel of Albany; 13 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, James; sister, Alvira Schwinghammer; brothers-in-law, Willard Schwinghammer, George Schmitz, Charles Picken, Donald Felling, Lloyd Rosa and Donald Emslander; and father- and mother-in-law, John and Gertrude Illies. Obituary, guest book and video tribute available online at: www.williamsdingmann.com. Roofing • Siding • Gutters • Windows • Metal Roofs HAAG™ Certified Roof Inspectors for hail/wind
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