IN MEMORIAM David L. Koll, age 76, co-owner of Northwestern Casket Co, and before that, Minnesota Casket Co, of Spring Lake Park, born March 7, 1945, in Minneapolis to Tilden & Marguerite Koll, passed away January 17, 2022. Dave served the funeral industry for over fifty years helping create customized caskets. He was a co-owner of Northwestern Casket Co. and before that, Minnesota Casket Company. He is preceded in death by his wife, Betsy. Dave was a loving dad, grandpa, great-grandpa and brother and will be dearly missed by his children: Elizabeth (Jonathan) Schraer, Eric (Robin) Koll and Raymond (Tami) Koll; grandchildren: Nicholas Schraer, Sarah Schraer, Alyssa Knipp, Patrick Koll and Daniel Koll; greatgrandson, Orion Knipp; sisters, Kathleen (Raymond) Swadner and Nancy Jarrard and many other family and friends. Visitation and reviewal was January 23 with a funeral service at 4:00 PM at Henry W. Anderson Mortuary, 14850 Garrett Ave., Apple Valley. Dave will be laid to rest with his wife, Betsy at Union Cemetery in Maplewood on Monday. Memorials preferred to American Heart Assoc. Wayne E. Cease, 87, MFDA past president 1992-1993, of Bagley, Minnesota died on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at his home in Bagley, Minnesota surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services were held February 10 at Faith Lutheran Church in Bagley with a visitation one hour prior. A time of visitation was held the evening before on February 9 at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bagley. Interment held at Bagley City Cemetery in Bagley. Military Honors accorded by the Irvin Blix American Legion Post # 16 of Bagley.
24 MFDA Bulletin • SPRING 2022
Wayne was born March 30, 1934, in Bagley, Minnesota, the son of Edmund and Florence (Hanson) Cease. He was raised and educated in Bagley graduating from Bagley High School in 1952. He was active as a trombonist in the marching band and later played with the University of Minnesota Marching Band. Wayne enlisted in the United States Army in 1954. He was stationed in Japan as a draftsman with occasional missions to Korea. He was honorably discharged after serving our country in 1956. Wayne attended Concordia College in Moorhead, then studied Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1958. Wayne married Arlene B. Ellickson on a hot day on July 25, 1959, near Oklee, Minnesota at Valle Lutheran Church. They moved to Bagley and Wayne worked with his father at the Cease Funeral Home serving the northern part of Clearwater County in Clearbrook and Gonvick and then partnered with his father full-time in 1965. In his trademark lead by example, style, skill set, and with a father-mentor business relationship, he individually fostered four of his children in the startup and existing funeral service practices. His son Kevin in Bemidji, Kent in Park Rapids and Nevis, Kelly in Bagley and Kurt in Blackduck. This became a source of pride for him especially knowing how influential he was in expanding the Cease brand and helping usher in his grandchildren in the 4th generation of Cease morticians. They also operated one of the first Clearwater County ambulance services until it was sold to Red Offerdahl. Wayne also served as Clearwater County Deputy Coroner with his father for over 50 years. His skills as a funeral director were unparalleled. Wayne was so proud of his kids and grandkids as some became third and fourth-generation funeral directors and joined the firm. He loved being the general contractor in building six beautiful funeral homes. Wayne served as president of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association in 1992. Wayne was very community minded and involved in the early amateur boy’s hockey program in Bagley. He and several partners conceived and built
what was then the Greensview Nursing Home in 1968 where he served as the first administrator until 1980. He was very involved with the Boy Scouts of America serving as scoutmaster and volunteered many hours of his time, later earning a Silver Beaver in honor of his service. He was also very active with state and local politics. He was the Chair of the Bagley All School Reunion in 1984. Wayne instilled in his children and grandchildren a love of the outdoors through fishing, hunting, and camping. He loved Minnesota fishing openers and exploring northern Manitoba on fishing expeditions with friends and family. Wayne loved to golf and helped found and develop, along with many others, what later would become Twin Pines Country Club. Wayne loved traveling with his wife Arlene on many adventures all over the world. Later, Wayne and Arlene enjoyed spending winters in Tucson, AZ. Arlene died in an auto accident on June 8, 1995. Wayne loved to spend time at his beloved cabin on upper Red Lake and hosted many get-togethers in his garage. Wayne enjoyed making jelly and jam from wild fruits he collected, including prickly pear cactus. Wayne was an able storyteller with a dry wit and a great sense of humor. Wayne was a member and a past president of Faith Lutheran Church in Bagley, he attended Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Waskish, and he was a past commander of the Irvin Blix American Legion Post # 16 of Bagley. Wayne along with others helped initiate the construction of the Clearwater County Veterans Memorial in downtown Bagley. He was a member of the Lions and Rotary clubs where he was past president in Bagley. Wayne was very involved in a Rotary district project called Latin American Rotary Aid (L.A.R.A). Wayne traveled to Santa Barbara, Honduras on 29 mission trips, helping to coordinate construction and health projects in the central mountain region of Honduras and developed many lasting friendships. Family was everything to him. His love for his kids, grandkids and sister were the root and foundation of his being.
