Donald Gagner of Red Lake Falls, MN, passed away on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at Hillcrest Senior Living in Red Lake Falls, MN.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN, with Father Bob Schreiner Officiating and Deacon John Bruggeman. Burial will be held at St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery at Terrebonne, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.
Andrew “Don” Gagner was born on September 21, 1931, in Terrebonne, MN, son of the late Albert and Alice (Hebert) Gagner. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Terrebonne. He attended school at Mentor Public School.
On April 18, 1953, he was united in marriage to Merle Braaten at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Terrebonne. To this union, 7 children were born Debbie, Vickey, Jackie, Ronnie, Chuck, Carolyn, and Bruce. The couple made their home on the family farm, where they raised grain and livestock, and Don also worked as a part-time carpenter.
Don enjoyed woodworking, hunting and traveling, and a lot of storytelling. He served on the Terrebonne Township Board, served as a Red Lake County Commissioner for 8 years, was president of the Brooks Elevator Board for 20 years. He received the King Agassiz Award in 1967 and served as president of the Red Lake County Political Party for 8 years and was a member of the Knights of Columbus since the 1960s.
Don is survived by his loving wife of 70 years Merle of Red Lake Falls, MN; children Debra (Mike) Andvik, Vickey (Steve) Parenteau, Ronnie (Tracy) Gagner, Charles (Marisa) Gagner, Carolyn Skiles and Bruce (Julie) Gagner; son-in-law Edsel Johnson; 24 grandchildren; 52 great-grandchildren with one more on the way in November; sister Lucy Fitzgerald; brother-in-law Roger Shaffer; sister-in-law Ann Gagner; along with many nieces and nephews.
Don is preceded in death by his daughter Jacqueline; daughter-in-law Denise Gagner, parents Albert and Alice Gagner; siblings infant Lloyd Gagner, Melvin (Mary) Gagner, Hilaire (Florence) Gagner, Jerome (Mary) Gagner, Mary Rose Shaffer, Ida (John) Anderson, Betty (Stan) Ackerson, Duane Gagner.
