Marvin J. Saarela

Marvin Saarela, 72 year old resident of Bowlus, MN, passed away on Monday, October 17, 2016 at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, October 20, 2016 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Bowlus, MN, with Father Gregory Mastey officiating. Burial will be at St. Stanislaus parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 PM on Wednesday, Oct. 19th at St. Stanislaus and from 10 to 11 AM on Thursday at the church. Parish Prayer Service will be at 7:30 PM on Wednesday. Military Rites will be provided by Bowlus American Legion Post #642. Arrangements are with Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Marvin John Saarela was born July 7, 1944 in Virginia, MN to the late John and Ina (Maki) Saarela. He grew up and attended school in Pike Sandy Township and Embarrass, MN. Marvin enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard in 1963 and was honorably discharged. He attended college in Willmar, MN and the University of MN in Duluth and graduated with a bachelors degree in electrical engineering. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth Thell in December, 1966. She died in January, 2004. On October 11, 2008 he was united in marriage to Darlene (Kaiser) Perowitz. Marvin was employed at UMD for 26½ years in the electrical engineering department, where he retired in January, 2012. He then moved to a farm near Bowlus. Because of his work with computers, he was also interested in a wide variety of technology. In his free time Marvin enjoyed riding his Goldwing motorcycle, taking his boat out fishing, as well as ice fishing, camping, watching sports, traveling and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Marvin is survived by his wife Darlene Saarela; children, Kenneth (Beverly) Saarela, Lynn Saarela, Matthew Saarela, Gary Perowitz, Scott Perowitz, Eric (Michelle) Perowitz, Malakai (Nikki) Perowitz, Ada (Tony) Pholmann; sisters, Mildred Aronen of Mountain Iron, MN and Doris Eliason of Auburn, WA and 11 grandchildren. Marvin was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Elizabeth Saarela; sisters, Ellen Harju, Helen Gave, Aileen Gulbranson and Esther Ina Saarela.

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Marvin J. Saarela

July 7, 1944 - October 17, 2016