William "Bill" Gablenz

William “Bill” Gablenz, 94 year old resident of Little Falls, MN, formerly of Rice and Royalton, MN, passed away on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at Quiet Oaks Hospice in St. Cloud, MN. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at Graham United Methodist Church in Rice, MN with Pastor Rick Koehn officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Little Falls. Visitation will be from 5 PM to 8 PM on Friday at Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, and from 10 AM to 11 AM Saturday at the church. William Cedric Gablenz was born on June 18, 1923 at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls, MN to the late William Wesley and Eulalia (Skoog) Gablenz. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Little Falls High School in 1941. He married Phyllis Frost of Pine Island, MN on June 27, 1953. They farmed north of Little Falls until 1968 when they moved and farmed northeast of Rice, MN until 1982. They also were partners in the United Farm Agency in Little Falls from 1968-1973. Upon retirement, they lived along the Mississippi River near Royalton and in Little Falls. Bill enjoyed traveling, lifelong learning and was very supportive of 4-H and FFA. Bill loved his family and friends. He hosted several family reunions and reunions of his rural youth group. He enjoyed local history and wrote some articles about Little Falls & Morrison County for the Morrison County Record. Bill is survived by his children, Gary Gablenz of St. Paul, MN, Kathleen (Raymond) Henderson of Longmont, CO, and Gordon (Jill) Gablenz of Clear Lake, MN; sister, Milly (David) Smart of Orinda, CA; grandchildren, Shane (Becky) Gablenz of Maplewood, MN, Stacia (John Jones IV) Henderson-Jones of Frederick, CO, Ryan Henderson of Napaskiak, AK, Katelyn (Robert) Morris of Frederick, CO, Neil Gablenz of Iowa City, IA, Erik Gablenz of Clear Lake, MN; great-grandson Ryder Jones of Frederick, CO; brother-in-law Roger Temanson of Stewartville, MN and sisters-in-law Marilyn Frost of Pine Island, MN and Patricia Dutcher of Tenstrike, MN; and many nieces, and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis; his parents; sister Ina Nelson; daughter-in-law, Shawn Gablenz; sister-in-law, Shirley Temanson and brothers-in-law, Warren Nelson, Harold Frost and David Frost.

Tributes

William "Bill" Gablenz

June 18, 1923 - October 31, 2017