Elmer J. Kaczor

Elmer J. Kaczor, age 90, of Spencer, passed away Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, at the Butte Healthcare Center in Butte.

Visitation will be on Thursday (today), Jan. 10, 2013, from 5-7 p.m., with a 7 p.m. prayer service, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spencer.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spencer with Rev. Harrison Goodman  and Rev. John Ryding officiating. Music will be provided by organist, Trudy Boettcher with congregational singing.

Pallbearers are Todd Boettcher, Aaron Kaczor, Matt Kaczor, Josh Kaczor, Ryan Kaczor, Ethan Jackson, Jason Jackson and Derrick Jackson.

Honorary pallbearers are Jack Jacobson, Gary Hines, James Mlady, Martin Boettcher, Brian Kaczor, James Brandt, Jerry Kaczor, Ronnie Johnson, Matt Marshall and Dr. Matthew Winkelbauer.

Burial will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Spencer with military honors conducted by American Legion Post #78 of Spencer.

Brockhaus Funeral Home in Spencer is in charge of arrangements.

Elmer John Kaczor was born on Feb. 17, 1922, to John and Emma (Ehrlich) Kaczor at their home seven miles north of Spencer. He was baptized and confirmed at rural Immanuel Lutheran Church. He had six siblings Reinhold, Bernhard, Elsie, Alfred, Lorene and Kermit.

He attended country school and later rode a horse or walked to high school in Anoka. Elmer graduated in May of 1939 from Spencer Public High School. Following graduation he taught country school, worked for Charlie Havranek and worked in Omaha and Dayton, Ohio.

Elmer joined the Navy on Nov. 30, 1942, and was stationed in boot camp at Navy Pier, Chicago, IL, and Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, FL, where he was a metal smith on airplanes. On March 20, 1946, he returned home to farm. He also did electrical wiring and carpentry work.

His interest in a neighbor girl led to his marriage to Ruby Mott on Feb. 16, 1947, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Spencer. To this union six children were born Trudy, Terry, Frederick, Clint, Peggy and Jody.

Elmer served on the following boards: Farmers Union Coop, Bristow Oil Company, N.R.D., American Legion and Immanuel Church. He was a member of the Spencer Community Club. The "Welcome to Spencer" signs were a goal he accomplished with the help of his brother, Alfred. He was also instrumental in applying for an AAL grant to purchase Spencer's first volunteer rescue unit.

Elmer will be greatly missed by his wife, Ruby of 65 years; his children: Trudy (Ken) Boettcher of Spencer, Terry (Dorie) Kaczor of Grand Island, Frederick (Coke) Kaczor of Spencer, Peggy Jackson (Dwayne) of Grand Island and Jody (Colene) Kaczor of Spencer; grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Tracy (Jason) Goesch and their children Megan, Justin, Jenny and Trevor; Todd (Steph) Boettcher and their children Wyatt, Garrett, Kolt and Cheyenne; Kari (Gary) Klumpe and their children Paige, Karson and Kaden; Lindsey (Scott) Huss and their daughter Ali; Aaron (Bobbie) Kaczor and their children Joel, Emma, Cody and Ayva; Matt Kaczor; Ranessa (Shane) Kracht and their children Hadlee, Hannah and Harper; Danae (Travis) Kemnitz and their children Hope and Bailey; Ethan (Sara) Jackson; Jason (Mandy) Jackson and their children Nikia and Ruby; Derrick Jackson; Josh (Rachel) Kaczor and their son Tate; Tara Kaczor and Ryan Kaczor; one sister, Lorene Boettcher; sisters-in-law, Lyla Kaczor and Eunice Brandt; brother-in-law, Kenny Brandt; as well as many nephews, nieces and friends.

Those preceding him in death were John and Emma Kaczor; William, Laura and Betty Jo Mott; Clint Kaczor; Daniel Jackson; Tige Boettcher; Reinhold and Ida Kaczor; Bernhard and Irene Kaczor; Elsie and Ben Jacobsen; Alfred, Adeline, Duane and John Kaczor; Audrey Eddy; Herbert Boettcher; and Rev. Kermit and Gwenda Kaczor.

In lieu of flowers memorials have been designated by the family to the Spencer American Legion Post #78, Spencer Community Hall, Spencer Rescue Unit and Immanuel Lutheran Church.