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Gothard B. Berquam, of St. Croix Falls, Wis., died Feb. 4, 2005, at the age of 87 years.

He was born on April 16, 1917, in Houston County, Minn., to parents Andrew Botolf Berekvam and Amanda Gronvold Berekvam. He finished formal schooling at Pine Lake School. Gothard married Veda Janette Lindberg at Sand Lake Bethesda Lutheran Church March 15, 1947.

He served in the Army in WWII in the Pacific Theater where he received two bronze stars, a purple heart and a silver star medal.

Gothard retired from the Ford Motor Company, in Highland Park, after 30 years of work in October of 1976. He has spent the last 29 years painting, gardening, vacationing winters in Florida and watching Twins baseball.

Gothard is preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Amanda; siblings: Benerva, Emma, Benjamin, Anna, Arnold, Lillian and Edwin.

He is survived by wife (Veda) Janette and children: Jeanne Oplinger, James Berquam, Mary Stanley and Joel Berquam; sister-in-law, Lucille Granros; brother-in-law, Charles Peper and many nieces and nephews; grandchildren: Andrew Oplinger, Mary Beth Evans, Michael and Timothy Berquam and Dominic Stanley; great-grandchildren: Abigail Oplinger, Jordan and Allison Evans.

Funeral Service 11:00 am Monday February 14, 2005, at Chisago Lake Lutheran Church in Center City. Visitation Sunday Feb. 13, 2005, from 2-5 p.m., at Grandstrand Funeral Home, in Lindström. Interment at Sand Lake Cemetery in Dresser, Wis.

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