---

Edwin Lewis Sanftner, 95, of Deer Park, WI passed away peacefully Thursday May 29, 2014 with his son beside him.

He was born October 21 1918 in Wyoming, MN to Leo and Stella (Marier) Sanftner. Edwin grew up and completed the 8th grade in Wyoming, MN. He pig farmed with his parents until he went to work at a box company and Armor Meat Packing Plant in the 1940’s.  It was at Armor that he met Dorothy Schmidt.  They married in St. Paul on June 25, 1943, and started farming in Wyoming, MN.  They moved to Chisago City, MN where they farmed the unmodern hard way; where he milked cows by hand and liked watching his crops grow.  

He enjoyed the outdoors by hunting, trapping, and spearing fish in his free time. Edwin also enjoyed playing the accordion at house parties and dances as well as going dancing. Donna was born in 1954, and Leo was born in 1957.

Edwin loved to old time dance and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.  Donna began playing accordion and Leo played the drums, so Edwin enjoyed dancing and listening to their music.  In 1979, the family wanted to continue farming, so they moved to Deer Park, WI and formed Golden Maples when he retired from milking and let the kids take over but still drove tractor and helped out. Showing registered polled Hereford cattle is always something that the family has done and he enjoyed going to shows to help. In 2003 Edwin and Dorothy earned the Wisconsin and Indianhead Polled Hereford Association Hall of Fame awards, and were honored in the “WI Country Today” newspaper.    Edwin and Dorothy liked to celebrate many great milestones with special parties, such as their wedding anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, and weddings with their family.   Edwin moved to the Deerfield in New Richmond, WI in April 2009 to recuperate from a broken hip. His wife  of 66 years joined him and passed away in July of 2009.  He moved back to the farm for a year, got sick and ended up moving back to Deerfield where he was made to feel at home and was kept comfortable.

Preceeded in death by infant brother, parents Leo and Stella (Marier) Sanftner, brother Vernon Sanftner, wife Dorothy (Schmidt) Sanftner, neice Sue (Sanftner) Nystrom, several aunts, uncles, relatives and friends.

Edwin is survived by daughter, Donna and Peter Kreft;  son, Leo and Sally Sanftner;  grandchildren: Micheal and Jen Sanftner,  Clifford and Katherine Kreft, Tina and Craig Hruby, Laura and Matthew Shepard, Diana and Adam Drinkman, TJ Sanftner, Hope Sanftner and friend Gabe;  great grandchildren:  Rachel, Devan and William Sanftner, Grant and Baby Kreft,  Hannah and Julie Hruby, Phillip and Douglas Shepard, and Jace and Baby Drinkman as well as other relatives and friends.

Funeral services  Sunday, June 1, 2014 at First Lutheran Church in New Richmond, Wisconsin.  Visitation was at the church for the hour prior to the service. Burial will be at the Chisago Memorial Park Cemetery.  You may view an online video tribute and sign a guest book at www.williamsonwhite.com.   The Williamson-White Funeral Home and Cremation Services assisted the family with arrangements.

---