Ernest Kawlewski

Ernest Lynn Kawlewski Sr., age 77 of Baxter, MN passed away on Sunday, December 4th, 2022 at the Medical Center in Crosby, MN with his family by his side. He battled cancer for almost eight years and left us to go be with his Lord and Savior in Heaven.

Ernie was born July 31st, 1945 in Perham, MN. His parents were the late Ernest Henry and Lila Mary (Tucker) Kawlewski. He grew up near Ottertail, MN. At the age of 13, he went to live with his Grandma Anna and Grandpa Otto across the road. At the time, Uncle Tony lived there too so the two of them were always like brothers. Tony was nine years older than Ernie. He finished school in Perham, graduating in 1963.

He met Marge Poser at a dance at Babe's Resort and it was love at first sight. He told his mother he had found the girl he wanted to marry. Marge wrote in her diary she found the boy that she wanted to marry. They were married on August 6th, 1966 at Trinity Lutheran Church in New York Mills.

Ernie worked at Lund's Boats until he was asked to manage the Service Food Store in Perham. He worked in the grocery store business for almost 50 years, managing a store in Morris, MN and then owned a store in Clarissa. Ernie and Marge then moved to Brainerd, where he was a salesman for Tree of Life and other specialty foods. He missed all of his friends and coworkers after he retired.

Ernie was a member of the Lions Club in several towns, member of the American Legion, and Zion Lutheran Church in Brainerd. He liked hunting, fishing, traveling, and loved spending all day on Saturday's watching westerns.

Surviving Ernie is his wife, Marge, of Baxter; two sons, Ernie Lynn (Connie) Kawlewski Jr., Alan Lee (Melissa) Kawlewski; grandchildren, Torry, Karli, Isaac, Ryan, and Brady; five sisters, Elvia Ostendorf, of Arizona, Marylou Boisen, Rochester, MN, Lisa Hasledalen, Maplewood, MN, Sharon (Ron) Loerzel, Perham, MN, and Beth (Taylor) Teller, Shawano, WI. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and Marge's family and friends.

Preceding Ernie in death were his parents; brother Edwin; and two nephews, Todd Schepper, and Christopher Hasledalen.

Visitation will be at Schoeneberger Funeral and Cremation Service in Perham on Sunday, December 11, 2022 from 4:00-7:00 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will resume on Monday, December 12 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Perham, followed by the Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. Interment at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery.

Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service, Perham, MN (218) 346-5175 www.schoenebergerfh.com