Chester Reynold Cornelius was born May 15, 1913, in Lisbon Township, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, to John and Mary (Amundson) Cornelius. He was baptized by Rev. John Salhus on June 22, 1913, and confirmed in the Lutheran faith by Rev. A. Haugland at Bergen Lutheran Church of rural Granite Falls, Minnesota. He attended public and parochial school in District 77 of Lisbon Township. Chester farmed a short time and was a truck driver until he was inducted into the U.S. Army on February 25, 1941. He served in the Headquarters Quartermasters Transportation Unit in the European, North African, and Mediterranean Theater of War in World War II. He was honorably discharged on October 8, 1945. He served four years and eight months in the service of his country and attained the rank of Technician 5th grade. Chester worked for the Tostenson Road Construction of Montevideo, Minnesota, for many years following the war. Chester and his mother moved to Clarkfield, Minnesota in 1971. In his retirement years, he enjoyed helping with farm work and mowing lawns. His hobbies were reading, traveling, fishing, visiting with family and friends until his health began to fail in 1993. Chester entered the Clarkfield Care Center in December of 1994 after hospitalization for emphyzema and a collapsed lung. In June 1996 he was hospitalized twice and passed away at the Clarkfield Care Center on Saturday, June 22, 1996, at the age of 83 years, 1 month, and 8 days. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans of Granite Falls, life member of VFW Post #980 and the American Legion Post #0059, both of Montevideo. He is survived by brothers, Alvin and Virgil (and Vernice) Cornelius of Clarkfield; sisters, Janice (and Gerald) Kietzmann of Granite Falls, Minnesota, Armenia Frichtel and Doris Morland of Clarkfield; and sister-in-law Ruby Cornelius of Montevideo. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Chester was preceded in death by his parents; brothers James of San Diego, California and Ward of Montevideo, Minnesota; and brothers-in-law Edward Frichtel of San Diego, California and Arden Morland of Clarkfield, Minnesota. Blessed be his memory. "Dont grieve for me for now I'm free. I'm following the path God laid for me. I took his hand when I heard Him call, I turned my back and left it all. "I could not stay another day. To laugh, to love, to work, or play. Tasks left undone must stay that way. I found that place at the close of day. "If my parting has left a void Then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss Ah yes, these things I too will miss. "Be not burdened with times of sorrow I wish you the sunshine of tommorow My life's been full, I savored much Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch. "Perhaps my time seemed all to brief; Don't lenthen it now with undue grief Lift up your heart and share with me God wanted me now, He set me free." Funeral Service Wednesday, June 26, 1996, 2:00 p.m., Bergen Lutheran Church, Stony Run Township, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Officiant, Pastor Dave Mesner Organist, Kathy Dufrane Soloist, Deb Landmark "One Day at a Time" "The King is Coming" Casketbearers Allen Cornelius, Dean Cornelius Dennis Jorgenson, David Kietzmann Dennis Morland, Duane Morland Final Resting Place Bergen Lutheran Cemetery, Stony Run Township, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Military Rites: VFW Post #980 of Montevideo, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota