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Victor J. Ullrich, 83, of Sping Park, MN, was ready to meet Jesus and died peacefully Wednesday, April 12, 2023, with his wife, Jeanie, and a hospice nurse in attendance.
Victor was born Sept. 14, 1939, to Hilda and George Ullrich on a farm outside of Howard Lake, MN.
He walked to Dutch Lake School for several years, where he learned to speak English, as the language spoken at home was German.
He subsequently transferred to the Lutheran parochial school, and graduated from Howard Lake High School as valedictorian of the class of 1957.
He attended the University of Minnesota for two years, but quit when he ran out of money.
He married the girl up the street, Pauline Miller, with whom he had two children, Christine and Brenda.
They traveled extensively to many state and national parks; he modified his pickup so it was an extended cab with an intercom system, so that when the girls were arguing or fighting, they could turn them off.
He worked at Waldorf Paper Company for 46 years, progressing from general laborer to a paper cutter, and retired as a warehouse manager.
Vic had many interests, among them woodworking (he made a cedar chest, gun cabinet, and lamp); hunting deer, antelope, pheasant, and duck; and fishing for panfish, muskie, northern, and ocean fish.
He loved watching NASCAR races, occasionally in-person, but recently on TV. The Yankees, the Dallas Cowboys, the Timberwolves, the Gophers, and the WV Mountaineers were his favorite sports teams.
His primary interest was WWII, and he collected and read hundreds of books on the subject, especially D-Day, and he finally donated them to a museum in Granite Falls, MN.
A highlight of his life was a trip to Europe on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of D-Day. He attended the meetings of the Eighth Air Force and served as an honorary historian for the group; he enjoyed the WWII Roundtable lectures.
After he and Pauline were divorced in 1997, he subsequently married Jeanie Wilcox in 2003, and they enjoyed nearly 20 years of marriage.
His health deteriorated in the past 10 years due to diabetes and Parkinson’s Disease, and he lived first in an assisted living facility in Edina, MN, and finally in a nursing home in Spring Park, MN, on Lake Minnetonka.
Victor was a religious man, leading a Bible study group for many years. There he met David Steinmeyer, who was a steadfast friend. David visited weekly, whether Victor was in the hospital, on Covid restriction, or doing well, and on every Monday, you could count on his visit.
Victor was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Walter; and sister, Elaine, who died in infancy.
Victor is survived by his loving wife, Jeanie; daughters, Christine and Brenda; sister, Irma; and Jeanie’s sons, Brian and Rob and partners.
Funeral services will take place Friday, April 28, 2023, at Westbrook Community Church, 10990 Jonathan Carver Parkway, Chaska, MN. Visitation will take place at 10 a.m., with the service at 11 a.m., followed by lunch. Burial will take place in Howard Lake cemetery following that.
Memorials may be made to Prison Ministries or the charity of your choice.
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