Willie Jorgensen

Willie Jorgensen Jr., age 72, of Danbury, passed away Sunday, March 26, 2017 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth from complications of diabetes, a stroke and heart attack. Willie was born on August 27, 1944 in Pennington County, MN to parents, Willie and Phyllis (Hruby) Jorgensen Sr. He grew up in the Twin Cities area and graduated from Hopkins High School in 1961. He enlisted in the United States Army, serving his country until his honorable discharge in 1963. Willie studied mechanics at Dunwoody, then took a job as an auto mechanic at Tweed’s Auto Shop in Hopkins, working there until 1966. He married Linda Pelton, June 11, 1966 at the United Methodist Church in Danbury. To this union, two children, Tammy Jo and Brian Christian were born. He and his wife, Linda, built their home and lived in Danbury until his death. During his lifetime, he was an active member of the community. He was a member of the Danbury Fire Department, helped the local ambulance service with their fundraisers, pig and beef roasts, and shot off his homemade cannon to start the 75th Anniversary Celebration of Danbury. He and his wife owned and operated Yellow River Honey House, where people would travel long distances to buy his honey, bee pollen and Royal Jelly. Willie raised rabbits, sheep, geese and sometimes an orphaned fawn or two that came in and out of the house to eat ice cream with him and sometimes sleep with him on his bed. In his younger days, he enjoyed canoeing, cutting wood and traveling. He liked going to gun shows and collected some that struck his fancy. He was an avid hunter and his love of guns prompted him to start reloading shells for himself, friends, neighbors and sighting in their guns for hunting. Willie enjoyed many days flying in his brother’s airplane with his brother Phillip. They spent many hours together flying into their father’s farm where they had set up their own landing strip. During this time, he worked as a mechanic at the Burnett County Highway Department until his retirement in 2000. Willie is survived by his wife of 50 years, Linda Jorgensen of Danbury; one daughter, Tammy (Mike) Jones of St. Croix Falls; one son, Brian (Nikki) Jorgensen of Danbury; 4 grandchildren: Melissa Jones, Andrew Jorgensen (Brittany Casey), Amber Jorgensen (Matt Holter) and Zayden Jorgensen; two great-grandchildren, Zander Casey and Camden Jorgensen; two sisters-in-law, Patty Jorgensen and Vicki (Gerald) Koenen; nieces and nephews: Suzie, Jeanne, John and Ginger Koenen and Jennifer Kern (Todd); great nieces and nephew: Ciara, Merissa and Dustin; one very special uncle, Fred Jorgensen; numerous other relatives and friends; and his faithful companions: Roscoe, Moose and Floyd. Preceding Willie in death are his parents; brother, Phillip Jorgensen; and great nephew, Joshua Kern. The Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, March 31, 2017 at 11:00am (visitation from 10-11:00am) at the Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home in Webster. A luncheon will be announced following the service.