John Lommel

John E. Lommel, 74, of Herman , MN passed away on Sunday, November 2, 2008 at Meritcare Hospital , Fargo , ND . Funeral Mass will be on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 11:00 AM at St. Gall’s Catholic Church, Tintah , MN with Father David Petron, Father Edward Sherman, and Father Bill Sherman officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 from 4 pm to 8 pm with a prayer service at 7 pm at St. Charle’s Catholic Church, Herman, MN. There will also be visitation one hour prior to the service at the church in Tintah. Interment will be at St. Philip’s Catholic Cemetery , Hankinson , ND .

John Edward Lommel was born in his parent’s home during a dust storm in Lidgerwood , ND on May 10, 1934. He was the youngest of five children born to Francis “Frank” and Margaret (Lynch) Lommel.

He grew up in Lidgerwood and attended St. Boniface grade school and graduated from St. Francis Academy in Hankinson , ND in 1952. He furthered his education at NDAC (now NDSU) with a degree in pharmacy in 1956.

On July 23, 1956 he married Marjorie German at St. Philip’s Catholic Church in Hankinson , ND . They made their home in White Bear Lake and North St. Paul , MN where he worked as a retail pharmacist. In 1970 they moved with their six children to Breckenridge , MN where John was a pharmacist at Breckenridge Drug. John and Marge purchased Herman Drug in Herman , MN in 1980. They owned and operated the drug store until his retirement in 2001 and have continued living in Herman.

John enjoyed growing up in Lidgerwood and hunting, trapping, and fishing in the Lidgerwood area. He excelled as an athlete in his school years. He played in band and enjoyed singing in the choir along with working many part time jobs. He also worked on the iron range for two summers and two summers in Aberdeen , SD to finance his education. His favorite pastimes included sailing, fishing, and spending time with his favorite cousins at the Sherman Cabin on West McDonald Lake . He also enjoyed bird watching (especially purple martins), planting and growing trees and listening to the radio, and was often heard whistling and harmonizing with his favorite tunes.

He was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church, a past member of the Herman First Responders and Alphean Male Chorus, and a Lifetime Member of the Minnesota Pharmaceutical Association. He and Marge were honored with the Herman Community Hall of Fame Award in 1998.

Above all, John was a gentle, knowledgeable, and compassionate man, which made him an excellent pharmacist and friend. He had an unending pride and love for his wife and family. Most people that knew him will remember his Irish humor and quick wit.

John is survived by his wife, Marjorie Lommel, Herman, MN; his children, Ann (Dan) Deal, Breckenridge, MN, Steve (Cindy) Lommel, Wahpeton, ND, Edward (Diane) Lommel, Breckenridge, MN, Margaret “Peggy” (Craig) Gorecki, St. Cloud, MN, Elizabeth (Todd) Ukkelberg, Clitherall, MN, William “Bill” Lommel, Washington, DC; his fifteen grandchildren; his six great-grandchildren; his brother, Father George Lommel, Grafton, ND; his sister, Mary Collins, Indianapolis, IN; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Margaret Lommel; his sister, Rose Ellen Levasseur; his brother, Robert Lommel.