Elroy Burgeson

Elroy Burgeson was born March 28, 1930, in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, the son of Roy & Helen Burgeson. He attended Elementary School in Madelia, Jr. High in Minneapolis and graduated High School in Mankato in 1948. Elroy served in the U.S. Army as a Medic during the Korean War. He was united in marriage with Garnita Rosenberg in August of 1953, in Ellsworth, Minnesota. He graduated from Mankato State College in 1955, and received a Masters Degree in 1962. Elroy taught High School Business Education in Butterfield from 1955 ? 1960. In 1960, he and his family moved to Granite Falls where he taught business classes at the High School. In 1963, he began serving as an administrator at the Area Vocational Technical Institute where he served until he retired in 1986.After retiring, Elroy spent some time at Southwest State University in Marshall working with a consortium of SW Minnesota Higher Education institutions on cooperative efforts. In the 1990?s Elroy obtained a Real Estate Broker's license and became part owner of Granite Real Estate.Elroy was active in his church and community. He served as President of the Kiwanis Club, President of the Chamber of Commerce and President of the Granite Falls Lutheran Church Council. He served two terms on the Granite Falls City Council and two terms as Mayor of Granite Falls. Elroy received many awards for his community service, including Outstanding Young Man, Boss of the Year, Community Service Award and received the WCCO Good Neighbor award in 1986. He was instrumental in the Church Endowment Fund where he served as its first chairman. Elroy was proud that he and his friend, long time Granite Falls Postmaster Percy Miller, were co-chairs of the Granite Falls Centennial Celebration in 1979. The excitement of the Centennial event still lives on in the annual Western Fest Celebration in Granite Falls each summer. Elroy enjoyed his career in education, the morning coffee crew, traveling, golf, telling stories and most of all his four grandchildren. Elroy passed away on Friday, April 27, 2012, at the Granite Falls Hospital. He was 82 years of age. He is survived by his wife Nita; daughter Karen Wood of Reno, Nevada; and son Brad (Deb) of Granite Falls; grandchildren: Justen, Lee, Jenna and Saraya; twin brother Leroy (Charlotte) of Prescott, Wisconsin and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and infant grandson.