Gordon 'Punky' Formo
December 24, 1928 — May 23, 2014
Gordon Lester “Punky” Formo was born on December 24, 1928, in Sheldon, IA, the son of Melvin P. and Grace (Mulenburg) Formo. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith in Granite Falls Lutheran Church and attended Granite Falls Public School.
Gordon served his country in the United States Navy, entering in 1946 and receiving his honorable discharge in 1947. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Seeman on September 4, 1949 and later was united in marriage to Barbara (Elting) Knutson on June 26, 2006.
A trucker by trade, Gordon was employed by Schwans of Marshall for many years, plus various other area trucking firms. He was a member of Granite Falls Lutheran Church, Granite Falls Veterans of Foreign Wars, a lifelong member of the Granite Falls American Legion and his interests included (in his early years), competitive rodeo riding, riding horse, camping, fishing and traveling after his retirement. He was also a member of LeeMar Riders Saddle Club and especially loved spending time with his family and friends.
In the early morning hours of Friday May 23, 2014, Gordon was called from this life while a resident of the Clarkfield Care Center. He was 85 years of age.
He is survived by his wife Barbara of Granite Falls; his children- Gerald (& Chris) Formo of St. Louis Park, Bonnie Hemingson of Granite Falls, Mike (& Kathy) Formo of St. Cloud, and Nancy (& Dallas) Ross also of Granite Falls; 2 stepdaughters- Kelly (& Brian) Baragar and Cari (& Steve) Alley; grandchildren; great grandchildren; step-grandchildren; his brother-in-law Leonard Soine of Clara City, sister-in-law Anna Marie Seeman of Clara City and several cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Dorothy in 2002,his sister Dorothy Soine in 1984 and son-in-law Larry Hemingson in 1992.
Gordon served his country in the United States Navy, entering in 1946 and receiving his honorable discharge in 1947. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Seeman on September 4, 1949 and later was united in marriage to Barbara (Elting) Knutson on June 26, 2006.
A trucker by trade, Gordon was employed by Schwans of Marshall for many years, plus various other area trucking firms. He was a member of Granite Falls Lutheran Church, Granite Falls Veterans of Foreign Wars, a lifelong member of the Granite Falls American Legion and his interests included (in his early years), competitive rodeo riding, riding horse, camping, fishing and traveling after his retirement. He was also a member of LeeMar Riders Saddle Club and especially loved spending time with his family and friends.
In the early morning hours of Friday May 23, 2014, Gordon was called from this life while a resident of the Clarkfield Care Center. He was 85 years of age.
He is survived by his wife Barbara of Granite Falls; his children- Gerald (& Chris) Formo of St. Louis Park, Bonnie Hemingson of Granite Falls, Mike (& Kathy) Formo of St. Cloud, and Nancy (& Dallas) Ross also of Granite Falls; 2 stepdaughters- Kelly (& Brian) Baragar and Cari (& Steve) Alley; grandchildren; great grandchildren; step-grandchildren; his brother-in-law Leonard Soine of Clara City, sister-in-law Anna Marie Seeman of Clara City and several cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Dorothy in 2002,his sister Dorothy Soine in 1984 and son-in-law Larry Hemingson in 1992.
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