Elmer Soukup

Elmer John Soukup, age 95, of Pine River, died on December 17, 2011, at Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Society-Pine River. Services for Elmer will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, December 22, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pine River. Interment will be at Ponto Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 7 PM at Kline Funeral Home, Pine River, and one hour prior to the service.

Elmer John was born February 15, 1916, in Sleepy Eye, MN, to Joseph and Mary (Lang) Soukup. During WWII, he served in the 239th Signal Battalion in Africa, Italy, France and Germany. A month after discharge, he married Hildegarde Hammerschmidt on November 14, 1945, in Wabasso, MN. He had an entrepreneurial spirit, buying a milk route and driving truck for Stark Creamery of Sleepy Eye. In 1959, he and Hildegarde bought Napanee Beach Resort on Lake Hattie near Backus, MN. He also drove school bus for the Backus School District for many years. He enjoyed running the resort and visiting with the many friends that returned year after year. He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus.

Elmer was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, but especially trapping. He was a member of the MN Trapper's Association and trapped from the age of twelve until ninety-three.

His kitchen door was always open, warmly welcoming friends of all ages. He loved spending time with his family and was especially interested in the lives of his grandchildren.

Elmer is survived by children: Leo (Ruth) Soukup of Bemidji, Karen (Jerry) Tank of Bemidji, Verdale (Kathy) Soukup of Backus, Fred (Roxanne) Soukup of Pequot Lakes, Joleen Soukup of Durham, NC, Bob (Lori) Soukup of Backus; daughter-in-law, Debbie (Bevan) Schraw of Duluth; twenty-three grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren; sister, Lucille Simonson; brothers: Edward (Pat) Soukup and Victor Soukup.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Hildegarde; son, Lonny; grandson, Steven; two brothers and one sister.