Carl Berdice

Funeral Mass will be 11 am Thursday, August 21, 2014 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Aurora. A visitation will be held from 5-7 pm Wednesday at the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora and will continue one hour prior to Mass at the church. Interment will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Aurora. Military honors will be accorded by the Aurora/Hoyt Lakes Color Guard. Carl Donald Berdice, 80, died peacefully in his sleep at the Essentia-Northern Pines nursing home on Friday, August 15, 2014. He was born on June 12, 1934 in Aurora, MN to Katherine A. (Sterk) and Frank J. Berdice. Carl grew up in Aurora, MN and graduated from Aurora High School in 1953. After graduation, Carl went to work for Minnesota Power until he was drafted into the United States Army on March 16, 1959 as Light Infantry. He served two years active duty at Ft. Lewis, Washington and was transferred to the Ready Reserve to finish out his military service obligation. Carl received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Army on March 31, 1963. After finishing active duty, Carl returned to work at Minnesota Power. Carl married Lois A. Hietala on September 26, 1961. Carl was a volunteer fire fighter for the Aurora Fire Department for over 20 years. Carl retired in 1990 from Minnesota Power after 40 years of faithful service. Carl was a fifty-five year member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He was a member of the American ALL-Slav Association of Minnesota. Carl was a faithful and devoted Vikings fan. He was an avid donor of the blood bank. Carl lived a simple life. Providing for and taking care of his family was a high priority. Carl was always an essential part of his community. He was always the first to volunteer to help anyone who needed it throughout his entire life. After his retirement, he volunteered with Meals on Wheels to deliver meals to senior citizens through-out St. Louis County. Carl loved to spend time fishing with his buddies, mowing the lawn, spending time with his grandkids and most of all wherever there was a Polka band, you would find him and his wife, Lois, dancing around the dance floor. He is survived by his wife, Lois (Hietala); sons, Kevin Berdice of New Hampshire and Keith Berdice of Aurora; daughters, Carlene Bloss of North Carolina and Lisa (David) Lislegard of Aurora; sisters, Francie White of Ector, Texas, Katherine Schmitz and Anna Rose (Bill) Forward both of Aurora; brother, Donald Berdice of Ector, Texas; grandchildren, Nathan Berdice of New Hampshire, Anthony Bloss of North Carolina, Hailey Lislegard of Staples, Nadia Lislegard of Aurora and Maycee Hraban of Two Harbors and many nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Katherine and Frank Berdice and brother, Edward Berdice.