Edward Stolka, age 89 of Waverly, MN passed away on October 9, 2021. He was born the 8th of 9 children on January 8, 1932 in Mahnomen, MN to Frank and Marie (Drsek) Stolka. Baptized January 17, 1932, received first communion on July 1, 1939, and was confirmed June 18, 1945 at St Michael’s Catholic Church in Mahnomen, MN. He attended school in Mahnomen and served his country in the US Army for 2 years during the Korean War from July of 1952 to April of 1954. Ed was a machine operator at Hub Manufacturing in Minneapolis and later worked at Midwest Expanded Metal in Waconia, MN. He was united in marriage to Gloria Specht on August 11, 1956 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. He later married Gladys Glessing on February 5, 1983 in their home.
He enjoyed woodworking: making whirly gigs, wishing wells, windmills, birdhouses. He could repair most anything. He also enjoyed camping, loved playing with his grandchildren and gardening: marigolds and geraniums. Ed spent a week in June each summer fishing in Spooner, WI and would use his spare time to mow his, his neighbor, David’s, and his friend, Janet’s lawns.
He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Gladys, siblings, Frank (Betty) Stolka, Verna (Leonard) Berg, Rose (Jim) Rys, Charles Stolka, Anna (Fred) Schmidt, James (Berniece) Stolka, Marie/Mary (“Hap”) Clausen, Helen (Charlie) Reitz, and grandson, Troy Sherrer of McGrath, AK.
Survived by a special friend, Janet Midtling of Cokato, MN, best buddy, Willy Haavisto of Cokato, MN, children, Doug Stolka (Andy Reynolds) of Delano, MN, Annette Bendtsen (Chris Skelton) of Milaca, MN, Frank (Lori) Stolka of Delano, MN, step children, Gail Sherrer of Portland, OR (Doug Sherrer of Fairbanks, AK), Denise Glessing Dyreson (Bernie Dyreson) of Delano, MN, Dennis (Vicky) Glessing of Howard Lake, MN, grandchildren, Brent Stolka, Tracy Friedman, Joseph Bendtsen (Kayla Boerma), Crystal (Chris) Bailey, Matthew Bendtsen, Heather Coleman, Kevin Stolka (Emlie Vigil), Shane (Andrea) Dyreson, Kevin Brigham (Kayla O’Donnell), Hilary (Nate) Schlosser, Cassie Brigham, Jared (Cassey) Glessing, Corrisa (Kirk) Haugan, Jessica Glessing, Melissa (Steve) Clark, great-grandchildren, Annabelle Bendtsen, Brendon Silva, Benson Stolka, Powers Bailey, Bentley Krueger, and many other relatives and friends.
A funeral mass will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Waverly, MN with Father Kenneth O’Hotto officiating. Visitation from 9-10:45 at Church on Saturday. Interment following lunch at Howard Lake Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Brent Stolka, Joseph Bendtsen, Kevin Stolka, and Jared Glessing, and nephews, Raymond Schmidt and Phillip Schmidt. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Howard Lake, Minnesota, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-543-3401