General Information
Full Name: Warren Clifford Rylander
Date of Birth: March 27, 1921
Date of Death: May 8, 2013
Warren’s life story
Warren Clifford Rylander
On Sunday, March 27, 1921 in Minneapolis, Warren Clifford was born to parents Gustav and Ida (Johnson) Rylander The youngest of three children, his childhood years were spent growing up in Minneapolis. At age 5 his father died and at age 8 his mother died. He was raised by an aunt and uncle, working many part time jobs during his high school years. He graduated from Central High School in 1939.
Telling the parents they were going to go pick blueberries, Betty Leuchovius and Warren instead, eloped to Ames, Iowa. They declared their love to each other on July 13, 1940 and kept the marriage a secret for many months. They were married for 72 years.
Warren enlisted in the Navy, serving from 1943 to December 1945. He was a Navy Seabee during World War II and built barracks and air fields. He was initially stationed in Hawaii, then the Phillipines, and finally was part of the occupation forces in Japan. As a proud veteran of the Navy, he would attend annual Seabee reunions around the country.
Settling in Minneapolis, Warren and Betty were blessed with three children, Jerry, Mary and Kathy. They enjoyed camping, attending the events of General Mills and traveling the world abroad and every state except South Carolina.
Warren’s career was working at General Mills starting in 1945, for 45 years full time and eventually part time later in life. For over 23 years, Betty and Warren also were the resident managers of the International Village Apartments in Bloomington.
Warren and Betty never missed celebrating their Swedish heritage at the annual events in Minneapolis as it was a deep love of theirs.
Warren will always be remembered for his “one-liners”. He recently commented that he was, “warren out and tired”. He also was known for his favorite expression “Mercy”.
His truest passion was his faith. He was an active member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis and later years at Friendship Church in Prior Lake. A true volunteer, he served on many boards, was a Sunday School teacher, and helped children with their memory verses. He always attended the prayer meeting on Thursdays at 6 AM.
The morning of Wednesday, May 8, 2013, with his family at his bedside at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee, Warren was 92 years old when he was reunited with his wife in heaven and met his Lord and Savior.
Deeply missed and remembered always by those who loved Warren; son, Gerald (Julie) Rylander of Prior Lake; daughter, Mary Miller of Chanhassen: son-in-law, Joseph “Skip” (Lorraine) Vober of Tennessee; grandchildren, Jeff (Kathy) Rylander, Jodi (Conrad) Anderson, Michael (Heidi) Miller, Molly (Josh) McCaffrey, Megan (Chad) Schwichtenberg, Dainis (Lori) Vober; 22 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Warren is preceded in death by wife, Betty; daughter, Kathy Vober; parents, Gustav and Ida; brother, Howard (Lorriane) Rylander; sister, Eleanor (Frank) Jerome.
Pallbearers will be grandsons and great-grandsons, Jeff Rylander, Michael Miller, Dainis Vober, Conrad Anderson, Chad Schwichtenberg, Josh McCaffrey, Josh Anderson, Luke Anderson, Aaron Anderson, Devin Miller, Aidan Miller and Matthew Rylander.
The visitation will be on Friday, May 10, from 4-7 pm at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake and one hour prior to the service at the church. The Celebration of Life Service will be on Saturday, May 11 at 1 pm at Friendship Church, 17741 Fairlawn Ave, Prior Lake. Pastor Doyal VanGelder will preside. A private family interment with full military honors will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery . Memorials are preferred and will be distributed in Warren’s memory by the family.
The family thanks the staff at Keystone Communities for their care and compassion.
The Rylander family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Prior Lake Chapel.
Visitation
When: Friday, May 10th, 4-7 pm,and also one hour prior the service at church
Location: Ballard Sunder Funeral Home
Address:4565 Pleasant Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
Service Information
When: Saturday, May 11th,1:00 pm
Location: Friendship Church
17741 Fairlawn Ave
Prior Lake, MN
Interment
Fort Snelling National Cemetery
Minneapolis, Minnesota
