Oscar L. Hjelle

Oscar L. Hjelle, 78, of Mason City, died Friday, February 4, 2011, at his home. Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, February 9, 2011, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., with Pastor Kathy Graves of Trinity Lutheran Church officiating. Interment will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM - 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 8, 2011, at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the Oscar L. Hjelle Memorial Fund in care of the family. Oscar was born January 1, 1933, in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Hans and Nettie (Hamson) Hjelle. He was the first baby born in 1933. He was married to Joanne Marson on December 1, 1950, at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Mason City. He worked for 33 years for Armour Foods before retiring at the age of 50. Oscar was a lifelong resident of Mason City and a member of American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations. He enjoyed his family, gardening, woodworking, frogs, going to casinos, bus trips, and making gazing balls out of bowling balls, marbles or tiles. He also enjoyed sports and was avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Minnesota Twins and Vikings, and the Mason City Mohawks. Oscar is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joanne; children, Michael (Jackie) Hjelle, Peter (RaNae) Hjelle, Cynthia (Jim) Pike; grandchildren, Cheri Dixon, Polly Montgomery, Joshua (Rebecca) Pike, Ben (Melissa) Hjelle, Nick Hjelle, Gabriel Pike, Dustin (Jodi) Hjelle, Terry (Kama) Hjelle, Samantha (Jordan) Hoveland; fifteen great-grandchildren and two on the way; brothers, Newell (Donna) Trustin, Helmer Hjelle; sister, Bonnie (Keith) King; brothers in-law, George Smidt, George (Barb) Marson. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Lillian Marsh and husband Dick, Beverly Smidt; sister in-law, Nita Hjelle; mother and father in-law, Ben and Doris Marson.

Memorials:
Memorials may be directed to the Oscar L. Hjelle Memorial Fund in care of the family.

Cemetery:
Interment will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation:
Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM - 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 8, 2011, at the funeral home.

Service:
Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, February 9, 2011, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., with Pastor Kathy Graves of Trinity Lutheran Church officiating.