Winfred C. Polzin, age 100, of Alexandria passed away February 24, 2019 at Edgewood Assisted Living. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, March 2nd at Strike Life Tributes in Cambridge. A memorial visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be in Rice Lake Cemetery in Braham.
Winfred was born September 3, 1918 in Watertown, SD. He was the second of five boys born to Emma and Carl.
After losing the farm in the dust bowl the family moved near Braham, Minnesota and Winfred worked as a farm hand until he enlisted in the Army in January 1942. His unit was 1st Engineer Special Brigade 478th Amphibious Truck Company. He served on Operation Torch, The Invasion of North Africa, Operation Husky, The Invasion of Sicily, he was in Italy and then in Great Britain. He was involved in Exercise Tiger on The LST 507 and was torpedoed by the German S Boote S-130 and sank on April 28, 1944. He was on Operation Overlord, which is known as D-Day, June 6, 1944. Winfred attained the rank of Sergeant. World War II ended on September 2, 1945.
On February 4, 1945 he married Dallas Boeff and together they raised three daughters. He farmed, was a mail carrier, worked at an ammunition plant and retired as a heliarc welder. He enjoyed working with wood and traveling with his wife, Dallas, who passed away in 1986.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dallas; baby daughter, Jean Ann; brothers, Orville (Ruth), Edward (Louise) and Leslie (Margie).
Winfred is survived by his daughters, Patricia (Michael) Kemen of Lowell, MI, Mary (Paul) Dorow of Pine City, MN, Carol (Lee) Barenz of Alexandria, MN; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brother, Roland (Bozo) and wife, Luella (Honey) of Isanti, MN; many nieces and nephews; and my many other relatives and friends.
Mary and the rest of the families– I am so sorry to hear about your Dad and Grandpa. I always enjoyed talking to him at the events I attended. He will be missed by all. Thoughts and prayers are with everyone. Take care
Barb Mellin, prior coworker of Mary s
Our sincere sympathy to you all on the death of your Brother, Dad and Grandpa Winfred, from the family of Edmund Klatt, husband of Elna (Mischke) Klatt. Edmund is still with us, a resident of Jenkins Living Center, and celebrated his 100th birthday last June. May the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ be a comfort to you at this time and always.
David and Rosie Klatt, son of Edmund and Elna
Our sympathy to the family of Winfred Polzin from the Donald Mischke family of Hazel, SD.
Patty Mary and Carol
I was so sorry to read in the paper today of your dad’s passing. He was a special person. He always had a smile and a fun greeting for everyone. Jim had so many stories to tell about their rides together to work at the ammunition plant . I’m sure you have many happy memories to share with each other.
Know I’m thinking about you and holding you tightly in my heart.
Love to you,
Marion Larson
I will really miss my “adopted” grandpa, especially his smile and his positive attitude! I only knew him for a short time, but I feel truly blessed for knowing him.❤️