Marvin L. Gathje
Tuesday, February 16, 1937
Date of Death:
Monday, March 6, 2023
Age:
86 years old
Visitation
Date: Friday March 10, 2023
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Funeral Service
Date: Friday March 10, 2023
Time: 11:00 am
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Burial
Location: Grandview Memorial Gardens [ view map ]
Tuesday, February 16, 1937
Date of Death:
Monday, March 6, 2023
Age:
86 years old
Tuesday, February 16, 1937
Date of Death:
Monday, March 6, 2023
Age:
86 years old
Marvin L. Gathje
Marvin “Marv” LeRoy Gathje 86, of Chatfield, MN, passed away on Monday, March 6, 2023 at Oak Lawn Rehabilitation Facility in Mankato, MN, following a couple months of illness.
Marvin was born February 16, 1937 in Chatfield, MN to LeRoy and Helen (Dushek) Gathje. Marvin joined the Navy in 1955 and earned the title of Boilerman Third Class. He served on the USS Hunt. While in the Navy, he met Norma Barker from Maine. They were married December 16, 1958 in Portland, ME. In 1959 he got an honorary discharge to help his family on the farm in Minnesota. Over the years he worked on several farms, drove hauling gas to homes and did mechanical work. Marvin drove school bus for Chatfield schools for numerous years. In 1969 he finished building a house next to his parents in Chatfield. Almost all of the work was done by him. He resided there until 1983. Later he and Norma divorced.
He then moved to Colorado. On November 7, 1986 he married Donna Brevig. They lived in Colorado for a few years, he worked as ranch hand, riding horses in mountains to herd cattle. They moved back to Minnesota in 2000 and eventually settled in Kellogg, Minnesota. They both worked at Bouquet Enterprises, making wooden lawn ornaments and other crafts. Marvin also drove school bus in the Kellogg area, where he became friends with numerous kids over the years.
Marvin enjoyed snowmobiling, often going out with friends and riding all day on weekends. Once he and Donna settled in Kellogg, they bought a camper and spent time camping during the summer months. He also spent a lot of time doing woodwork. He made things like lamps, furniture, whirly birds etc. He would cut and create wood items and Donna would decorate it.
He is survived by his daughters, Wanda Gathje of Eagle Lake, MN and Debra Gathje of Rochester, MN; one granddaughter Amber (Ryan) Siebel of Alamogordo, NM, one grandson Reed Merkel of Spring Valley, MN and a great grandson Ezekiel “Zeke” Siebel; brother Donald (Louise) Gathje and sister-in-law Bernice Gathje; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his wife Donna; his parents, LeRoy and Helen; son Brian Gathje: grandson Trenton Merkel; brother Lawrence “Larry” Gathje.
He will be missed by many.
A Funeral Service will be held Friday, March 10, 2023 at 11:00 am at the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Karen Foster officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Friday. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester, MN
Condolences
The family of Marvin L. Gathje has received the following condolences.
Dear Donna and Family, our thoughts are with you. Marv was a great guy and a great bus driver. He was easy to get along with. He had such a gentle nature. We thought of you people often.
Ron and Roberta Kurth
Dear Donna and Family, our thoughts are with you. Marv was a great guy and a great bus driver. He was easy to get along with. He had such a gentle nature. We thought of you people often.
Ron and Roberta Kurth
It is often the sad truth that we know little about other people before reading their obituaries. The same applies for me with Marv. Though I knew him for years, and even did a will for his father, I didn't know much about him. I was not aware, for example, that he'd served in the military. What I did know was that he was a great bus driver, generally commandeering the "flat nose" bus. For my high school years, it was almost as if he was a member of the basketball and football teams, driving us expertly to out-of-town games. He also for years drove the bus route that picked me up in the morning and delivered me home after school. Marv was a good man. He kicked me off the bus only once, over at the LaPlante farm, but I'm sure I deserved it though I was angry at the time. There was sporadic fighting and acting-up on my bus. Must have nearly driven him crazy. As kids, we often needlessly make other people's lives more difficult, and I am sorry for that. At any rate, I'm very glad to read/know that Marv lived a very full life into his 80's. He richly deserved it.
Uncle Marv will be very missed. He is now in the arms of God. Happy and healthy and you can't ask for more. Hugs and love to the family. God's Blessings.