Lorn Apel

The funeral service for Lorn Apel of Wadena will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 13, at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Wadena. Friends may call on Monday, November 12, at the Johnson-Schuller Chapel in Wadena from 5:00-7:00 PM and at the church on Tuesday one hour prior to the service. Lorn passed away on Friday, November 9, 2012 at the age of 78 years at Fair Oaks Lodge in Wadena. Lorn Henry Apel, Sr., was born May 25, 1934, to Otto and Irene (Smith) Apel in Marshall, MN. He graduated from Onamia High School with the class of 1951. After high school he entered the US Navy, serving 4 years as a naval corpsman until his honorable discharge. He lived in several locations including California, Chicago, Idaho, Washington and Minnesota. Lorn married Helen (Smith/Guinn) on November 2, 1963 in Stockton, CA. He surrendered to preach in 1965 and attended the Missionary Baptist Seminary in Bellflower, CA, and was ordained into the ministry in 1969. He served as a pastor at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Wadena through 1992. Lorn spent several years away from the ministry but returned to Wadena and has been an important part of the First Missionary Baptist Church since that time. Lorn has lived in Wadena for over 40 years and has been a familiar face to many. Most recently he was a greeter at McDonalds in Wadena, where he had a smile for everyone that came through the door. Lorn loved his family and was very proud of his children and grandchildren. Lorn was preceded in death by his parents Otto and Irene Apel; brothers Leslie, Delwood and Terry Apel; daughter-in-law Libby Apel; and brother-in-law Rudy Gave. He is survived by his dedicated wife Helen Ona (Smith/Guinn) Apel; children Denise (Julius) Dobozenski, Genise (Tom) McGahn, James Apel, Patricia (Ken) Derby, Rhoda (Eric) Doty and Lorn Apel, Jr; grandchildren Charity, Stephanie (Jesse) Larson, Melissa (Mike) Cook, Sherrie Stevens, Rebekah Blaske, Sonja Stevens, Micah Apel and Eliza Apel; eight great-grandchildren & two great-great-grandchildren; brothers Maynard (Eleanor) Apel, Kenny (Marian) Apel, and Jerry (Ruth) Apel; sisters Lorraine Gave, Elaine Neal and Holly Lee; and many nieces and nephews.

Lorn Apel

May 25, 1934 - November 9, 2012