Michael Fraune

The Mass of Christian Burial for Michael “Mike” Fraune of Wadena will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 14, 2015 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Wadena, with Father Aaron Kuhn as celebrant. Visitation will be at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass. With family at his side, Mike passed away on Friday, December 4, 2015, under the gentle care of Knute Nelson Hospice, at Fair Oaks Lodge in Wadena, MN. Michael was born February 6, 1945, to William and Helen (Peka) Fraune at the Thiel Hospital in Bertha, MN. He attended the Bertha-Hewitt Public School and graduated in 1963 and during his childhood had taken piano lessons for seven years. He also attended St Cloud State University for two years. Mike was united in marriage to Marie Neussendorfer Carlson on November 21,1970, at St Ann's Catholic Church in Wadena. He was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church and helped with several their organizations. Mike worked at the Natural Gas Company in St. Croix Falls, WI, and surrounding towns before starting at Northern Minnesota Utilities, now known as MN Energy Resources, in the Wadena, MN area. He retired after 34 years of service. Mike was a lifetime member of the Lake Region Pioneer Threshing Association in Dalton, MN, the Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers of Bagley, MN and the Stearns County Pioneer Club at Albany, MN. He enjoyed working with steam engines and built many working model steam engines, both traction and stationary. Mike spent many hours working in his shop and could fix almost anything including reels for fishing. He was a member of the Wadena County Park Board for many years and loved camping, canoeing, and fishing on the Crow Wing River whenever he could. He loved to go camping and fishing anytime and could spend hours either in the canoe or boat. Preceding Mike in death were his parents, William and Helen Fraune, in-laws Paul and Magdeline Neussendorfer; brothers-in-law, Wilfred Neussendorfer and Piet Rutten; and sisters-in-law Pauline Neussendorfer, Jeanette Holmquist, and Elaine Fraune. Mike is survived by his wife of 45 years Marie; daughters, Kathy Bristow (Richard Swenson) of Park Rapids, MN, Charlene Carlson of Windom, MN, Janice Djonne of Olivia, MN; sons, Gregory (Kimberly) Carlson of Alexandria, MN and Jeffrey (Dona) Carlson of Duluth, MN. He is also survived by grandchildren, Matthew (Kayla) Djonne, Andrew (Cassie) Djonne, Jake Carlson, Mackenzie Carlson, Michaela (Robbie) Rapp, Dylan Carlson, Danielle Carlson, Jasmine Carlson, Jae-Yung Carlson, Mareah Carlson, Daelee Carlson, Chelsea Swenson, Cassandra Swenson, Michael Swenson, Jeremy Olson, and Foreign Exchange granddaughter Karoline Chitarra; great -grandchildren Coltyn Djonne, Rylee Djonne, and Baby Djonne due in May; brothers, Joe, Paul, John, Mark and their families. Honorary Pallbearers are Mike’s granddaughters Michaela, Danielle, Mackenzie, Chelsea, Jasmine, and Mareah. Pallbearers will be Matthew Djonne, Andrew Djonne, Dylan Carlson, Jake Carlson, Jae-Yung Carlson, Daelee Carlson, Greg Carlson and Jeff Carlson. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Wadena, MN.

Michael Fraune

February 6, 1945 - December 4, 2015