Elmer Eugene Vikla, 87
Elmer Eugene Vikla, 87 of Veseli, died August 19, 2016 at the Northfield Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial was at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at Most Holy Trinity Church in Veseli. Visitation was from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday at the White Funeral Home in Lonsdale. Interment was in the Czech National Cemetery in Lonsdale. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to LNMV Catholic Education Center Capital Campaign or a charity of your choice.
Elmer was born in New Prague, MN on January 5, 1929 to Mathias and Josephine (Andrysek) Vikla. He was the middle child of five. He was a 1947 graduate of New Prague High School. Elmer served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953, during the Korean War. On February 17, 1955 he married Margaret Irene Ciffra at the Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery. Elmer was a life-long farmer, in Wheatland Township, who always practiced the strictest conservation measures. He was proud of his contour strip cropping and grass waterways to prevent soil erosion. He received a soil conservation award in 1963 for his efforts to establish these practices on his farm. He also protected the wildlife on his property by leaving some corn unharvested for the deer. He loved song birds and the many wild turkeys that came into the yard for food. Honeybees were Elmer’s greatest passion. He was a beekeeper since a young age and took over the operation from his father who began beekeeping in 1895 at the age of 15. Elmer tried many ways to save the colonies when new diseases began taking their toll on the bees. Elmer produced and sold the best quality honey desired by his many customers. He was a member of the American Beekeeping Federation for 64 years and a member of the Lonsdale American Legion for 59 yrs. He also was employed at McQuay INC in Faribault. He enjoyed spending time with his family especially the grandkids.
Elmer was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Ernest (Janelle), Lillian Simacek, and brothers-inlaw Edwin Tuve and Albert (Arlene) Ciffra.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret; children: Steve (Dori), David (Kelly), Theresa (Steve) Hyde, and Anne (James) Srnec; 11 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; brothers: Sidney (Betty Ann) and Floyd (Donna); brotherin- law Bernie (Judy) Simacek and sister-in-law Marie Tuve; also by other loving relatives and friends.
