Bernard “Butch” A. Linn, 84, Waite Park

April 8, 1931 - September 21, 2015

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 24, 2015 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Waite Park for Bernard “Butch” Linn, age 84, who passed away Monday at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center. Rev. Mark Innocenti will officiate and burial will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Little Falls. Friends and relatives may call after 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the church in Waite Park.

Butch was born April 8, 1931 in St. Cloud to Bernard & Eleanore (Moeller) Linn. He served his country in the Navy during the Korean Conflict. Butch married LaVerne Wittkowski on Sept. 3, 1960 in Waite Park. He worked as a switchman/brakeman for Burlington Northern Railroad and Great Northern Railroad for 37 years, retiring in 1993. Butch was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Waite Park American Legion Post 428, St. Cloud Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 622, and a lifetime member of St. Cloud VFW Post 428. He enjoyed playing cards especially cribbage.

Survivors include his wife, LaVerne of Sauk Rapids; sons and daughters, Wes (Joannie) Wittkowski of Yuma, AZ, Jody (Doug) Albers of Kimball, Janet Wiechmann of Sauk Rapids and Joel Linn of Waite Park; sisters, LaVern Plaziak of Wayzata and Dorothy Holland of CA; grandchildren, Zach (Abbey), Jake (Amber) and Travis (Cassie Haggerty) Laudenbach, Sara (Abram) Schmidt, Nikki (Curt) Schaefer, Kenny and Kristine Albers; and five great grandchildren. Butch was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Irene McKee; brothers, Donald and Jerome Linn; and granddaughter, Jessica Wittkowski.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

A special thank you to the St. Cloud VA Medical Center for the wonderful care given to Butch during his final days.