Delmar D. Cochran, 93, of Caledonia, Minn. passed away Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at Caledonia Care and Rehab.
He was born July 29, 1922 in Rackett, Mo., to William and Rosella (Summers) Cochran. Del came to Caledonia with the CCC camp and met the love of his life, Lorraine Nestor. They were married on October 25, 1941, and celebrated 70 years together in 2011. Lorraine passed away in 2012.
Del was a WWII veteran of the U.S. Army and a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 191 and the VFW in Caledonia and he was also a volunteer fire fighter for 34 years. He worked many years for Ranzenberger Freight and later for Bill Jahn. His hobbies were golf, hunting, playing euchre, fishing and telling jokes (his life-long profession).
He is survived by three children, Del Jr. (Kathy) Cochran of Duluth, Minn,, Judy Stadtler of Caledonia, Jean Gilbert of White Bear Lake, Minn.; five grandchildren, Dan (Teresa Helm) Cochran, Colleen (Al) Keuten, Maureen (Bart) Olek, Patrick (Crystal) Cochran, and Karen (Mike) Gran; 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. He is also survived by four sisters, Imogene, Noreen “Dolly,” Margie and Jane; and three brothers, Wayne, Jim and John.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, two granddaughters, Kelly Cochran and Ann Bauer; one grandson, James Patrick Cochran; two sons-in-law, Raymond Stadtler Jr., and Richard Gilbert; and four brothers, Edward, Jewel, Hurley, and Kenneth.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 12, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Caledonia. Father Matt Fasnacht will officiate and burial with military honors will be in Calvary Cemetery, Caledonia. Visitation will be Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.