Victor Pogatchnik, Jr.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 12 noon on Saturday, December 17, 2016 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in St. Anthony celebrating the life of Victor Pogatchnik, Jr. age 80 who died on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at the St. Cloud Hospital. Reverend Cletus Connors, OSB and Reverend Scott Pogatchnik concelebrated. Burial was in the parish cemetery. Military Honors were provided by Albany Legion Post 482 and the Minnesota National Guard.
Victor Pogatchnik, Jr. was born to Victor and Inez (Barry) Pogatchnik, Sr. on June 14, 1936, at home in Krain Township, Stearns County, Minnesota. Victor Jr. was baptized at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in St. Anthony where he remained a lifelong member. He served as a lay reader there for many years as well as on the Parish Council and other parish committees.
He attended school at the nearby St. Anthony District 98 country school through 8th grade and graduated valedictorian from Albany High School in 1953. Victor was in the Army Reserves from 1954-1962 and served with distinction in the U.S. Army on active duty from 1955-1957.
On November 5, 1960, Victor was united in marriage to Mary Catherine Redmond in Rochester, Minnesota. Shortly thereafter, Victor and Mary returned to the family farm (homesteaded in 1875) in Krain Township and purchased it in 1967. Their marriage was blessed with five children, Victor, twins Denise and Donna, Cathy, and Bob. Mary died in 2001 after 40 years of marriage.
For several years, he served on the Stearns County Planning Commission and was a member of Albany American Legion Post 482, serving in their Memorial Rifle Guard. Along with collecting and shooting firearms, he also supported the sport as a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and member of the Birch Lake Gun Club. Victor’s favorite pastime of all was visiting with people, including family, neighbors, friends and complete strangers. He especially enjoyed visits from his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father Victor, on May 22, 1992, and mother Inez on November 7, 1946; wife Mary on December 10, 2001; son, Victor T. III on October 3, 2001; siblings, Marie Winter, June (Philip) Ney, Corrine (Herbert) Zimmermann, and John Pogatchnik; brothers-in-law, Lawrence Marolt, Arthur Redmond, and Patrick (Eileen) Redmond.
Victor is survived by his loving family: children, Denise Pogatchnik, Sartell; Donna (Todd) Kreger, Milaca; Catherine “Cathy” (Rick) Rettig, Cedar; and Robert “Bob” (Nancy Armstrong) Pogatchnik, St. Anthony; grandchildren Jessica (Eric) Nesius, Joshua Pogatchnik, Michelle (Tim) Evans, Kristen Halvorson, Scott Halvorson, Kyle (Brittany) Kreger, Kayla (Jonathon) Quinn, Trisha (John Raway) Rettig, and Lindsey (Subhani) Syed; and nine great-grandchildren, including 2 sets of twins. Also survived by siblings, LaVerne Marolt, Ardell (Alexander) Nadesan, Joseph (Eileen) Pogatchnik, Patricia (Jerome) Welters, Jean (James) Ramacher; sisters-in-law, Ann Redmond, CSJ and Carol McInnes; brother-in-law, George Winter; and daughter-in-law, Tammie Sharp.