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William H. CortWilliam Howard Cort, known to his family and friends as Bill, was born December 11, 1932 to William Henry and Anna (Nortin) Cort in Royalton Township, Pine County, Minnesota. He attended the local schools and graduated from Pine City High School in 1950. At that time Bill began a 41 year career of service with Honeywell in Minneapolis, Minnesota, retiring from there in 1991. He was a member of the United States Army from 1953 to 1955. On May 19, 1956 Bill married the former Alice Jean (Jeannie) Pixley of Pine City. They made their home in Coon Rapids, Minnesota for six years, and then moved to a small farm near Braham, Minnesota. Upon Billís retirement from Honeywell, they decided to move to Cross Lake near Pine City. Bill was an active member of the Grasston Lions Club for 28 years and at one time was the club secretary. He was also a 40 year member of the American legion. Although always active in community affairs, Bill will probably be best remembered for his ability to tell stories. His love of polka music brought him many years of enjoyment while playing drums at various dance halls and polka dancing with his wife. During his years of retirement, Bill chose to keep busy by working at Bohaty Hardware in Rush City, Minnesota. There he enjoyed the company of his good friends, and met many new ones as well. His family was of utmost importance to him and he found great pleasure in their activities. One that was most enjoyable to him was taking his grandchildren water-skiing. He loved life and lived it to the fullest, spending time with anyone who cam through the door and he always had a story to tell. Bill died Tuesday, March 5, 2002 at the Cambridge Medical Center in Cambridge, Minnesota following an eight month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 69 years of age. He is survived by his wife, Jeanine; children: Carol Jo (Larry) Sweeney, Brenda (Jim) Nelson, all of Pine City, Darla (Neal) Hall, Brook Park, MN, Bill (Patty) Cort of Rush City; 10 grandchildren; sisters: Irene (Don) Wentworth, Cambridge, Betty Nordstrom, St. Michael, MN, Doris Wallace, Eden Prairie, MN; several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Anna Cort, his brother, Earl, sisters Evelyn Ness, Alice Kent, and Louise Nystrom, and his nephew, Gary Kent. Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Friday, March 8, 2002 at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City with the Reverend Laurie OíShea officiating. Polka music was provided by Mr. Morgan Ellingson. Casket bearers were Travis Schwarz, Jeff Pangerl, Justin Sweeney, Don Westerman, Mike Youngbauer, and Roger Soderbeck. interment was at the Birchwood Cemetery in Pine City. ©ECM Post Review |