Verlyn Cornelius, 97, Owatonna

The Life of Verlyn Francis Cornelius: 1926-2023

Verlyn was born April 4, 1926, on a farm in Canton, S.D. to parents John and Emma (Johnson) Cornelius. He was number seven of eight siblings. He was baptized into the Christian faith on July 25, 1926. He attended schools in Canton and graduated from Canton High School in May of 1944. Verlyn entered service in the U.S. Navy in July of 1944, during World War II. He served on the USS 1214, a sub destroyer, doing convoy duty. He was honorably discharged in June of 1946.

He married Dorothy Michelson on Feb. 8, 1947, at Grand Valley Lutheran Church in Canton, (Lincoln County), S.D. He then began his career with the Postal Department as a city letter carrier. He worked as a letter carrier at Post Offices in Canton, S.D., Vancouver, Wash., and Owatonna. He became the Postmaster at the Post Office in Medford in May of 1954. He retired on May 29, 1981, after 34 years in the Postal Service.

Verlyn’s wife, Dorothy, passed away on May 4, 1985, after 38 years of marriage.

He married Lorraine Borgstahl on April 5, 1988, in Mantorville. The two were married for 33 years until Lorraine passed away on Sept. 20, 2021. Verlyn and his family were members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Medford, starting in 1956. Verlyn served as a church council secretary, elder, Sunday school teacher, and superintendent.

During his 36 years in Medford, Verlyn was a member of the Medford Civic Club, Medford Fire Department, Veteran of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, National Association of Postmasters, and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. He proudly volunteered to distribute Veteran Memorial Day flags to three Medford cemeteries for nearly 40 years.

Verlyn is survived by his daughter Nannette Wandry (Brian) of Owatonna; son Dorian (Lori) Cornelius of Medford; stepson Gary Borgstahl of Chicago; stepdaughter Lynn Howard of Owatonna; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Verlyn was preceded in death by his two wives Dorothy and Lorraine, son Kivden Cornelius, one infant son, and one grandson, John Cornelius.

Verlyn passed away Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, at Bridgewater in Owatonna.

Funeral services for Verlyn will be Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Medford. Friends may greet the family Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, from 4-6 p.m. at Medford Funeral Home and again at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, at Trinity Lutheran Church. Interment will follow services at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery with military honors provided by the Steele County Funeral Unit.

Memorials are preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church, Medford, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Owatonna, or Owatonna VFW Post 3723. In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to bring a pan of bars to Trinity Lutheran Church by 10 a.m. on Wednesday.