Irwin A. Flaten, age 87, of Eau Claire, died peacefully in the early morning hours of March 7, 2013 at the Palliative Care Unit of Dove Healthcare West in Eau Claire, WI. Irwin Augustine Flaten was born on the family farm at Camp Lake in Swift County, Minnesota on June 29, 1925. He was the son of Carl Nels and Inga Regina (Wanberg) Flaten. After attending a rural one-room school (District 79 at Camp Lake) through the eighth grade, in order to attend high school, Irwin moved to Benson, Minnesota at age 14 and lived with his Uncle Raney Wanberg. After graduating, Irwin enlisted in the US Navy in 1943. He served as an Electrician's Mate Third Class on a troop ship, the USS Pondera, APA 191 from October 1943 until June 1946, seeing action in the Pacific Theatre, including the Battle for Okinawa. After his Naval service, Irwin attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, graduating in 1950. Irwin married Edith M. Sevalson on June 7, 1950, in Swift Falls, Minnesota. Irwin then attended Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, graduating in 1954. He was ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church (which through mergers later became the American Lutheran Church and is now the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) on May 23, 1954 at his home congregation, Rolling Forks Lutheran Church, in rural Sedan, Minnesota (Rolling Forks later merged with Saint Pauli and Swift Falls to become the current Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church). Irwin served as Pastor to the congregations at Bethel-Borea Lutheran Church in Superior (1954-1956), Christ Lutheran in Washburn (1956-1965), Colfax Lutheran in Colfax (1965-1978), and Augusta-Foster Lutheran in Augusta & Foster (1984-1989). Irwin became certified as an Alcoholism-Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC III) in 1977. He served in Extended Service from the American Lutheran Church Ministry as the Executive Director of Eau Claire County Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse from 1978 to 1984. He also served as Chaplain to AODA programs at Wynot Rehabilitation Center, Weyhauser; Dunn County Health Care Center, Menomonie; Rain Tree Center, Mondovi; L.E. Phillips Libertas Center in Chippewa Falls; and Luther Hospital Genesis Program in Eau Claire. He received several awards as a Friend of AA from area Alcoholic Anonymous groups. He also was a board member of the Wisconsin Association on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse (WAAODA) for many years. Irwin received his first experience as an Interim or Long-Term Supply Pastor in 1978. After he officially retired in 1989, Irwin studied Intentional Interim Ministry and started a new career as an Intentional Interim Pastor. In that capacity he served many congregations including Augusta, Arcadia, Birchwood, Bloomer, Chippewa Falls, rural Colfax, Cumberland, Downsville, Foster, Hayward, Hixton, Independence, Lyster (Nelson), Medford, Mondovi, Pleasantville, Pigeon Falls, Sparta, Star Prairie, Superior and Whitehall, Wisconsin. He also was proud to serve as an Intentional Interim to his home congregation, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Swift Falls, Minnesota. After 58 years of active ministry, Irwin preached his last sermon at Upper Pigeon Creek Lutheran Church on the second Sunday in January 2012. Irwin is survived by five sons: Paul (Connie) of Swift Falls, Minnesota and their sons, Michael (DeeDee) and Chad Rosen and their families of Swift Falls, Minnesota; Daniel (Yvette) of Eau Claire and their children, Matthew (Laura Dean) of Karkov, Ukraine and Avril of Eau Claire; Timothy (Sara) of Richland, Washington and their children, Joanna of St Paul, MN, David of Juneau, Alaska, and Erik of Beaverton, Oregon; Mark (Lisa Novotny) of Golden Valley, Minnesota, and their children, Nicholas of Rifle, Colorado, Natalya of Minneapolis, and Kyla of Ely, Minnesota; James (Barbara) of Eau Claire and their children, Carl (Jessica) of Elk Mound and Kayla (Rodney) Shafer of Altoona. He is also survived by Sister-in-Law Betty Flaten of Swift Falls, Minnesota, Sister-in-Law Anna Offerdahl of Benson, Minnesota, Brother-in-Law Milton Skarsten of Swift Falls, Minnesota, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. Irwin is preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife of 62 years, Edith, and his brother Eldon. Funeral Services for Irwin will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 202 West Grand Ave, Eau Claire on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. with Pastors Rolf A. Nestingen and David J. Irgens officiating. Visitation will be held Monday, March 11, 2013, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home, 814 First Ave, Eau Claire, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Interment will take place at Evergreen Cemetery, County Highway M, Colfax, WI at 2:00 p.m. following services at the church. The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the caregivers of Mayo Clinic Home Health & Hospice and Dove Healthcare West, who Irwin often referred to as "angels on earth."

Service Information

Cemetery

Evergreen Cemetery Hwy 40 and County Road M Colfax WI

Visitation

Monday, March 11 2013 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral & Cremation Services 814 First Avenue Eau Claire WI 54703

Visitation

Tuesday, March 12 2013 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Grace Lutheran Church 202 W. Grand Ave. Eau Claire WI

Funeral Service

Tuesday, March 12 2013 11:00 AM

Grace Lutheran Church 202 W. Grand Ave. Eau Claire WI