7/21/2021 11:03:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial for Roy Finn July 24 at St. Bernard's
The Mass of Christian Burial for Roy E. Finn, 88, a longtime Chatfield area farmer will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Stewartville with Rev. Kevin Connolly officiating. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Chatfield. Mr. Finn died on Monday, July 19, 2021 of natural causes at the Stewartville Care Center where he had been a resident for three weeks. Roy Elwood Finn was born on Nov. 14, 1932 in Rochester to Arthur and Loretta (Byrne) Finn. He moved with his family as a seven-year-old boy to the current Finn family farm in rural Chatfield. He attended country school and Chatfield High School, graduating in 1949 and began farming with his family. Roy was married on Sept. 11, 1954 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Chatfield to Shirley A. Barth. Following their marriage, the couple lived on the Finn family homestead where they farmed, raised their children and lived for over 55 years. Roy farmed into his early 80's. Following the sale of the dairy herd in 1977, he was employed part-time at Super-Valu Grocery in Chatfield and Boyum's Grocery in Stewartville. He and Shirley moved to Stewartville in 2012. Shirley was a homemaker and helped extensively on the farm. Roy and Shirley were longtime active members of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Chatfield. They joined St. Bernard's Catholic Church after moving to Stewartville. Roy was born to farm and in his spare time followed the Minnesota Vikings. He enjoyed visiting with friends and neighbors and time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Roy is survived by his wife of 67 years, Shirley; three daughters and two sons, Jerry (Nancy) Finn of rural Stewartville, Eileen Finn of Stewartville, Duane Finn (Betty Goff) of Woodbury, Mary Gripentrog of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Shari (Tony) Weber of Sioux Falls; nine grandchildren, Jeff (Natalie) Finn, Jackie (Mike) Day, Kelli Butrum (Mark Kellen), Kari (Todd) Hammel, Matt (Meghan) Finn, Mike Finn, Meg Finn (Joe Filipas), Brett (Melissa) Gripentrog and Beth (Duey) Duimstra; 13 great-grandchildren, Justin, Nora, Madeline, Jack, Brielle, Emily, Jacob, Olivia, Ellis, Asher, Larkin, Gemma and Brody; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Helen Raatz and Ruth Boysen, and a brother, James Finn. We want to thank the following for their excellent care of Roy, Dr. Vaughn and his staff at NE Mayo Clinic, Beth with Stanley Jones and Associates and Mayo Hospice. A time of visitation for family and friends will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, July 23, 2021 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Stewartville and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville. Condolences and memories of Roy are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com.
