Every family has that special Uncle... the one with the infectious laugh, twinkling eyes, and tender heart. For me, in our family, that was Uncle Westal.
As my Grandfather's younger brother, Uncle Westal was always part of family stories & memories... and he never missed family reunions and other functions. He was easy to love... and everyone did!
Westal John Maine was born September 2, 1935, the third son of Hiram & Laura (Nelson) Maine, on the family homestead in Home Brook Township, Cass County, MN.
He grew up with his Grandparents as neighbors; later the family moved in with the widowed Grandmother following a fire that claimed their own home. Besides his Grandparents there were countless Uncles, Aunts, Cousins and other relatives constantly around the rural community he & his 5 siblings were raised in.
It is no wonder that family would always be very important to him!
 |
| L-R Westal, 3 Hagen cousins: Lorraine, Royal & Milo, & brother Boyd |
 |
| Graduation 1954 |
Certainly the depression times were lean years, but the family worked hard & valued the important things in life that mattered!
Westal attended country school with his brothers and later Pine River High School, where he graduated in 1954. Later serving two years in the army, until returning home in 1958.
 |
| Soul Mates- Westal & Marian |
He was married to Marian Wymore in 1961. If you ever saw them together, there is no doubt that they were true soul mates.
They would go on to raise a fine family of five children (including twins!).
 |
| Westal & his brother Dale [my Grandpa] |
A lifelong farmer, Uncle Westal loved his cows and the farm they all lived on. He was surely not afraid of hard work! It brought him great joy.
 |
| Westal & sister Carol being a good Uncle & Aunt |
He was a loving husband and a devoted father, grandfather & great-grandfather. It is easy to envy the close, loving family that he and Aunt Marian produced.
He was also a special brother, uncle, cousin and friend to many!
Westal passed away September 20, 2015, at the farm home he loved, with his family tenderly at his side. His brief fight with cancer ended that Sunday morning.
While it is impossible to even imagine the void his loss will leave on our extended family, we can grab onto all those happy memories and fun times and hold on tight!
We acknowledge what a fine man he was, and what an honor it is to have known and loved him! And know we will miss him very very much!
 |
| Me & Uncle Westal July 2o15 |
