Guy Wannebo

Guy Herbert Wannebo, age 83, died peacefully at the Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Home, Pine River, MN on Sunday, January 13, 2008 with his three sons and family by his side.
He was born in Phillips, Wisconsin to Otto and Myrle (Thompson) Wannebo on Nov. 16, 1924.
In 1929, the Otto Wannebo family, moved to Minneapolis.
In 1942, Otto Wannebo sold his business and moved the family to Manhattan Beach where they created the Shangri-La Farm. Together, the family turned it into one of the top registered Guernsey farms in Minnesota.
He met Mary Ann Dougherty at a Pine River dance hall and they were married in 1945.
Prior to being drafted into the U.S. Army, Guy worked for Northwest Airlines in Canada. While in the Army, he served in the Pacific from 1945-1946. Upon honorable discharge, he returned to live with his family on the Shangri-La Farm.
In 1947 at the age of 23, he bought his first bulldozer and started Wannebo Excavating that continues in business today. At age 67 he sold the excavating business to employees and sons in 1991.
After retirement, he was active in real estate development. He enjoyed hunting, teaching his sons his art for knowing where to hunt and the nature of the prey.
He also enjoyed bowling at which he made many friends at the lanes in Manhattan Beach and Pine River. Guy was a charter member of Community Bowl in Pine River.
Over the years, he was active in community service including: Manhattan Beach Civil Defense Director, constable, city council, mayor and most recently, planning & zoning. He also served on the Crow Wing County land committee and on the county highway committee. He served two terms on the Pine River School Board.
During his business and community work, many of his excavating customers became his good friends.
Survivors are his wife Mary Ann, Cuyuna Care Center, and sons Larry (Marilyn); Doug (Gail) and Steve (Barb Hanson), all of Manhattan Beach. Grandchildren are Christina (John) Freund of Northfield, MN; Chaune (Nick) Warman from Rancho Cucamonga, CA; Ben (Lisa) from St. Cloud, MN; Seth (Amy); Isaac Wannebo, Manhattan Beach; Stephanie Wannebo, Brainerd, and Luke and Zach Hanson, Manhattan Beach and the family cat, Miss Kitty.
Great grandchildren are Elena, Dan and Lucy Freund. Dominic, Dahlton and Mason Warman. Vance and Miles Wannebo.
Guy's brothers and sisters are Vivian Tweedy, Lucy Thompson, Curt (Dorothy) Wannebo, and Dona (Lon) Musolf. He is also survived by sister-in-law Barbara Lytle of Circle, Montana.
Guy and the Wannebo family would also like to thank Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Home, Cuyuna Care Center, Good Samaritan Hospice of Nisswa, and the Home Instead-Baxter staff for their care and companionship during his illness. Thanks also to the many friends and relatives that visited him during his battle with pulmonary fibrosis.
Funeral services and memories will be shared at 11 AM on Thursday, January 17 at Faith Lutheran Church in Swanburg, east of Pine River, with Pastor Mark Anderson officiating. Burial will be in the Swanburg Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 7 PM on Wednesday at Kline Funeral Home, Pine River, and at the church one hour prior to the funeral.
In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Home in Pine River.