Calice Courneya

Calice Gerard Courneya was born the youngest of seven children on November 15, 1937, on the farm in Hobart Township, Ottertail County, Minnesota to Louis and Marie (Cummings) Courneya. The family had a 1,500 acre farm and raised sheep for wool and meat. At a very young age, Cal became a fishing guide. Cal graduated from Frazee High School. He served in the US Navy in the aviation electronics field and sang in the Naval Blue Jackets Choir.
Cal was united in marriage to Cecilia Willette on July 9, 1960 at St Mary’s of Lakes Catholic Church in Pelican Lake. The couple lived in Florida for a year where Cal worked construction and later for the Bureau of Standards. In 1961, the couple moved to St. Paul and he started working for 3M in Central Research and analytical chemistry. Cal was involved with numerous inventions. One of his proudest was a development of an instrument that measured gases on the first lunar shot in the mid 1960’s that relayed information from the moon for several years. In 1968, Cal was rehired to 3M Alexandria, and later was promoted to maintenance foreman. During the years between 3M and ITW, Cal did various things, designing grain dryers, micro-wave freeze drying, developed a micro-clave, and raised fish. Later he was hired as a Research Innovator for ITW in what he referred as his retirement job.
Cal and former Police Chief, George McKay, started the Golden Gloves Boxing Chapter to help get kids off the street and had a passion for helping people less fortunate than himself. He was a brilliant man who loved science and thinking outside the box. His love of fishing got him involved with Operation Walleye and started a fishery. He was a lobbyist and helped establish laws that allowed private individuals start private fish farms. Cal served on the Runestone Museum Board of Directors as a research person. He also served as supervisor of LaGrand Township. During his three year term, he did a study and convinced the Board that it would be economically prudent for the Township to purchase road maintenance equipment and maintain township roads with a hired employee. Cal was a great husband, father, grandfather and uncle and will be dearly missed.
Cal died on Monday, May 23, 2016, at Vibra Hospital in Fargo at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife, Cecilia of Alexandria; children, Jeanne (Larry) Mix of Cyrus, Karin (Eugene) Egdorf of Glenwood, Reid Courneya of Alexandria, and Thomas (fiancANLGAC. Tammy Dufner) Courneya of Alexandria; grandchildren, Trevor Mix, Travis (Kasie) Mix, Tanner (Kaylee) Mix, Shane (Ashley) Cowen, David (fiancANLGAC., Christine Klingseisen) Cowen, Erin Cowen, Alyssa (Blake) Swanson, Ashley (Jordan) Flaten, Chase Courneya, and Tye (fiancANLGAC., Katya O’Brien) Courneya; great-grandchildren, Dameion Durbin, Ariyah Cowen, Devereux Cowen, Jaxtyn Mix, Talon Mix, and Bentley Courneya; brother, Terry (Claire) Courneya of Frazee; and many nieces and nephews. Cal is preceded in death by his son, Scott, infant son, Calice Jr.; parents, Louis and Marie; brothers, Gerald, Clifford, and Dean; and sisters, Joyce Olson and Patricia Teiken.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alexandria. Visitation will be held from 5-8 PM with Parish Prayers at 7:30 PM on Friday, June 3, 2016 at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Military Honors will be provided by American Legion Post 87, VFW Post 936, VVA Chapter 235 and the Minnesota National Honor Guard.