The funeral service for Willard Ness of Albert Lea will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Lutheran Church of Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Friends may visit with family one hour before services at the church.

Willard died at home at the age of 95 on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. Willard was born on Jan. 2, 1918, in Albert Lea, to Martin and Wilda Ness. Willard was a charter member of First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea where he remained active for his entire life.

Following completion of Mankato Commercial College and two and a half years working at National Commerce Bank in Mankato, Willard married Earline Rollings in March of 1942. Following their marriage, they began operating a dairy farm in rural Albert Lea where they raised three daughters. Willard and Earline were married for 65 years until her death in 2007. In 2009, Willard moved to Knutson Place in Albert Lea where he lived until his death.

Willard is survived by his three daughters, Judy and husband, Jim Cederberg of Northfield, Linda Ness and husband Munir Cochinwala of Basking Ridge, N.J., Virginia “Ginny” and husband Larry Larson of Albert Lea; grandchildren, Anna (Nate) Heard, Rachel (David) Southern, Manette and Taara Ness-Cochinwala, Garrett and Nicole Larson; great-grandsons Miles and Kai Heard. He is also survived by his brother Russ (Joan) Ness of Sioux Falls, S.D.