SaveHiawatha18.com

Hiawatha Golf Course Memorials
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hiawatha Golf Course is the proud home of, at least, 39 memorials. These memorials recognize people to whom Hiawatha Golf Course was an extra-special place. They were given by family and friends. The following lists the Memorials and provides information about the people memorialized that we have obtained.

If you have any information about the memorialized people, or any memorials that we have missed, we'd love to add it to this web page. Please feel free to Contact Us.

ID: 1
Name: Erling Furness
Hole #: South of entrance to the golf course.
Inscription: In memory of Erling Furness.
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Notes:
- My dad, Erling Furness, has a memorial tree at the south side of the entrance of the golf course. Friends donated this tree when he died in 1996. He lived in south Minneapolis for 80 years and loved our neighborhood. He golfed for 50 years playing many public courses but loved Hiawatha the best. He and his grade school friend, Lyle, walked the circumference of the course for over twenty years until he broke his hip at 79. He wouldn’t want the golf course changed. (from Sheryl Furness)

ID: 2
Name: Don U. Nelson
Hole #: 1 - Right side of tee box.
Inscription: In Memory of Don U. Nelson.
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Notes:
- Donald U Nelson was the manager at HGC from 1934 to 1971 and the memorial was given by his wife who is now deceased. (from Steve Skaar)
- "Nellie" was quite a character. Beloved in a bumbling kind of way. We always called the pond in the right rough in front of the 1st green "Nellie's Lake". (from Tom Melander)

ID: 3
Name: Ed Solomon
Hole #: 1 - Right side of tee box.
Inscription: In Memory of Ed Solomon.
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Notes:

Edward C. Solomon was a Black Minneapolis Park Board Commissioner, possibly the first one. He was a Park Commissioner from 1996 until his death in 2002, and served as president of the Park Board in 2000-2001. Solomon Park in South Minneapolis was named for him in 2004. Ed was appointed to the Park Board to fill a vacancy, and was subsequently elected. Prior to serving on the Park Board, Ed Solomon was active for many years as a volunteer and football coach at McRae Park. He served as president of the McRae Park Athletic Council for 15 years.

ID: 4
Name: Fred Wilde
Hole #:2 - Between #2 green and #4 tee
Inscription: In Memory of Fred Wilde.
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Notes:
- Wendy Wilde, Fred's daughter says: "In the spring of 2003, we as a family, decided to plant a tree at the Hiawatha golf course in memory of our dad, Fred Wilde, who died that winter. We had seen several other memorials at the golf course and decided that he would have liked a tree planted in his memory. Our family had lived on 37th Street and 19th Avenue for 46 years and had played many rounds of golf at Hiawatha. We bought an Autumn Blaze Maple tree from Bachman's, it cost around $150. We delivered it to the golf course which they planted and they supplied the marker with our dad's name on it. Fred's favorite hole was number four so we wanted to plant it there but the golf course said that they preferred to plant it at the number 2 green, which we said was fine and you can see it walking from the green on hole 3 and tee on hole 4. The tree has grown beautifully. Our family has had many great memories playing golf at Hiawatha.

ID: 5
Name: John E. Drieman
Hole #: 2 - Between #2 green and #4 tee
Inscription: Sienna Maple in Memory of John E. Drieman
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Notes:

ID: 6 & 7
Name: Sydney Louise Romsaas
Name: Susan Rose Romsaas
Hole #: 3 - Tee box
Inscription:
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Notes:
- From Reid Romsaas(father): My wife and I lost two babies, one in 1997 (Susan Rose) due to an intra-uterine fetal death and a second (Sydney Louise) a premature birth in July 1998. In the Fall of 1998 I asked the management team at Hiawatha (Steve Skaar & Dan Stoneburg) if they would allow us to plant a tree in remembrance of our girls. Everyone was very supportive and the head greenskeeper at the time (Rick Randall) said he had an idea he wanted to run by me. Rick and his crew already had plans in place to build a circular planter by the 3rd tee box and they thought this would be a perfect spot for the flowering crabapple tree we wanted to purchase. It was a great suggestion and best of all, it would be in a spot that I could visit every time I played golf at Hiawatha.
  
  As you may or may not know, I’ve been a part of Hiawatha Golf Course since roughly 1969 when my mom said to my brother Jack "Take your little brother to the golf course and get him out of the house". As young kids we would hang around the clubhouse and do odd jobs like picking up trash with old golf clubs that had been ground down to a sharp point, raking sand traps and the most fun job of all, driving the electric golf carts down to the shed at night by the 14th green. Steve Skaar (Wibby) the manager at the time is responsible for providing a countless number of kids like me from different neighborhoods the opportunity to learn the game of golf while meeting new people in a safe and fun environment. When I was old enough to collect a real paycheck, Steve hired me, along with your sister Kris, to work behind the counter selling soda’s, burgers, candy bars, beer and cigarettes (-:. Over the years at Hiawatha I’ve caddied, served as President of the Golf Club, coordinated Junior Golf in conjunction with the Minnesota Golf Association, coached High School golf, received the club’s Sportsmanship Award and have won both the Open and Senior Club Championships. This place has given me friendships that will last a lifetime and experiences that have made me a better person.
  
  So what does this memorial tree mean to my family and I? When I’m golfing at Hiawatha I always stop and say hi to the girls and tidy things up around it. In the Spring I prune it and put wood chips down. When it blooms in late May I bring my wife out to show her how beautiful it is. Throughout the summer I weed and water it. In the Fall I bring my dog Stella out there. In the Winter I visit with a cup of coffee and think about things that could have been.

ID: 8
Name: John Smith
Hole #: 4 - Tee box
Inscription: In Memory of John Smith, "Fairway Jack" 1916-2005, He Played His Round of Life With a Smile
Type of Memorial: Bench.
Notes:
- John Smith was a long time black golfer at Hiawatha Golf Course. Later in life, when he could no longer golf, he would come to the golf course and sit on the bench on the Number 1 tee and watch the golfers. . (from Steve Skaar)

ID: 9

Name:

Hole #:

Inscription:

Type of Memorial:

Notes:

ID: 10

Name:

Hole #:

Inscription:

Type of Memorial:

Notes:

Dave was a long-time member of the Men's Club at Hiawatha Golf Course. He served on the Board of the Hiawatha Men's Club. (from Steve Skaar)

ID: 11

Name:

Hole #:

Inscription:

Type of Memorial:

Notes:

Neighbor: Although not a golfer, the man that lived on the corner so enjoyed watching the golf course and golfers from his home, he wanted to give the same opportunity to others at that location. So, he donated 2 benches for anyone to use to watch golfers on the golf course. (from Dorothy Kelly)

ID: 12

Name:

Hole #:

Inscription:

Type of Memorial:

Notes:

Jamie golfed at Hiawatha and also worked there. (from Steve Skaar)

Jamie Hayes was a Roosevelt grad who died of Sudden Cardiac Death when he was 38 or 39. It was tragic not only because it was SCD but because it happened in front of his young children and wife. His friends and family held a charitable tournament for several years after to raise money for his kids education. (from Andrea Fahrenkrug)

ID: 13 & 14
Name: Vern Loken
Name: Pearl Loken
Hole #: 9, Tee box.
Inscription: In Memory of Vern & Pearl Loken, They never golfed here but their loved ones do! With Love, The Soucy & Kemper Families.
Type of Memorial: Bench and Plaque.
Notes:

ID: 15
Name: Harry Doc Brown
Hole #: 10 - Tee box.
Inscription: Dr. Harry J. "Doc" Brown, December 4, 1923 April 10, 2014, My Irish Hockey Eyes Are Shining on You! and 2 Hiawatha Golf Course emblems and 2 Boston Bruins emblems with crossed hockey sticks.
Type of Memorial: Bench and Plaque.
Notes:
- Doc Brown lived in the Hiawatha neighborhood and, for many years, Doc Brown went almost every morning of the week to Hiawatha for coffee (sometimes, breakfast or lunch) with the guys (including Turner, Nordy,...). He enjoyed sitting at the clubhouse or on the 10th tee, and watching the golfers tee off on holes #1 and #10. At one point, the golf course was putting in a new bench on the 10th tee and the family paid to have a granite memorial made by a company at 46th and Chicago in a spot on the golf course that meant so much to their father. Doc's son, Joe Brown, ran the Doc Brown Open at Hiawatha Golf Course for 25 years. During its time at Hiawatha, the tournament donated on average about $5,000 per year to charities such as the Arthritis Foundation (Doc Brown suffered from arthritis) and the Minnesota Veterans Home. When Hiawatha Golf Course went into disrepair around 2012, the tournament moved to Emerald Greens in Hastings, and has been played there for the past 7 years. Joe says that the memorials on Hiawatha golf course give the family a place to go back, remember and reminisce about the past 30 years. The memorial brings back many fond memories. (from Joe Brown, Doc Brown's son)
- Harry Brown's brother, Jim Brown worked for the Park Board.(from Steve Skaar)

ID: 16
Name: James (Bert) Adams
Hole #: Left of 10th tee.
Inscription: In Memory of James (Bert) Adams
Type of Memorial: Birch tree.
Notes:
- [Bert] fed the ducks all the time. They lived at about 3808 28th avenue S, first double-bungalow south of the commercial building on the corner. (from Steve Skaar)
- Bert would give candy to kids, and dog treats to dogs that passed by on a walk. He also paid for lessons and equipment for kids who couldn't afford them. He had a wife and dog who he took for a ride in his car every afternoon. His wife always wore a Fedora. (from Dorothy Kelly)
- I do not know who placed the memorials but I worked with Burt from 1992-1996 at Hiawatha golf course. Burt worked as starter and ranger at the course. He had been at Hiawatha many years before I was there. Burt was known for feeding the ducks and geese in the early morning. (Mike Sorensen, Hiawatha golf employee 1992-1996)

ID: 17
Name: Bob Armstrong
Hole #: 11 - Tee box.
Inscription: Remember Bob Armstrong 1949-2011, FORE!, with image of golfer
Type of Memorial: Bench.
Notes:
- Bob Armstrong worked as a ranger after he retired.

ID: 18
Name: Lee Riste
Hole #: 12 - Right of Green, Right of 13th tee.
Inscription: In Memory of Lee Riste
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Notes:
- Leland Mark Riste died at the young age of 45. He was an employee of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and an avid motorcyclist. His obituary stated that memorials should be given to non-pesticide use and tree planting.

ID: 19
Name: Milt Swanson
Hole #: 13 - Tee box - back.
Inscription: In Memory of Milt Swanson
Type of Memorial: Bench.
Notes:
- From Bruce Swanson and family. The memorial was placed by me in honor of my brother. I purchased it myself. It was placed there so many years ago that i really can’t remember the cost. My whole family have been golfers and my brother taught us all. He golfed from the time he was about ten years old. He loved Hiawatha and spent almost every day there whenever he could. He started teaching me to golf when I was 7. I’ve worked and played golf there since. My two boys have followed in his steps also; working and playing golf and they are now both adults. The memorial is a place that I see daily. It gives me peace to know he is in a place that all of us remember, a great golfer, father, brother, uncle and grandfather. I hope the memorial will be a part of Hiawatha forever. Thank you for caring and trying to keep Hiawatha the 18 hole golf course it deserves to be.

ID: 20
Name: Bud Joramo
Hole #: 13 - between holes 13 and 16 (13 to right).
Inscription: In Memory of Superintendent "Bud" Joramo.
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Notes:
- My Dad (Bud Joramo) loved his job at Hiawatha golf course. He was a supervisor greens keeper for 20 years. He designed a few of the holes and has a memorial tree off of the 13th hole which I believe he helped design. As a little girl I would go with him after dinner and set up the sprinklers.(from his daughter, Nancy Root)
- I believe the tree for Bud Joramo was a donation from the Hope Golf League. This golf league originated out of Hope Lutheran Church and has played at various courses over the years including Rich Acres, Phalen Park, and Theodore Wirth. We are currently playing Thursday nights at Hiawatha. The league is still going strong after 40 years and I believe Bud was one of the founding members. (from David Engelsgaard, member of the Hope Golf League.)
- Burt Joramo was the Head Greenskeeper at HGC in the 70s. (from Steve Skaar)

ID: 21
Name: John Mack
Hole #: 13 - 125 yards from green - left.
Inscription: In Memory of John Mack, Loved Golf Hated Trees.
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Notes:

ID: 22
Name: Steve Anderson
Hole #: 13 - 125 yards from green - left.
Inscription: In Memory of Steve Anderson, Good Friend Bad Golfer.
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Notes:

ID: 23
Name: Jim Ragsdale
Hole #: 13 - 125 yards from green - left.
Inscription: In Memory of Jim Ragsdale, 1949-2014 - Rags Finished 6 Under, with Caricature.
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Notes:
- Jim Ragsdale was a St. Paul Pioneer Press reporter and editorialist who had also worked for the Star Tribune since 2011. He was named Minnesota Journalist of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists — a recognition of lifetime achievement that ranged from award-winning reporting on former Gov. Jesse Ventura to whimsical monologues on TPT's "Almanac" news show. Ragsdale, who grew up in Los Angeles, arrived in the Twin Cities in 1981 after working as a reporter in West Virginia. He was laid off in a merger shortly after joining the Minneapolis Tribune, and worked for two years at Minnesota Public Radio. In 1984 he joined the Pioneer Press, where he remained for nearly 30 years and covered several beats. But he spent the most time at the newspaper's Capitol bureau, covering three administrations.
  
  "We mourn the loss of a great reporter and a wonderful man," Gov. Mark Dayton said in a statement Tuesday. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Tuesday that when Ragsdale covered an event, "somewhere between the endless speeches and the politicking there was always time for a few good stories and some laughs." Laughter was at the heart of Ragsdale's life at home as well, said his daughter, Ann Ragsdale, of New York City. "He saw the good in everything and he made every challenge an adventure," she said. "I just remember always feeling like he was born with a smile." (from Star-Tribune, November 20, 2014)

ID: 24
Name: Carole Kilburg
Hole #: 13 - right rough before the creek .
Inscription: In Memory of Carole Kilburg.
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Notes:

ID: 25
Name: Robert F. Turner
Hole #: 14 - By pond.
Inscription: TURNER POND, In Memory of Robert F. Turner, 1924-1999, "Semper Fi"
Type of Memorial: Monument (boulder).
Notes:
- Bob Turner was my neighbor and worked at Hiawatha. He was a school teacher and a coach. (from Steve Skaar)
- Bob Turner was a legendary character over there. He might as well have lived there. (from Tom Melander)
- Nicknamed Mr. T. (from Joe Brown)
- I do not know who placed the memorial but I worked with Bob from 1992-1996 at Hiawatha golf course. Bob worked as starter and ranger at the course. Bob worked in the clubhouse as well In the pro shop and selling tickets. He had been at Hiawatha many years before I was there. Bob Turner was a fixture at the course and I felt like the entire south side of Minneapolis new him by first name. He was a huge promoter of Roosevelt high school and the university of Minnesota. (Mike Sorensen, Hiawatha golf employee 1992-1996)
- We lived next door to Bob & Irma Turner from 1996 until his death in 1999. He worked summers at the golf course at that time having retired as a teacher & hockey coach. He suffered a heart attack and after his death his family worked with the golf course management to erect the memorial. Bob was a great neighbor - being retired he'd often snowblow our driveway in the winter while we were at work. (from Darren & Joan Selberg)

ID: 26
Name: Jerry Ruona
Hole #: 15 - Tee box.
Inscription: In Loving Memory of Jerry Ruona.
Type of Memorial: Bench.
Notes:

ID: 27
Name: Bob Langworthy
Hole #: 15, left of green.
Inscription: In Memory of Bob Langworthy.
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Notes:
- Member of the Hiawatha Men's Club (from Steve Skaar)

ID: 28
Name: Jim Hutt
Hole #: 16 - Tee box.
Inscription: In Memory of Jim Hutt, Hiawatha Golfer, 1960-2005, "Take Time To Smell The Flowers".
Type of Memorial: Bench.
Notes:
- Member of the Hiawatha Men's Club (from Steve Skaar)
- My dad, Jim Hutt, started playing the Minneapolis public courses when he moved to the city about 1960, but he always considered Hiawatha his home. Throughout my childhood, he played 9 holes after work several nights a week, and 18 - 36 every Saturday and Sunday. As a little kid I would respond to the common question of "where does your dad work?" with a quick and authoritative "at the golf course!". After retirement, he still played 5 -6 days a week but fewer weekends, leaving those tee times for the working stiffs. He even shot a hole in one on #3 on his 65th birthday in 1991. He bought his own cart at age 69, to keep playing through hip and knee challenges. That cart was the one and only place he proudly displayed a Marine Corp decal, finally accepting recognition for his service in the Pacific during WWII. Upon his death in 2005, memorials were given to plant a couple of trees behind the 11th green and for the bench near the 16th tee. He was a gentle soul who always appreciated the surprises of nature, whether in the fresh blooms of summer or colorful foliage in the fall. Ever curious and gracious, he never stopped taking time to smell the flowers along the way. (from his daughter, Carolyn Hutt)

ID: 29
Name: Riley Gilchrist
Hole #: 18 - Tee box.
Inscription: In Memory of Riley Gilchrist, 1939-2005.
Type of Memorial: Bench.
Notes:
- Riley was a black Minneapolis police officer. I bowled with him for many years in the Hennepin County Bowling League at Diamond Lake Lanes, and later, at Stardust Lanes. He was a friendly guy and so easy going. After retirement, Riley worked at Hiawatha Golf Course. (from Kathryn Kelly)

ID: 30
Name: Vic Howe
Hole #: 18 - between 10 tee and 18 green.
Inscription: In Memory of Vic Howe.
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Notes:

ID: 31 & 32
Name: Alice Melander
Inscription: In Memory of Alice Melander.
Hole #: 18 - between 10 tee and 18 green.
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Name: Lawrence (Larry) Melander
Hole #: Memorial In Storage - Tree was cut down.
Inscription:
Type of Memorial:Ash Tree.
Notes:
- Husband and Wife.
- From their son, Tom Melander: Mom and Dad bought the house right across the street from Hiawatha's clubhouse when I was in 5th grade. What a wonderful place to grow up and what a treasure for the Minneapolis Park system. My brother, father, and I were all longtime members of the Men's Club there and have countless great memories. It was unusual to walk through those doors and not know everybody in the place. For many years, Hiawatha logged more rounds of play than any other Mpls. course. Despite it's contribution, it has historically been neglected when it comes to money flowing back for maintenance or improvements. Anyone stopping at Haiwatha can see ample evidence of the neglect. In spite of that, it is still loved by many of us. Hiawatha has always had water issues, being pretty close to the water table. The rerouting of Mpls storm water onto the course exacerbated this existing problem to the point that the folks that have made the problem worse, now want to solve what they caused by closing part or all of the course. Dad and his many buddies would roll over in their graves. Dad, along with many of the old timers I have known and loved over the years, chose to donate trees to the course in their memories. This tradition started almost accidentally and immediately became widespread. Mom has a tree there too. Where else would an ordinary citizen make a donation to improve a City park? It's a small example of what Hiawatha has meant to so many for so long. Every time I play there I stroll over to the trees commemorating my old friends. It cost about $500/tree at the time we did it for them, probably more these days. There is no other public course anywhere close. I still see neighbors walking over to play, pulling their carts behind them.
- After her husband died, Alice would sometimes need help at her house across the street from the golf course. She would call the clubhouse for assistance, and staff members would go and help her. She would bake a cake and bring it over to the staff in gratitude. (from Steve Skaar)

ID: 33
Name: Ken Knickerbocker
Hole #: 18 - between 10 tee and 18 green.
Inscription: In Memory of Ken Knickerbocker.
Type of Memorial: Tree.
Notes:

ID: 33
Name: Johnny Meyer
Hole #: Practice area building.
Inscription: In Memory of Johnny Meyer, 1936-2010, "He Did Not Know A Stranger", with an engraving of a dove carrying an olive branch and a golfer.
Type of Memorial: Bench & Plaque.
Notes:
- John was employed at Lennox Industries in sales for 29 years. He volunteered at the VA and Risen Christ School. John did not know a stranger and had a real love of life. He was an avid golfer with five Holes-In-One. John was President of the Hiawatha Men's Club. (from the Star-Tribune, November 17, 2010)

ID: 35 & 36
Name: Betty Krakowski
Name: Robert Krakowski
Hole #: Memorials In Storage - Were on #1 Tee
Inscription:
Type of Memorial: Tree & Plaque.
Notes:

Name:

Hole #:

Inscription:

Type of Memorial:

Notes:

ID: 38
Name: Paul Strande
Hole #: by 10th Tee - Medallion on Tree.
Inscription: Beloved Husband, Father, Brother & Friend, Proud PGA Member, 1954-2020, God put the crease in your palm to hold a golf club, SCRAMBLING IN ETERNITY
Type of Memorial: Medallion on Tree.
Notes:
- Paul Strande had incredible golf skills- it was a lot to do with our Dad’s love of the game of golf, but it was also due to our living near Hiawatha golf course. It is strange for a Norwegian immigrant like our Dad to love golf, but he loved it almost as he loved skiing. Our Dad’s name was Hartvig Strande and he was a World War II war hero. He received a Bronze Star fighting the Germans in the mountains of Italy, on skis in the Tenth Mountain Infantry. After the war, he came back to his home in Minneapolis, near his brothers who had also immigrated. He married, and did not even confer with our Mom on their new house. Suddenly, there she was, living by Hiawatha golf course.
  
  Paul was seven and I was ten when our Dad started bringing us up to Hiawatha. For some reason, I did not take to golf like Paul did. I remember that Paul spent all his summer days up at the course. He would come home and brag about how many holes he had played that day. Many days, it would be 36, but sometimes a lot more. He was something of a golf phenome as a kid - winning tournaments against players many years older. His diligence payed off and he ended up with maybe one of his proudest moments, a full golf scholarship at the U of MN.
  
  I too have had many proud moments in athletics, but not golf. I can remember that no matter what I achieved, someone would say, “so are you the golfer’s sister”? For some reason, the praise of my brother always made me happy and proud. And now that he is gone, I reflect on my beautiful brother, walking with his slim golf bag down the fairways of Hiawatha, and me, sometimes on a summer eve, waiting for him to finish, up on the hill of the 18th green. I wish I could be there one more time. But knowing what this course did for my brother and for many children who loved the game, AND for all the future golfers, the course must be saved. I am dedicated to see that it is! (from Paul's sister, Linda Strande).

ID: 39
Name: Robert "Bob" "Nordy" Nordstrom
Hole #: On the hill by the 10th Tee.
Inscription: No inscription yet.
Type of Memorial: Double Bench looking out over the tee and driving range
Notes:
- Bob was born August 1, 1931, in Minneapolis. 10-year old Bud was a caddy at Hiawatha Golf Course. Highly competitive, he excelled at athletics. He lettered in golf at Roosevelt HS, the University of Minnesota, and golfed with the 6th Army team. He was a scratch golfer with a notoriously long drive, when asked how far that drive was, his son-in-law said, "he just liked to have people drive before him, then would smile and easily drive it farther." In 1971 he achieved his goal of becoming Pro-Manager at Hiawatha Golf Course where he happily remained until his retirement in 1996. Everybody knew and loved Nordy. (Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune Obituary, November 8, 2020)
- Nordy became manager at Hiawatha golf course the year that I started to golf there. To me, Nordy WAS Hiawatha Golf Course! (from Kathryn Kelly)

Hiawatha Golf Course MemorialsMinneapolis, Minnesota

Hiawatha Golf Course Memorials
Minneapolis, Minnesota