Joe Gain

FUNERAL SERVICES : 10:00 am on Friday, September 24, 2010 at the Heritage Living Center Nursing Home Chapel in Park Rapids, MN.VISITATION : One hour prior to service at the Nursing Home Chapel.INTERMENT : Riverside Cemetery in Osage, MN.SURVIVORS : His twin brother, Charles of Lemoore, CA; brother Douglas Gain of Mt. Vernon, WA and sister, Dorothy of Capitola, CA; 3 step-children; Jeanne (Ted) Wilde of Laporte, MN, Keith (Kathy) Pierson of Hibbing, MN, Ken (Linda) Pierson of Kelly Lake, MN; 12 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; 5 great great grandchildren. JOE R. GAINNOVEMBER 1, 1923 ~ SEPTEMBER 18, 2010 Joe R. Gain, age 86, of Park Rapids, MN passed away on September 18, 2010 at the Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids, MN. Joe was born on November 1, 1923, the older of twin sons, to Charles D. Gain and L.E. (Kernan) Gain in Roxton, Texas. The young family moved to Oakland, California when Joe and Charles were about five years old. He enjoyed long walks in the parks and roadways near his home. He also enjoyed music by Marty Robins. "Joe was a prolific letter writer with many interesting anecdotes" reported by Charles, Joe"s twin brother. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, Joe enlisted in the infantry and was stationed in Alaska. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant in 1945. Joe worked as a Lab Technician at the University of Washington Hospital in Seattle, WA for several years. He started his tract ministry in 1960 when the "hippies" moved into his district, his desire was to see people saved. In 1965, Joe was united in marriage to Beulah May Parks. Joe was a devout Christian, his passion was for others to know his Jesus. When his job was terminated, he and his wife, Beulah, moved to Bemidji, MN where he began standing on a mall corner at The Paul Bunyan wearing one of many of his signs, giving out tracts and handing out hand-written verses from the Bible.Joe is survived by his twin brother, Charles of Lemoore, CA; brother Douglas Gain of Mt. Vernon, WA and sister, Dorothy of Capitola, CA; 3 step-children; Jeanne (Ted) Wilde of Laporte, MN, Keith (Kathy) Pierson of Hibbing, MN, Ken (Linda) Pierson of Kelly Lake, MN; 12 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; 5 great great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and other friends and relatives.Joe is preceded in death by his parents and wife, Beulah in 2009; and one step-daughter, Shirley Armbruster.Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, September 24, 2010 at Heritage Living Center Chapel in Park Rapids, MN with Reverend Stan Nelson officiating. A time of visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Special music will be "Amazing Grace", "How Great Thou Art" and "The 23rd Psalm". Active casketbearers will be his grandchildren: Dale Wilde, Melody Wilde, Shane Pierson, and Samantha Pierson. Honorary casketbearers will be the remaining grandchildren: Marvin Armbruster, Michael Armbruster, Debbie Lokken, Douglas Wilde, Timothy Wilde, Darin Pierson, Taimi Pierson and Jason Pierson. Interment will be made at the Riverside Cemetery in Osage, MN.