Ignatius (Iggy) J. Nalewaja, 89, of Browerville, passed away on February 5, 2007 at the Bethany Home in Alexandria.  Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, February 8, 2007, 12 noon, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Browerville with Fr. John Caskey officiating.  Interment was held at Christ the King Catholic Cemetery in Browerville. 

Ignatius was born on July 27, 1917 in Delano, Minnesota to Anthony and Hattie (Cebulla) Nalewaja.  He was a graduate of Browerville High School.  In the late 1930’s he assisted in the Barnstorming activity of his brother Paul.  Barnstorming ended tragically when he witnessed his brother Paul’s death in an airplane parachute accident in 1940.

Ignatius was employed by Boeing Aircraft and was a member of the Civil Air Patrol in Seattle, WA before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Force.  Iggy served in WWII in the 8th Air Force with the 486th Bomber Group as flight engineer and upper turret gunner on a

B 17.  Stationed in England, he completed 35 missions over Germany.

After the war Iggy owned and operated machine shop businesses in Browerville, Big, Lake, Enfield, and Long Prairie, Minnesota.  He had a life long interest in aviation.  He owned his own airplane and was a member of flying clubs.  In June of 1954, Iggy married Frances Roberts of Fargo, North Dakota.  Upon retirement, Iggy sold his machine shop and he and his wife moved to Browerville.  After several years, they moved to the Bethany Community for health care.

Ignatius was preceded in death by his parents, wife Frances, son Michael, brothers Paul, Benedict and Leo, sisters Anna Nalewaja and Catherine Hassing.

Ignatius is survived by several grandchildren, brother John (Donna) of Osakis, sisters Mathilda of Long Prairie, Alvina O’Connell of Bloomington, Philomene (Paul) Koller of North St. Paul, Hattie of Maryland and many nieces and nephews.