Posted: Tuesday, December 1, 2009 1:23 pm

Alexander James Werner, age 31, of Minneapolis, and formerly of Northfield, died suddenly and unexpectedly Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009, at his home in Minneapolis. Alex died of complications from pneumonia.

Alex was born Sept. 7, 1978, in Northfield, the son of Donald and the late Ruhannah (Anderson) Werner. He was raised in Northfield, baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church. As a child, Alex participated in Boy Scouts, hockey and baseball. He graduated from Northfield High School in 1997 where he excelled in track and cross country, competing in the State Cross Country and Track meets his junior and senior years. Alex achieved All State Honors for running. He enjoyed traveling and traveled to France with his French class in 1995, a family trip to Italy in1997, and numerous family trips to Atlantic Beach in North Carolina throughout his lifetime.

Following high school Alex attended Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina and St. Thomas University in Minnesota. As his mother’s health declined, he returned home to help care for her and be with her until she died on Jan. 18, 2001. He then moved to Minneapolis, and worked several jobs while attending and graduating from Minnesota School of Business with a degree in massage therapy. His final employment was at Grumpy’s Bar and Grill in both downtown Minneapolis and Roseville.

Alex was a witty, fun-loving person with a gentle character and spirit. He had beautiful blue eyes and unmanageable blonde hair. He was intelligent, had an active imagination, and had an artistic flair with a love for music of all types.

Alex is survived by his father, Donald (Julie) Werner of Northfield; siblings, Megan (Dan) Simon of Northfield, Nathaniel, Bethany, Tony, Dominik, and Rebekah Werner, all of Northfield; nephews, Blake and Carter Simon; many aunts, uncles and cousins; and girlfriend, CasiAnna Myne. He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruhannah; and grandparents, Harold and Mary Werner and Rudy and Elsie Anderson.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northfield, with interment in Northfield Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Bierman Funeral Home in Northfield, and continues one hour prior to services Friday at the church.

Arrangements by the Bierman Funeral Home of Northfield.