Mass of Christian burial will be 11 am on Friday, August 20, 2021, at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm. Father Shawn Polman will celebrate the Mass, and burial will follow in the New Ulm Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4-7 pm on Thursday and continue from 9-10:30 am on Friday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home- North Chapel in New Ulm.

To leave an online condolence for his family or to sign the online guestbook, go to: mvfh.org

Willie is survived by his daughter, Kimberly (Dean) Schlumpberger; his sons, Jeffrey (Phout Sivongxay) Eibner, William Eibner, Brian (Karen Maschoff) Eibner; his grandchildren, Aaron (Danielle) Jason (Amanda Thiesse) Schlumpberger, Kayla Eibner, Jennifer Maschoff; his great-grandchildren, Jack and Drew Schlumpberger, Carlila and Caeli Schlumpberger along with their mother, Carrie Ahlness, Emilee Ebert and one more great grandchild expected in October; his sister, Therese Juba; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Rosemary and Gordon Borchardt, Marion and Firmin Droege; his brother-in-law, Richard Juba; and a niece and a nephew.

Willibald “Willie” Aloysius Jospeh Eibner was born October 25, 1933, in New Ulm to Alois and Clara (Epple) Eibner. He was a 1951 graduate from Cathedral High School. While in high school, Willie built a Hot Rod which ended up featured in the national Hot Rod magazine as a Rags to Riches Rod. He was well known for cruising up and down Minnesota Street. Willie was united in marriage to Dianne Schneider on June 29, 1963 at the Cathedral. This union blessed the couple with a daughter and 3 sons whom together they raised in New Ulm. The couple later divorced in 1981. While married, Willie sold his Hot Rod, but in 1989, he was able to purchase it back and restored it to running condition and was once again able to cruise New Ulm. It was the story of boy builds car, boy loses car, boy buys back car. Willie’s love for cars led him to founding the Road Sirs Auto Club as well as the New Ulm Go Cart Club. His talents were not strictly automotive based. Willie also had a creative talent for woodworking he loved to share. Besides his work in his garage and woodshop, Willie also managed Eibner’s Restaurant in New Ulm oftentimes interviewing new employees with his children on his lap. After the restaurant was sold, he became self- employed as an Antique Furniture restorer. He was the original at re-fab, taking old Treadle sewing machine drawers and transforming them into beautiful coffee and end tables. Willie enjoyed frequenting auctions to find treasures he would later restore and sell at antique shows all across the area. He later invented the “Wooden Folding Christmas Tree” which he made thousands of selling them across the country at Autumn Harvest Festival craft shows and eventually the Minnesota State Fair. He was quite proud he got into the State Fair being they only allowed the best out of the ordinary items to be sold there. To give back to his community, Willie volunteered as a Jaycee until 1968 where he served as President. He was also an assistant Scout Leader for Troop 25 when his sons were involved with the Scouts. Besides all of his work in life, what he was most proud of was his family. He was more than just “Grandpa” and his grandchildren gave him the name, “Popsie”. Popsie would take the grandkids on an annual trip to the Wisconsin Dells in his camper where many great memories were made, and funny stories were told that will be forever remembered by his family. These memories and countless others will forever stay in the hearts and minds of all who knew and loved him. Blessed be his memory.

Mvfh.org

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