AFGE Food Inspectors Local 488 - So. St. Paul, MN has another fundraiser in place, allowing us to honor our departed brothers.  We have acquired the rights to an original print of a pair ice fishing snowmen, drawn by artist Sally Gerhart.  To assist us in reaching our goal, we are selling the prints and magnets to our fellow brothers and sisters. The profits will go into this fund.

As an incentive to help us to reach our goal, we will send a double matted 5” x 7” print (will fit any 8” x 10” frame) to anyone who donates $100 or more to this fundraiser page. 

Please read about our departed brothers:

Patrick Carlier was hired by the USDA/FSIS as a food inspector December 9, 1984. Pat started out working in a beef slaughter plant in South St Paul. He was a person who loves the outdoors and the country style of life, so when the opportunity arrived Pat transferred up to a beef slaughter plant in Long Prairie, Mn. Pat and his family moved to a small farm just south of Long Prairie. Pat continued to work hard and exceed in his duties as a Food Inspector. His knowledge and strong work ethics was an asset to his supervisors. His hard work earned him a promotion to a CSI-8 Processing inspector at a turkey processing plant in Melrose, Mn. Always looking for a new challenge Pat then accepted a position as a Egg Inspector back in Long Prairie, Mn. On January 10, 2003 Pat was again promoted to a CSI-9 position on a small Patrol assignment including a very small plant in Melrose, Mn and Glenwood, Mn. 

Pat’s life appeared to be very complete at this time. He had an undying love for his daughters and was very proud of them.  He was very comfortable with his job. He was living in a good area to enjoy his favorite sport of Hunting and Fishing. Pat enjoyed experimenting with the smoking of various foods. Such as Smoked Turkey, Brats, Jerky and Fish.  His also enjoyed grilling on his Weber Grill and recently had start canning various items. In the evenings Pat appreciated sitting around campfire and reminisce about the days he and his friends spent hunting or fishing. Pat’s had a quick wit and dry sense of humor.  He always loved a good joke, even if it was on him.     

Although it appeared Pat had found that, “just what the doctor ordered” point he wanted to be at in his life. Other changes were happening as well. Pat was struggling find common ground with a new supervisor at work. There were growing problems with in his family life. Pat was fighting a form of depression that was hard for anyone to see, much less understand. Sometime during the early morning hours on July 29, 2008 Pat took his life.

Chris Wonser was born in Prineville, Oregon and raised in Alamosa, Colorado. He attended and Graduated from AlamosaHigh School. During his school years Chris enjoyed playing Golf and Baseball. He was also a member of the National Honor Society.

            Chris went on to college at the University Of Boulder, Colorado. He was studying Engineering when he married and left to work with his family at a meat packing plant. On November 3, 2002 Chris was hired by the USDA/FSIS as a Food Inspector. Chris left his home in Colorado to accept a Patrol assignment in Minnesota. His assignment consisted of a small poultry slaughter/processing plant in Holly, Mn and a small beef operation in Uhlen, Mn.

            Chris, his wife Kay, and his three children were happy living in the small community of Borup, Mn. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was also an ace at assembling puzzles! What appeared to be only a very short time after Kay and Chris moved into this new area Chris lost Kay to a sudden illness. Chris had no family in this area. It was just him and his three wonderful children. He had made friends quickly in the community of Borup and within the USDA Food inspector family. This was a hard time for Chris, but he remained strong for his family. He continued to do an exceptional job as a Food inspector.

            During the next year he became close friends with Pat Carlier. Pat was also an inspector who had recently went through a divorce. These two became buddies and hung out together at all our Food inspector Union events. They would always have a very good time. They were also both battling some of the same issues at work. The stresses for dealing with some of these issues were very demanding for Chris. He was such a good worker and wanted to do everything right.

            On July 29, 2009 Chris was on vacation and received the news that Pat Carlier had taken his life. This hit Chris very hard and he was having a real hard time dealing with it. It brought back memories of the loss of his loving wife Kay. On August 11, 2008, only two short weeks after loosing our friend Pat Carlier, we lost another wonderful person by way of Chris Wonser.

  On that August 11th day, for reasons we may never understand Chris took his life.

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