STURGEON LAKE, MN (Northern News Now) – A long time musician and former Minnesota State Senator Florian Chmielewski died Tuesday at the age of 97.
The Sturgeon Lake native was a world-renowned Polka musician, known mostly for his role with the Chmielewski Funtime Band.
Chmielewski was a state senator from 1970 to 1996.
His legislative concerns focused on employment, education, health care, housing, and veterans.
He was a member of a wide range of committees and subcommittees including Veteran’s Affairs; Jobs, Energy, and Community Development; Rules and Administration; Transportation and Public Transit; Employment; Local Government; Taxes and Tax Laws; Health and Human Services; and Agriculture.
Throughout his musical career, Chmielewski received many awards including the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, Ironworld USA Hall of Fame, International Polka Association Hall of Fame, Northeast Accordion Lifetime Achievement, nine Grammys from the Minnesota Music Academy, Honorary Doctorate of Law and Music Degree, Honorary Doctorate of Musicology and an International Merit Award.
Chmielewski also ran the International Polka Festival for 40 years and the Chmielewski Funtime Television Show for 35 years, which was seen across the United States and Canada.
According to his obituary, Chmielewski lived the past several years with congestive heart failure.
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