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Lorraine Thul
Lorraine (Thoms) Thul, 84, Sleepy Eye, died Friday, July 16, 2004, at Immanuel St. Joseph's Hospital in Mankato. Funeral services were held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye on Tuesday, July 20, at 10:30 a.m., with interment in the church cemetery. The clergy was Father Brian Oestreich. Arrangements were with Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family via www.sturmfh.com.
Lorraine was born April 23, 1920, in Richmond, the daughter of Edwin and Mae (Boggs) Thoms. She lived and grew up in the Richmond and Eden Valley areas and attended school there. Lorraine married Al Thul in Eden Valley on June 27, 1939. They farmed near Richmond until moving to Sleepy Eye in 1948. Lorraine worked for 35 years at A. J. Pietrus and Sons in Sleepy Eye and retired at the age of 65 years. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye and St. Mary's CCW. Lorraine enjoyed country music, watching her beloved Minnesota Twins, playing bingo, family gatherings at the lake, being with her children and grandchildren over the holidays, especially the Christmas family get-togethers. She also enjoyed visiting with her friends and her many activities with her Ross Park family where she has resided for the last several years.
Lorraine is survived by her daughter-in-law, JoEllen Thul of Huntsville, Ala., daughters, Joan and husband Jerome Schimschock of Sleepy Eye, Phyllis and husband Gary Heinrich of Woodbury, Judy and husband Curtis Olson of Ham Lake and Diane and husband Chuck Case of Sleepy Eye; grandchildren, Donald Thul, Jr, Tim Thul, Susanne Dempsey, Sheila Thul, Scott Thul, Scott Schimschock, Jeff Schimschock, Lisa Sellner, Laura Sanford, Dan Olson, Steve Case and Shanna Case, 27 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; brother, Gordon Thoms of Sleepy Eye; sister, Muriel Urness of Ariz., and sisters-in-law, Vera Thoms of Earlville, Ill., Agnes Thoms of Sleepy Eye, Elma Braun of Slayton and Arelia Grant of St. Cloud. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Al Thul; sons, Donald Thul and Ralph Thul; brothers, Jack Thoms and Russell Thoms, sister, Charlotte and grandchildren, Teri and Sandra.
Michael "Dick" Kuelbs
Michael "Dick" Kuelbs, 95, Sleepy Eye, died Friday, July 16, 2004, at his home. Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, July 19, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Sleepy Eye, with burial in Home Cemetery, Sleepy Eye. Father Brian Oestreich officiated the service. Full graveside military honors were conducted by the Sleepy Eye Honor Guard. Minnesota Valley Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Dick was born Jan. 8, 1909, in Home Township, Brown County, the son of Michael and Cora (Case) Kuelbs. He married Luella Seifert on June 9 1937, in Estherville, Iowa, making their home in Sleepy Eye. Dick worked at Del Monte in Sleepy Eye before being drafted into the United States Army in 1944. After completing his basic training in Northwood, Tex., he was sent to France with the 645th Tank Destroyers Battalion. Dick fought in the Battle of the Bulge and he was honorably discharged in 1946, at Camp McCoy, Wisc. Dick and Luella moved to Los Angeles, Calif. in 1946, where Dick worked with his brother-in-law, Ervin Seifert, in construction. Later he was employed by Safeway Foods in Santa Fe Springs, Calif. for 28 years as a maintenance man until his retirement. They moved back to Minnesota in 1982, settling in New Ulm, then moving to Countryside Apartments in Sleepy Eye in 1998.
Dick is survived by his wife, Luella of Sleepy Eye; brothers-in-law, Stanley and wife Patt Seifert; and Art and wife Arlene Seifert, all of Sleepy Eye; sister-in-law, Dolores Vickers of Gordonville, Tex.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ed Kuelbs, Oren Kuelbs, Robert Kuelbs, Albert Kuelbs, Elmer "Pudge" Kuelbs, Leo Kuelbs and Alvin Kuelbs; sister, Mazzola; brothers-in-law, Harvey Seifert, Ervin Seifert and Sylvester Seifert; and sister-in-law, Violet Barsness.
Walter P. Riebel
Walter P. Riebel, 85, Sleepy Eye, died Thursday, July 15, 2004, at Sleepy Eye Care Center. Funeral services were held at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Sleepy Eye on Monday, July 19, with interment in the church cemetery. The clergy will be Fr. Brian Oestreich. Arrangements were with Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family via www.sturmfh.com.
Walter was born on March 22, 1919, in New Ulm, the son of Tobias and Anna (Koeck) Riebel. The family moved to Milford Township in the 1920s where Walter attended country school. He married Lillian Wensauer on Aug. 29, 1980, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. Walter worked for the railroad until his retirement in 1959. He enjoyed fishing, gardening and canning, old time music and joy riding.
He is survived by his wife, Lillian Riebel of Sleepy Eye, stepchildren and their spouses, Diana and Robert "Chisey" Sellner of Sleepy Eye, Marjorie and Daryle Fischer of New Ulm, Charlene Holmquist and fiance, Dave Forsyth of St. James, and Michael and Mary Wensauer of Sleepy Eye; six step-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; cousin, Laura Pitka of New Ulm; and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Herbert Riebel, Albert Riebel and Herman Riebel.
George William Schroepfer
George William Schroepfer, age 83, passed away peacefully at the Minnesota Veteran's Home in Minneapolis on July 18, 2004. A funeral Mass was held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 21, at St. Mark's Catholic Church, St. Paul, with internment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial funds are preferred to the Family Council of the Minnesota Veterans Home, Minneapolis and St. Mark's Church.
George was born Feb. 9, 1921, on a farm in Albin Township, one of two boys and six girls of George P. and Wilhelmina Schroepfer. After completing school at St. Mary's in Sleepy Eye, he served in the U.S. Navy during WW II. He married Maureen Bertrand in Sleepy Eye on June 8, 1946. He was a skilled and talented watchmaker and jewelry engraver and owned and operated Schroepfer Jewelry in Le Sueur throughout the 1950s. In the 1960s, the U.S. space program needed his unique skills. He joined Honeywell in the Twin Cities to manufacture and test miniaturized guidance systems for the Mercury and Apollo space programs, retiring in 1985, after 21 years of service. Thereafter, he created rosaries for Catholic missionaries around the world. George was a devout member of St. Mark's Catholic Church in St. Paul and the CCW for 40 years. He was also a member of the Secular Franciscan Order and a past member of the Knights of Columbus of St Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. He was a loving husband and father.
George is survived by Maureen, his loving wife of 58 years; three sons and their wives: Mark and Jean, Jake and Molly of Dallas, TX and Bill and Lucy; seven grandchildren, Sheila Lutz; Tommy, Johnny and Michael of Dallas; and Otto, Cecilia and Guillemette; his brother, Emil of Sleepy Eye and his sister Minnie Flock of Morgan.
Mary Lynn Halverson Goblirsch
Mary Lynn Halverson Goblirsch was born in LaCrosse, Wisc., on July 13, 1944, to Mary A. and John G. Halverson. Lynn, as she chose to call herself, graduated from Central High School in LaCrosse, Wisc. and received her BS degree from Wisconsin State University, LaCrosse. She Also attended the University of Hawaii before serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Jamaica, West Indies from 1970-1972. In 1976, she received her MBA degree from the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque. Mary Lynn married Denis Goblirsch on Aug. 10, 1991. Lynn has been active in her church choir and involved with the Catholic Women of the Chapel. She has been active in the Polio Survivors of Okla. and the Federally Employed Women's Association. Lynn has served as a reading tutor for Literacy Link of Okla. She spent 22 years with the Civil Service in the computer programming field. She retired in February 2000. Lynn received numerous awards and recognition for her service. The most notable include: U.S. Air Force Disabled Employee of the Year for 1990 and 1996; Department of Defense Outstanding Employee with a Disability Presidential Award for 1990; The day after Lynn retired, in February 2000, Lynn began a lengthy hospitalization and made an eventual comeback. She enjoyed working with her computer and pursued her genealogical interests with the same enthusiasm which she applied to other areas of her life. She inspired others, whether they were disabled or not.
Lynn is survived by her husband, Denis Francis Goblirsch of Midwest City, Okla.; mother, Mary A. Halverson of Marionville, Mo.; sister, Sharol Diehl of Holmen, Wisc.; brothers, David of Frigiliana, Spain, Scott of Fulton, Mo., Donald of St. Paul and Dennis Eric of Baytown, Tex. Preceding her in death were her father, John; and sister, Nancy Lee Pierce. A wake service was held at the Bill Eisenhour Southeast Chapel on July 22, 2004. A funeral Mass was celebrated at the Tinker AFB Chapel on July 23, with interment in Arlington Memory Gardens in Midwest City, Okla.
Robert Harms
Robert Harms, 72, passed away in Lynn Grove, Iowa, on May 30, 2004. A wake was held on Thursday, June 3 and a Memorial Service on June 4, in Peterson, Iowa. There will be a military burial in the Veterans Section of Home Cemetery in Sleepy Eye at a later date.
Robert was the son of Adolph and Elsye Harms. He grew up in Sleepy Eye and graduated from Sleepy Eye Public High School. Robert joined the Air Force in 1950 and retired from the Air Force in 1972. After retirement, he moved to Spencer, Iowa and later bought a resort in Lynn Grove, Iowa, where he had a bait shop. Robert enjoyed fishing, telling stories, buying old cars and working in his play house. He spent his winters in Louisiana. Robert was a member of the Legion, VFW, Forty and Eight and a Schreiner.
Robert is survived by his wife, Joyce; daughters, Bonnie Harms and friend Larry of Florida; Debbie and Danny Hemming of Sleepy Eye, Twyla and David Rabaey of Marshall, Lori and Jeff Hunt of Indiana and Susie of Iowa; and his first wife, Mary Hass, mother of their four daughters. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Jenni, Angelica, Brittney, Katie, Little Brit, Cory, Kendra and Cody; and three great-grandchildren.
Ruth Mathiowetz
On Thursday, May 27, 2004, Ruth Walden Mathiowetz went to join our Lord and to be with her husband Ambrose (Joe) who preceded her in death in March of 1999.
She was born on Dec. 14, 1914, in Fulda, Iowa, the youngest of James and Ada Walden's seven children. They moved to Minnesota where she later met and married her husband in 1936. Ruth was the proud mother of four boys, Dean (Cindy) of Gardena Calif., Gary (Tamara) of Brainerd, Tom of Littleton, Colo. and Dick (Donna) of Hastings. She was blessed with 13 grandchildren, Kristin Spaberg (Bjorn), Becky Gregory (Bob), Michael; Lisa Matt (Lloyd), Michelle Duerre (Paul), Cory; Gregory, Christopher; Jill Sweeny (Al), Timm, Oleg, Svetlana and Brandon and 5 great-grandchildren; Annika and Jonas Spaberg, Darby Matt, Josie and Katie Duerre.
Ruth and Joe lived on a farm near Comfrey and in 1942, moved to Franklin, where she worked as a cook in the nursing home and Senior Center for 40 years, while Ambrose was the manager of the Franklin Creamery. Ruth found pleasure in family gatherings, sewing, gardening and baking. The two of them had several opportunities to travel extensively. They were members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Franklin until they relocated to Hastings in 1988. Ruth most recently resided in the Regina Nursing Home in Hastings where she died very peacefully surrounded by family. She will be fondly remembered for her quick wit and big smile and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husband and six siblings; Lawrence (Dick), Ervin (Tom), Harold, Herman, Dorothy Bastian and Elsie Peterson Best; two grandsons, Timm Mathiowetz and Oleg Kostyuk.
There will be a memorial service for Ruth on Saturday, July 24, at 10 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Franklin, followed by a graveside service for Ruth and Ambrose.
The family asks that memorials be preferred to the Regina Nursing Home Activities Department.
