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Willard Huelsnitz
Willard Frederick Huelsnitz was born on August 8, 1918 at the family home in Stowe Prairie Township (rural Bertha) to August and Alvina (Drawbert) Huelsnitz.
He attended country schools and worked on the family farm. He was united in marriage with Ethel Johnson in Henning, MN on October 12, 1941.
Willie retired from being a metal shop foreman after working for Homecrest Mfg. for 25 years. In his spare time, he enjoyed woodworking, hunting and fishing.
In 2001, he moved to the Central Todd County Care Center after living in Bertha his entire life. He passed away there on May 10, 2003 at the age of 84.
Willard was preceded in death by his parents August and Alvina; brothers Victor and Bernard; sisters Elsie Swanson, Orvilla Schimmel and Velma Bullard; and 3 grandsons.
He is survived by his wife Ethel of Clarissa; sons Gary & Ellen of Askov, MN, Curtis & Sue Kuehn of Elk River, MN, and Roger & Denise of Homeville, GA; daughters Katherine & Lyle Boehland of Apple Valley, MN, Marian & Wallace Esteb of Coon Rapids, MN and Candace Decker of Champlin, MN; 14 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; brother Henry of Champlin, MN; and sisters Bernice Pearson of Clarissa, MN, Glenna Beck of Grand Rapids, MN, Hellen Schaefer of St. Paul, MN and Elverna Gossel of Bertha, MN.
Pallbearers were Steven Huelsnitz, Adam Decker, Clarence Nyberg, David Goetze, Roger Huelsnitz, Jr. and Brad Gossel.
Interment was in St. Paul's Lutheran cemetery in Bertha Township.
Kathleen Keppers
Kathleen Deloris Dropik was born to her parents Deloris & Elmer Dropik on June 13, 1948 in Minneapolis. She died tragically on Sunday, May 4th while returning from an out of town church function.
Kathleen was united in marriage to LeRoy Philip Keppers on December 27, 1987. She and LeRoy ran a dairy farm in Bluffton Township for the past 16 years. She enjoyed spending time at the church and music.
Kathleen was preceded in death by her son Jerome Philip Keppers. She is survived by her husband LeRoy; her parents Deloris (Paul) Carlson & Elmer (Loretta) Dropik; son Roger (Michelle) Austin; daughter Jennel (John) Montgomery; 7 grandchildren and her brother John Carlson.
Burial will take place next to her son in the St. John's cemetery in Bluffton.
Darwin E. Zaske
Darwin Erhard Zaske was born to his parents Erhard and Velere Mae (Redfield) Zaske on March 20, 1949 in the Wesley Hospital in Wadena. He passed away at his home in North Oaks this past Sunday. Darwin was confirmed in the Salem United Methodist Church in Deer Creek in 1964. He graduated Valedictorian of his class at Deer Creek High School in 1967. He attended the University of Minnesota School of Pharmacy and received his Doctorate in 1973. He had multiple research interests in Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic studies of antimicrobials and cardiovascular geriatric drug therapy. Before Darwin began teaching in the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Minnesota, he did research at the Ramsey County Medical Burn Center. He assisted with writing over 50 different articles abstracted by the National Library of Medicine. Darwin was internationally known and traveled the world lecturing on his research.
Darwin enjoyed spending time outdoors and had many flower beds in his yard. He purchased his current home from Senator Walter Mondale.
Darwin was preceded in death by his parents, Erhard and Velere, and his brother Douglas. He is survived by his cousins, aunts and many nieces and nephews. Burial will take place next to his parents in the Oak Hill cemetery in Deer Creek.
For those traveling from the Twin Cities, it is about a 3 hour drive. Take Interstate 94 west to Sauk Centre. Turn and go north on US 71 to Wadena (one hour drive). At the first set of stop lights (Cozy Theater corner) turn left on Colfax (Highway 29) and go west out of town. Deer Creek is 9 miles from Wadena on Highway 29. The church is located on Main Street in Deer Creek, west end. You should notice our white funeral coach parked on the street at the church.
Carrie Hoffman
Carrie Bella Hoffman was born on December 26, 1961 in Bertha, Minnesota to Oscar and Clara (Bestul) Persons.
Carrie graduated from high school in Elk River. In 1983, she married
Jody Hoffman at the Church of the Nazarene in Hewitt, Minnesota. The marriage ended in 1993, but brought children Jeremiah and Angie into the world.
Carrie was working in construction at the time of her death and enjoyed gardening and other outdoors activities, woodworking, reading and collecting Precious Moments figurines.
Carrie died tragically at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota on May 1, 2003. She will be truly missed by all.
Carrie was preceded in death by her parents Oscar and Clara Persons.
She is survived by her children Jeremiah and Angie of St. Ansgar, IA; brothers Gary of Hewitt, MN, Donald of Parkers Prairie, MN and Dick of Verndale, MN; sisters Barbara Rehm of Henning, MN, Linda Kern of Elk River, MN, Betty Dougherty of Verndale, MN, Patsy Erickson of Hewitt, MN, June Ferguson of Oceanside, CA and Diane Anderson of Cannon Falls, MN; friends Mr. and Mrs. Jody Hoffman; and many nieces and nephews.
Honorary casketbearers were Angie Hoffman and all of Carrie's brothers and sisters.
Casketbearers were Jody Hoffman, Jeremiah Hoffman, Doug Kern, Ralph Dougherty, Shane Kern and Dan Anderson.
Catherine McGrane
Catherine Frances Goeden was born on the family farm in Otter Tail County to her parents Joseph A. & Catherine (Erhardt) Goeden on April 7, 1920. She passed away at Tri-County Hospital after a lengthy illness on April 14th.
Catherine spent her entire life in the Wadena area. She graduated from high school and continued her education at a business school. She enjoyed playing cards and spending time with her grand & great-grandchildren. Catherine was united in marriage to Leonard John McGrane on October 11, 1947 in the St. Ann's Catholic Church in Wadena. Leonard passed away on May 4, 2001. Catherine was also preceded in death by her parents; son Kenneth and daughter Karen.
She is survived by her son Harvey (Linda) of Hewitt; daughters Mary (Robert) Roggenkamp of Bluffton, Carol (Ken) Mudek of Staples, Julie (Brad) Swenson of Wadena and Janet (Jeff) Lehmkuhl of Wadena; 25 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; sisters Sophie Richter of San Antonio, FL, Rosemary (Mark) Lorentz of Ottertail, Margaret (Virgil) Wellner of Springfield; brothers Charles Goeden of Zephyr Hills, FL, Joe (Lorraine) Goeden of Wadena & Leo (Theresa) Goeden of Wadena; daughter in law Luann McGrane of Osceola, IA.
Burial will take place in the Calvary cemetery in Wadena.
Fern Schmitz
Fern Schmitz beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother completed her life's journey, Saturday April 5, 2003 at Fair Oaks Lodge in Wadena. Fern was born on January 27, 1912, to Clarence and Fanny (Ames) Cheney in Bullard Township, Wadena County. She was the 8th child of a family of 9. As her father was a logger they moved to many different areas where they attended different shcools in Minnesota, Oregon and Washington. All of her siblings have preceded her in death.
She married
Ralph Schmitz on Oct. 30, 1933 in Wadena where they made their home until moving to the farm by Sebeka in 1948. She was a charter member of the Assumption of Our Lady Catholic Church in Menahga and was a member of the Christian Mothers. They later built a home in Sebeka where they lived until Fern moved to Humphrey Manor where she lived for 22 years until moving to Fair Oaks Lodge.
She was an avid reader, enjoyed quilting for her grandchildren, fishing with Ralph, going out for lunch and visiting with family and friends.
Pallbearers were her grandchildren; Tom Schmitz, Kristine Pagenkopf, Sarah Albrecht, Keth Schmitz, Jr., Daniel Schmitz, Jaccie Nelson, Scott Putzke, Janelle Ahlgren, Tony Putzke, Jaimie Beretta and LaiLonna Lilly. Interment will be in the Calvary cemetery in Wadena.
Fern is survived by two sons and two daughters: Dennis (June) Schmitz of Grand Rapids, Keith (Diane) Schmitz of Park Rapids, Sandra (Gene) Putzke of Sebeka and Linda (George) Lilly of Nimrod; 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ralph in 1979, 8 siblings and 1 grandson in 1978.
Tracy Jirava
04/29/2008
Tracy M. Jirava, 25, of Detroit Lakes, died Friday, April 25, 2008 at Little Falls, Minn., as the result of injuries received in an automobile accident. Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, April 29 at the West-Kjos Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes, and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Circles of Faith United Methodist Church in Waubun; there will be a prayer service at 7 p.m. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 30 at Circles of Faith United Church of Christ in Waubun, with the Rev. Frank Rodgers and Rev. Del Stohs officiating. Burial wwill follow in the Ogema cemetery. West-Kjos Funeral Home, Detroit Lakes, is handling arrangements for the family.
Bernice Sherwood
04/30/2008
Bernice Sherwood, 68, of Detroit Lakes —known professionally as Babe Nelson — died Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, May 4 at David Donehower Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, May 5 at David-Donehower Funeral Home, which is providing arrangements for the family.
Leonard Ahles
04/30/2008
Former Waubun resident Leonard J. Ahles, 81, of Mahnomen, died on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at the Mahnomen Health Center. Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, May 2, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Waubun, with visitation taking place one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in St. Ann’s Catholic cemetery, Waubun. Arrangements have been entrusted to Anderson-Mattson Funeral Home of Mahnomen and Winger, Minn.
Len Grotnes
04/30/2008
Len Anderson Grotnes of Island Lake, near Detroit Lakes, died Saturday, April 26, 2008 at St. Mary’s Nursing Center in Detroit Lakes. Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, May 2, 2008 at the Shell Lake Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Osage. Visitation will be held Thursday, May 1 from 4-8 p.m. at the West-Kjos Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes, with a prayer service at 7p.m. Interment will be held at a later date this spring.
Kristie Wesley
05/02/2008
Kristie L. Wesley, 57, loving wife, mother and grandmother, of Detroit Lakes, died Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at Emmanuel Nursing Home, Detroit Lakes. Funeral services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, May 5, at Bakke Lutheran Church, rural Detroit Lakes. Interment will follow at Bakke Lutheran Church cemetery, rural Detroit Lakes. Visitation is Sunday, May 4 from 5-8 p.m. at West-Kjos Funeral Home, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. West-Kjos Funeral Home is providing arrangements.
