Violet Mae Patterson, age 85, of rural New Prague, died peacefully, surrounded by her family on Friday, July 12, 2019, at her home. Vi was born on March 12, 1934 in Freeborn County, MN to Harry and Rose (Rebelien) Fink. She graduated from Albert Lea High School and shortly after graduation, married John Patterson at Salem Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. They lived for a short time in Albert Lea and moved frequently before settling at their beloved farm in Derrynane Township in 1969.
Ludmilla (Ludy) Korbel, 88, of Montgomery passed away on Sunday, July 7, 2019. Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 12 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery. Mass of Christian burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. with Father Tom Niehaus officiating. Interment will be in St. Wencelsaus Cemetery in New Prague.
Ludmilla was born in New Prague on December 6, 1930, to Edward and Elizabeth (Minar) Korbel. She attended country school in rural New Prague and later graduated from New Prague High School.
Gary Bachinski, of Jordan, passed away peacefully on July 2nd, 2019, at the age of 68.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, July 13 at 11 am, with a time of gathering starting at 9:30 am, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation, 104 First Street W, Jordan. Rev. Eugene Theisen will preside. Interment at St John. Calvary Cemetery.
Walter (Walt) J. Stier Jr, of Belle Plaine passed away on June 30, 2019 at Emerald Crest in Shakopee, MN.
Visitation will be Tuesday July 9 from 4-8 at Kolden Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 11am on Wednesday July 10 at St. John Lutheran Church, Belle Plaine, MN. Officiating at the service will be Pastor Diane Goulson of Redeemer Lutheran Church of Henderson, MN and Chaplain Arlen Solem of Emerald Crest of Shakopee, MN. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Belle Plaine.
Maria J. “Mary” Vesters, age 92, of Kenyon, died on July 1, 2019 at 3 Links Care Center in Northfield.
Joseph William Connolly, 74, passed away Saturday, June 29, 2019, at his home in Le Center surrounded by his loving family.
Visitation will be held Friday, July 5 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Le Center. Funeral service will be held Saturday, July 6 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Le Center with Father James Stiles officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Le Center Area Veterans Honor Guard. Interment will be at St. Henry Cemetery.
Kathleen E. Bruzelius, age 77, of New Prague, died peacefully in her sleep on Monday, July 1, 2019, surrounded by her husband and family, some near and some far—but all dear. Kathleen was born on April 22, 1942 in San Rafael, CA to Edward and Helen (Truelson) Mullin. She graduated from Talent High School (Talent, OR) in 1960 after marrying her husband, Kenneth Bruzelius, on May 9, 1959 at the Assembly of God Church in Medford, Oregon. The couple celebrated their 60th Anniversary this spring.
Agnes Gill, of St. Thomas, passed away on Friday, June 28, 2019 at the age of 91. She was surrounded by her loving family as she transitioned to heaven to be with her beloved husband Alois.
Elgin W. Skluzacek, age 78, of Kandiyohi, passed away May 31, 2019 after a brief, unfair fight with cancer. Preceded in death by parents William and Mary (Sticha) Skluzacek of New Prague , sister Ethel Jacobson, and son William F. Skluzacek. Survived by wife Patricia; sons Guy (June) Skluzacek & Jerry Skluzacek; daughter Erika (Chris Rummenie) Skluzacek; 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Elgin was: an avid gardener; a lover of nature and history; a collector of rocks and memories; a good man, a good husband, a good father. He was. He still is.
Danny (Dan) Lee Standfield, age 71, of New Prague, died on Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at his home. Services will be in Farmersville, Texas.
Danny was born on November 16, 1947 in Dallas, Texas to Lee Roy and Francie Marie (Kaufman) Standfield. He was united in marriage to Carolyn Woodcock on September 25, 1965. Danny enjoyed spending time with family, helping others with addiction, working with his hands, and his fish pond.
Florence M. Stocker, longtime resident of Jordan, entered eternal life at the age of 82. A visitation will be held Monday, June 24, 2019 from 4-7PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Jordan. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at 11AM with visitation 1-hour prior, all at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Jordan. Florence will be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery. Father Neil Bakker will preside, and Florence’s grandchildren will act as pallbearers.
Kymberli (Kym) Ann El-Wailli, age 51, of New Prague, MN passed away unexpectedly on June 16, 2019. She was born October 16, 1967, to parents, Ronald (RJ) and Frances Sticha (Lonsdale, MN).
On June 14, 2019, Darla Michele Thoen (Ambroz), age 56 and loving mother of three children, passed away suddenly and was surrounded by her family. She was born on April 28th, 1963 in Minneapolis, MN to Robert and Darlyne Thoen. She graduated from Eden Prairie High School in 1981 and later from the University of Minnesota in 1985. After graduating, she worked at JC Penney Corporate.
Jerry K. Most, age 81, of New Prague, died suddenly of a massive heart attack on Friday, June 14, 2019 at his home at Praha Village. Jerry was born on April 20, 1938, in Ellsworth, Wisconsin to Stanley and Marguerite (Melgaard) Most. He was raised by his maternal grandparents in Ellsworth, graduated from Ellsworth High School, and entered the US Navy, having come from a proud military family. Jerry married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Mary Lou Rosenberg, on July 7, 1956 in Ellsworth.
Keith R. Pieper, age 72 of Henderson, died Sunday, June 16, 2019 at the Ridgeview Nursing and Rehab Center in Le Sueur. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 22 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Henderson. Fr. Sam Perez will officiate the Mass. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, June 21 and one hour prior to Mass on Saturday, all at the church in Henderson. Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Henderson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.