Mary Ann Ruehling, age 62, of New Prague, died peacefully with her husband at her side, on Christmas Day 2021 at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital in Rochester.  Mary Ann was born on July 20, 1959 in Detroit Lakes to Arthur and Mary Jane (Lundeen) Kiehl.  Born and raised in Detroit Lakes, she graduated from Detroit Lakes High School.  She met the man who would become her soul mate and life partner, John B. Ruehling, three years before they married on August 13, 1988 at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lanesburgh.

Ruth Hoofhower, age 94, of Belle Plaine, MN, entered eternal peace on Tuesday evening, December 21, 2021, at Oak Terrace Senior Living, in Jordan, MN. 
 A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, December 29, at 11 am, with a visitation from 9-10:45 am, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 313 Second Street East, Jordan. Father Neil Bakker presided. Ruth was laid to rest at St. John Calvary Cemetery. 

Dorri Lynn Yackley, age 62 of Belle Plaine, was welcomed into her heavenly home on December 21, 2021. A visitation will take place from 3-6 p.m. on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at the Kolden Funeral Home in Belle Plaine. Following the visitation, family and friends are invited to the Neisen’s Corner Bar – Rustic Room in Belle Plaine.

Margaret Henry, age 69 of Northfield, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 25, 2021, at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina. Very soon after she was surrounded by her family and so much love as they processed the unimaginable.

Mary Ann Ruehling, age 62, of New Prague, died on Christmas Day at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital - Rochester.  Services January 8, 2021.  Full obituary next week.

Amy Schmitz, age 58, was welcomed to her Heavenly home while peacefully surrounded by her family on December 24, 2021. It was her Christmas miracle after a difficult and courageous battle with corticobasal degeneration.

Joyce Christine (Meyer) Ewing, age 81, of Chaska, MN, died on Sunday, December 19, 2021 at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, MN.
 Funeral Service was on Thursday, December 23, 2021, 1:00 PM at the Bertas Funeral Home, 200 West Third Street, Chaska, MN, with Father Nick Van Den Broeke officiating. The visitation was one hour prior to the service. The burial was at the Preiss Cemetery, Cologne, MN. Memorials are preferred to the Preiss Cemetery.

Mike was born September 25, 1958 in Kansas City, Missouri to John and Nancy Means.  He graduated in 1976 from Yukon High School, Yukon, Oklahoma.     
 Although he moved around during childhood his heart was fond of his home state: Oklahoma. On June 3, 1978 he married Karen Govett and celebrated 43 years with his best friend in marriage.  They lived a majority of their life in Oklahoma but moved to Virginia in 2003 where he enjoyed diving into the history of the United States. 

Sister Marilyn Skluzacek, OP, was the 7th child born to Celia (Malecha) and John T. Skluzacek on July 17, 1940. Pased away on Dec. 10, 2021 at Dominican Villa in Sinsinawa, WI. Marilyn attended I.C School in Lonsdale, MN, then went to high school at Bethlehem Academy in Faribault, MN, and graduated in 1958. In the summer after graduation Marilyn applied to the Sinsinawa Dominicans for entrance to their order.

Marvin Dale Way born 5/28/1929 in Scott County, Elko New Market, MN and passed away peacefully on 12/20/21 at the age of 92 at Mala Strana Rehabilitation Center in New Prague, MN.  Dad enjoyed playing horseshoes, playing bingo, pull tabs, listening to the older country western music and movies, and he also enjoyed watching/listening to the Twins and Vikings games. One could always see him with his cowboy hat on and most likely with a beer in his hand.

Virgil Anthony Gast, age 81, of Jordan, was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  He was called home by our LORD on December 18, 2021. The family will greet guests on Tuesday, December 28 from 5pm-7pm at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation in Jordan. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.
Virgil was born on February 23, 1940, in St. Bonifacius, MN to Celestine “Sam” Gast and Anna (Laumann) Gast.  He is the second oldest of seven boys. He graduated from Jordan High School in 1959. 

Our eldest daughter, Eve Marie Musil, passed away on December 13, 2021 in Gilbert, AZ.  She put up a good two-and-a-half-year fight against cancer!   She fought the battles but, in the end, she lost the war.

Kimberly Anne Dvoracek-Anderson, 41, of Elko New Market, Minn., was welcomed into her Heavenly home on Dec 14, 2021.
Kim was born to Gary and Janice (Kenne) Dvoracek of Holmen, Wisc., on Dec. 2, 1980, at St. Francis Hospital in La Crosse, Wisc., and was the middle of three closely-knit daughters.

Edward F. “Eddie” Wieskus, age 92, of New Prague, formerly of Fulda, died peacefully with his family at his side, on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at his home at Praha Village.  Edward was born on November 26, 1929 in Jackson, MN to Frank and Julia (Macek) Wieskus.  He graduated from Jackson High School in 1947 and entered the Army National Guard until 1951 and was a proud member of the American Legion.  He met the woman who would become his cherished partner at a dance and married Jeanette Odenbrett on June 7,  1958 at St.

Lawrence “Chappy” Plonsky, 88, of Heidelberg, passed away on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Fairmont. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 20, from 8 to 10 a.m. at Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Heidelberg. Interment will be held in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Lexington.

James A. “Jim” Pumper, age 62, of New Prague, died unexpectedly at his home on Monday, December 13, 2021.  Jim was born on August 11, 1959 to Myles and Dorothy (Moll) Pumper.  He grew up in Le Center and attended Le Center High School.  Jim was a self-taught mechanic, learning many of his skills through watching and with the help of his father.  Many knew Jim personally from the various automotive repair shops in the area.  Even in retirement, he spent his time doing various automotive tasks for family and friends.  He married Laurie J.