February 2016 Death Notices - Paynesville Press, Paynesville, Minnesota
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Death Notices
Complete obituaries can be found in the Paynesville Press each week.

February 2016


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Obituary Archives

Elaine Becraft, 95, Florida
Elaine Becraft, 95, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died peacefully on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Alexander "Sandy" Nininger State VeteranÕ' Nursing Home in Pembroke Pines, Fla.

A mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, April 4, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Port Charlotte, Fla., with burial in Sarasota National Cemetery in Sarasota, Fla., at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 5. There will be no visitation.

Elaine was born on Jan. 23, 1921, to Charles and Hildegard Marx Zapf in Paynesville, the oldest of five girls, with one older brother. She graduated from Paynesville High School in 1939.

Mrs. Becraft attended St. Cloud Teacher's College before enlisting in the U.S. Navy as a WAVE in the fall of 1942. She was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Hilo, Hawaii, at the end of WWII. She later received her degree from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul and was hired as social and recreational director of St. Mary's School of Nursing in Rochester.

Elaine married Harvey Zimmer of Minneapolis in 1951. She taught school in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and St. Louis Park.

They moved to Port Charlotte, Fla., in 1961. She taught at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Port Charlotte from 1963 to 1969. She then took the nurses' aide course at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County and cared for many patients in their own homes, as well as her mother, who came to live with her in 1971 and died in her home in 1978.

Mr. Zimmer died in 1971. Elaine married Clarence "Mickey" Morrow in 1981. He passed away in 1998. She married Richard Becraft in 2001.

In her life, Mrs. Becraft played the church organ at several churches, as well as at various naval bases. She organized choirs and enjoyed church work.

She belonged to several church organizations, including the Council of Catholic Women, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Respite Care, and Legion of Mary, and helped launch several parish libraries and gift shops. She was a charter member of the Blue Ladies, volunteering at Dr. Niazi Nursing Home (1969) and Fawcett Hospital (1975) until 1981. She was also a charter member of the Minnesota club and was proud of her 15-year pin as a Girl Scout leader.

She is survived by her husband, Richard Becraft, of Hollywood, Fla.; Mr. Zimmer's children, Joanne (Lee) Carlson and Phil (Sue) Zimmer; foster daughter, Mary White Japel; Mr. Morrow's children, Maureen Banner, Marlene Tate, Larry Morrow, and Cathy Kramer; Mr. Becraft's children, Gary (Sandy) Becraft and Terri Kureth; sisters, Rosemary Koshiol and Gemella Zapf; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews Ð all dearly loved.

Mrs. Becraft was preceded in death by two husbands, Harvey Zimmer and Mickey Morrow; her parents; sisters, Rita Fredericks and Valerie Dalthorp Conrey; brother, Elred Zapf; Mr. Zimmer's daughter, Jean Madsen; daughter-in-law, Mary Zimmer; Mr. Morrow's children, Margaret Mansfield, Joanne Durkee, and Thomas Morrow; Mr. Becraft's children, Dawn Tracey and Richard Becraft Jr.; four brothers-in-law; and a sister-in-law.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Charles Borromeo Elementary School, 2500 Easy St., Port Charlotte, FL 33952.


Dwaine Roberg, 91, Paynesville
Dwaine L. Roberg, 91, of Paynesville died on Sunday, Feb. 21, at the Paynesville Area Hospital.

His funeral service was held on Friday, Feb. 26, at Nordland Lutheran Church in rural Paynesville. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Dwaine LeRoy Roberg was born on Nov. 26, 1924, to John and Olive ÒLenaÓ (Hemingson) Roberg on the family farm in Union Grove Township.

He grew up on the family farm and was confirmed into the Lutheran faith at Nordland Lutheran Church in 1939. He attended country grade school in District #27 and Litchfield High School, graduating in 1943.

He entered the United States Army on Jan. 31, 1945, where he served his country during WWII.

On Dec. 10, 1949, Dwaine married Lois Elaine Hufford at Crow River Methodist Church. To this union, three sons and a daughter were born. They shared 66 years of marriage.

They made their home on the family farm, where he did dairy and grain farming and custom silo filling and combining. They moved to their home on Lake Koronis in 1979.

Dwaine is survived by his wife, Elaine; children, Larry (Joyce) Roberg of Paynesville, Gary (Fern) Roberg of Paynesville, Debra Roberg of Arlington, Texas, and Loren Roberg (Janet Schwartz) of Paynesville; nine grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; brother, Howard Roberg of Spicer; a sister-in-law; and a niece and nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents.


Vernon Voss, 87, Starbuck
Vernon Oliver Voss, 87, died on Friday, Feb. 26, at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck.

A funeral was held on Tuesday, March 1, at the Starbuck Funeral Home. Burial was in the Minnewaska Lutheran Cemetery in Starbuck.

Vernon Oliver Voss was born on Dec. 8, 1928, to Roland and Luella (Wartenburg) Voss in Union Grove Township.

He received his education in a country school near Paynesville.

After his schooling, Vern worked as a farmer. He also worked on a turkey farm before working several years at Trinity Steel making LP tanks.

He married Beverly Tysdal on Dec. 18, 1965, in Paynesville.

The couple continued to live in Paynesville, and Vern drove mail truck from Paynesville to St. Cloud.

In 2002, the couple moved to Starbuck, Minn. Beverly died on Feb. 20, 2007. Vern continued to live in Starbuck until the time of his death.

Vern is survived by his son, Todd Voss of Paynesville; daughter, Mary Voss of Starbuck; a brother-in-law; three sisters-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.

Vern was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and one brother, Earl Voss.


Marjorie "Peggie" Jerabek, 93
Marjorie "Peggy"Jerabek, 93, died on Sunday, Feb. 7.

Peggie was born on June 12, 1922, in Bloomfield, N.J., to Karl and Effie (Neil) Eckel.

She graduated high school in St. Petersburg, Fla.

She married Walter O. Jerabek on Oct. 19, 1942, in Memphis, Tenn.

Peggie worked as a telephone operator in Tucson, Ariz., during the war.

After WWII, they lived in Alaska, later moving to Seattle. Peggie and Walter relocated to Minnesota and farmed just outside of Hutchinson. They moved to California for a year, returning to Minnesota to farm near Grove City.

After retirement, Walter and Peggie relocated to Long Lake outside of New London.

Peggie enjoyed golf, bowling, bridge, and table games. She was active in church, hospice, the American Legion, and the VFW.

After Walter passed away, Peggie moved to Arizona for several years, later moving to Silverdale, Wash., in 2009.

Peggie is survived by her three children, Clifford Jerabek (Connie, deceased) of Spicer, Russell Jerabek of Silverdale, Wash., and Carolynn Jerabek-Kavanagh (Steve) of Sartell, Minn., and Sun City, Ariz.; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Peggie was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Walter.

The family requests that all memorials be sent to your local hospice in Peggie's name.


Jane Jensen, 43, Paynesville
Jane M. Jansen, 43, of Paynesville died on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at CentraCare Health Ð Paynesville.

Memorial services were held on Monday, Feb. 29, at the Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Eden Valley. Jane Marie Jansen was born on April 19, 1972, to William and Lei Lani (Hecker) Jansen in Paynesville.

She attended high school in Eden Valley, moved to California for 18 years, and moved back to Eden Valley for the past seven years.

Jane worked as a dental lab manager in San Francisco, Calif.

Jane volunteered at the nursing home in Cold Spring and had a very special bond with the elderly.

Jane is survived by her parents, William and Lei Lani of Paynesville; brother and sisters, Tom of Manannah, Karen Buschette of River Falls, Wis., Ann McCann of Litchfield, and Susie Anderson of Eden Valley; a sister-in-law; three brothers-in-law; special friends, Dave and Alice Hiltner and family of Regal; and ten nieces and nephews.

Jane was preceded in death by her grandparents.

Memorials are preferred.


James Schmidt, 77, Waite Park
James A. Schmidt, 77, of Waite Park, and formerly of Eden Valley, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Sauk Rapids.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Daniel Funeral Home Chapel in St. Cloud. A private burial will take place at a later date in the Eden Valley Cemetery.

James was born on July 24, 1938, to John and Mary (Pfingsten) Schmidt in Eden Valley.

He married Vera E. Holmes on Sept. 1, 1956.

Jim lived most of his life in the Eden Valley area. He was employed as a Diesel Mechanic by Model Stone Ready Mix in Apple Valley for over 40 years, retiring in 1998.

The couple moved to Waite Park in 2002.

Jim is survived by his wife, Vera; children, James Jr. of St. Cloud, Jay (Joan) of St. Cloud, Virginia (Steve) McCloud of Paynesville, Jonathan (Tammy) of Albertville, and Joseph of Waite Park; nine grandchildren, Jessica, Emily, Nicholas, Phillip, Rachel, Justin, Madison, Travis and Katlyn; five great-grandchildren, Chloe, Audrey, Brooke, Elijah and Raelynn; and brothers, Verlyn of Paynesville and Paul of Eden Valley.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Bonnie Gunstrom.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.


Gerrit VanderBeek, 76, Paynesville
Gerrit J. VanderBeek, 76, of Paynesville died on Tuesday, Feb. 9, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar after a short battle with cancer.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, Feb. 13, at Grace United Methodist Church in Paynesville.

Gerrit was born on Aug. 22, 1939, to John and Catherine (Jansen) VanderBeek in Brooten, Minn. He was the oldest of ten children.

Gerrit married Marlene Harding on Aug. 22, 1958, at the First Lutheran Church in Lake Lillian.

They farmed for many years south of Lake Koronis, after which he went to work full time at AMPI in Paynesville making cheese. He retired in August 2012.

Gerrit is survived by his wife, Marlene; children, Brian (Mary) of Roscoe, Diane (Mike) Keller of Paynesville, Carol (Mark) Spoden of Richmond, Jeffery (Susan) of Eden Valley, and Angela (Justin) Braun of Paynesville; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; siblings, Gerhardt of Glenwood, Trina Berg of Willmar, Henry of Gilman, Anna Hiltner of Wadena, Cathy Ziemann of Florida, John of Richmond, and Margaret Knebel of Pillager; two sisters-in-law; and two brothers-in-law.

Gerrit was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson; sisters, Wihelmina French and Joanne VanderBeek; and a brother-in-law.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.


Ken McMahon, 64, Cleveland, Minn.
Kenneth "Ken" McMahon, 64, of Cleveland, Minn., and formerly of Canby, died tragically on Saturday, Feb. 6, as the result of a car accident near his home in rural Cleveland.Ê

Mass of Christian burial was held on Saturday, Feb. 13, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Burial was in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Marshall.

Kenneth William McMahon was born on March 16, 1951, in Canby, Minn., to Leo and Frances (Kerner) McMahon.Ê He grew up in Canby and graduated from Canby High School.Ê

Ken obtained his architectural drafting degree from the Canby Vocational Technical School in Canby.Ê

On Oct. 17, 1970, he married Patricia "Tricia" Hoffman in St. Leo.Ê

Ken spent his career working in the dairy industry in Clarkfield, Minn., Paynesville, Oelwein, Iowa, Eau Claire, Wis., and River Falls, Wis., before retiring to live on a lake near Cleveland, Minn.Ê

After leaving his position as CEO of Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, he took a job as an Area Manager for AMPI in New Ulm, retiring in May 2015.Ê

Ken is survived by his wife, Tricia of Cleveland; daughter, Tami (Tim) Mueller of Maple Grove; two granddaughters; sons, Jasen McMahon of Park City, Utah, and Tyler McMahon of Kingsford, Mich.; sister, Pat Shaikoski of Fairmont; brother, Terry McMahon of Coon Rapids; mother-in-law, Lucille Hoffman of Marshall; in-laws; and nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.Ê

He was preceded in death by his parents and his father-in-law, Norbert Hoffman.


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