January 2014 Death Notices - Paynesville Press, Paynesville, Minnesota
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Death Notices
Complete obituaries can be found in the Paynesville Press each week.

January 2014


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Obituary Archives

Yvonne Merten, 83, Richmond
Yvonne P. Merten, 83, of Richmond died on Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Payn-esville Hospital.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Feb. 7, at 11 a.m., at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Richmond. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 6, from 4-8 p.m., at the Wenner Funeral Home in Richmond and will continue from 9-10:30 a.m. on Friday morning at the funeral home.

Yvonne was born on March 19, 1930, to Tom and Nellie (Berday) Bohnen in Cold Spring.

She married Michael Merten on June 18, 1955, in St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring.

Yvonne worked at various places, including Peters Market, Deckers Duds, Cold Spring Granite, and Mother Lucille Home.

She is survived by her children, Chuck (Debbie), Shelly Meyer, Cindy (Tim) Peters, Tina Kohnen, Cheri (Mike) Pitschka, and Tim (Emily); 15 grandchildren; and siblings, Joyce Kunkel, Bernice Decker, Shirley Manuel, Marlene Macias, and Tommy Bohnen.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael.


Marty Frank, 51, Paynesville
Marty Jay Frank, 51, of Paynesville passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at Grace United Methodist Church in Paynesville. Reverend Ric Koehn officiated.

Marty was born on Jan. 23, 1963, in Paynesville to Glenn and Agatha (Eisenbacher) Frank.

He married Nanette M. Winkel on April 23, 1994, at Grace United Methodist Church in Paynesville and became a father to four children.

Marty worked as both a grain and beef farmer, always enjoying the work with Donny Frank. He also worked for Jacobson Transport from January 1995 to May 1998 and again from May 1999 to May of 2004. He was currently working for Cliff Viessman, Inc., as a long distance truck driver, starting in 2008 until the present.

Marty enjoyed farming and trucking, but nothing was more important to him than his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was a giant man and had an even larger heart!

He is survived by his Honey of over 19 years, Nanette; children, Josh (Alisha Schaeffer) of Fargo, N.D., Ashley (Nate) Simon of Gilman, Natalie (fiancˇ, Brian Krohnfeldt) of Alexandria, and Luke (Katie) of Benson; grandchildren, Emma, age eight, Maya, age three, and Grace, 10 months; mother, Agatha Frank of Glenwood; brothers and sisters, Michael (Charlotte)Frank of Eden Valley, Meryl (Cindy) Frank of St. Peter, Marcia (Thomas) Gray of St. Martin, and Monique Frank of Paynesville; mother and father-in-law, John and Lois Winkel of Benson; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Mark Winkel of Paynesville, Kim (Dana) Mellgren of Rochester, and Rosa (John) Staup of Lowry; and many nieces and nephews.

Marty was preceded in death by his father, Glenn, in June 1986; and many aunts and uncles.


Ardis Lang, 94, Paynesville
Ardis M. Lang, 94, of Paynesville, and formerly of Marshall, died on Thursday, Jan. 23, at the Koronis Manor in Paynesville.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Marshall and Paynesville.

Ardis Mae Lang was born on May 28, 1919, in Tracy, Minn., to Ole and Anne (Nybo) Gubrud.

She was baptized on July 13, 1919, and confirmed on June 24, 1934, both at Zion Lutheran Church in Tracy.

Ardis attended Tracy Elementary School and graduated from Tracy High School with the Class of 1937.

On Dec. 26, 1941, Ardis married Emil I. Lang in Springfield, Minn. This union was blessed with two daughters. The family made their home in Marshall, Minn.

Emil passed away on Sept. 12, 1986. They were able to share in 44 years of marriage before his death at the age of 66.

Ardis is survived by her daughters, Carol Ann (Paul) Lura of Paynesville and Mary Pat (Marcia Pelley) Lang of Seattle, Wash.

Ardis was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Ann Kemp of Springfield, Marie Johnson of Redwood Falls, Arnold Gubrud of Redwood Falls, Olive Selmser of San Mateo, Calif., Sally Nelson of Sauk Rapids, Oscar Gubrud of Redwood Falls, Esther Herbert of Portland, Ore., Milton (who died as an infant), and Rudolph (who died at the age of two).


Thecla Gertken, 90, Richmond
Thecla S. Gertken, 90, of Richmond died on Friday, Jan. 24, at Assumption Home in Cold Spring.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 11 a.m., at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Richmond. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

A visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the Wenner Funeral Home in Richmond and will continue from 9-10:30 a.m. on Thursday morning at the funeral home.

Thecla Gertken was born on Feb. 10, 1923, to Mathias and Eva (Hoppe) Buettner in New Munich.

Her first eight years of school were spent at New Munich Parochial School, and she graduated from Paynesville High School.

Thecla married Wendelin Gertken at St. Margaret Church in Lake Henry. Their union lasted until Wendelin's death in 1988.

She spent her married life on a farm in Avon and moved to Farming in 1946, where they farmed until retirement in 1987, when they moved to Richmond.

She is survived by her children, Gerald (Greta) Gertken, Dorothy Groom, Allan (Grace) Gertken, Marlene Parkhurst, Arthur (Lori) Gertken, Joanne (Steven) Danzeisen, Charles (Karen) Gertken, and Elaine (John) Meyering; 21 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and brothers, Leo and Sylvester Buettner.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wendelin; a great-grandson, Jaron; two sons-in-law; and siblings, Norbert, Alphonse, Rita Weniger, Agatha Urlaub, and Lidwina Herbert.


Marilyn Golembeski, 80, Sauk Rapids
Marilyn R. Golembeski, 80, if Sauk Rapids died on Friday, Jan. 24, at Quiet Oaks Hospice House.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 10:30 a.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sauk Rapids. Entombment will be at Hilltop Mausoleum in Sauk Rapids.

A visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28, at the Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church on Wednesday.

Marilyn was born Dec. 16, 1933, to Othmar and Ella Mary (Lenz) Brick in Lake Henry.

She graduated from St. Cloud Teachers College.

She married Marcel Golembeski on Aug. 20, 1955, at St. Mary's Cathedral in St. Cloud. Their union lasted until Marcel's death on Sept. 13, 1988.

Marilyn was a teacher in the St. Cloud School District for 30 years.

Marilyn is survived by her children, Mark of Omak, Wash., Michele Thompson of Otsego, Michael (Marianne) of Sauk Rapids, Mary (Phil) Kosloske of Clear Lake, Marla (Dale) Pierskalla of St. Cloud, Melanie (John) Peterka of Eau Claire, Wis., Marty (Cheryce Franzen) of Rice, and Melissa (Steven) Legatt of Rice; special friend, Floren Phillipi of Sartell; sister and brothers, Ruth Brick-Trageser of Spicer, James Brick of Lake Henry, and Harold Brick of Roseville; 20 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Marcel; brothers, Eugene and Ralph Brick; sisters, Margie Barnum and Ramona Hylla; and an infant sister.


Lyn Storkamp, 70, White Bear Lake
Lyn C. Storkamp, 70, of White Bear Lake died at his home on Saturday, Dec. 28.

A private service was held with his family on Wednesday, Jan. 1, at his home.

Lyn was a 1961 graduate of Paynesville High School.

Lyn is survived by his wife, Judy; three sons, Scott of New York, Shawn (Becky) of South Minneapolis, and Steven of Dellwood; brother, Lew (Helen) Storkamp of Paynesville; and five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Cyril and Elynor Storkamp.


Nolene Stanger, 98, Paynesville
Marian Enright, 102, of Walnut Creek, Calif., died on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Funeral services were held on Monday, Jan. 20, at Grace United Methodist Church in Paynesville for Nolene H. Stanger, 98, of Paynesville. Reverend Ric Koehn officiated. Burial was in the Paynesville Cemetery.

Nolene was born on Oct. 23, 1915, to Herman and Emma (Schultz) Liestman on their farm five miles east of Paynesville. As a young girl, she developed a love for hunting and fishing and learned to do farm work beside her dad and brothers.

She was confirmed in Ebeneezer Church, where she was a member until joining the E.U.B. Church. She continued her membership when it became Grace United Methodist until the time of her passing.

In 1934, she married Orville Stanger of Blue Earth, where they lived for a short time, before moving back to Paynesville, where they raised two children, Gene and Marge.

Early years found Nolene working for many of the local families doing laundry and cleaning in addition to 22 years at Marshal Produce.

After Orville's passing in 1975, she became a well-known fixture at the desk of the new Paynesville Veterinary Clinic. Her boss, Todd Johnson, his wife, and his children were like family to her, and she remained there for 23 years, until she retired at age 84.

Nolene's great passion was any sport, from town-team baseball to the Minnesota Twins and anything in between. She loved to hang the Homer Hankies in her window and treasured her collection of Twins memorabilia.

She was able to live in her own home until 96 years of age, when she became a resident of the Koronis Manor.

She passed away at the age of 98 years on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014.

Left to remember her are her son, Gene (Karen) Stanger of Hopkins; daughter, Marge Melby of Paynesville; three grandchildren, Scott (Nancy) Stanger of Chaska, Shelli (Brent) Nelson of Eden Prairie, and Kelli (Tim) Meierhoffer of Kimball; six great-grandchildren, Nathan Younkin, Tanner and Breane Meierhoffer, and Rachel, Maddy, and Nick Stanger; three great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Emma; husband, Orville; three brothers, Donald, Vernon, and Dale Liestman; and two sisters, Violet Albrecht and Gladys Hurd.


Elaine Adams, 98, Paynesville
Elaine M. Adams, 98, of Paynesville, and formerly of Willmar, died on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the Koronis Manor in Paynesville.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday.

Elaine Marion Adams was born on Sept. 16, 1915, in Norway, Mich., to Barbara Margaret (Spaniol) and Urban Alexander.

She grew up in that area and moved with her family to Iron Mountain, Mich., in 1925. There, she completed her education and graduated valedictorian from Iron Mountain High School in 1932.

She continued her education at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, graduating cum laude in 1936.

On June 8, 1940, she married Harry Raymond "Ray" Adams. They made their home in Willmar, where Ray was an employee of the Great Northern Railroad. Ray died in 1968 in a railroad accident.

Elaine taught all levels of mathematics for over 50 years, teaching in Kerkhoven, Clara City, and most of her years in Willmar, retiring in 1979.

She earned a master's degree in mathematics from the St. Cloud State University and had taken additional classes towards her doctorate degree.

On Jan. 6, 2001, she married Eldred "Al" Beckman. They spent summers in Minnesota and winters in Florida.

In 2006, they moved to Paynesville. She moved into the Koronis Manor in Paynesville in 2013, where she had lived since. Al passed away in 2008.

She is survived by several cousins; three stepsons, Bruce Beckman of Edgewater, Florida, Robert (Cynthia) Beckman of Knoxville, Tenn., and Donald Beckman of Brooklyn, N.Y.; four step grandchildren; one step great-granddaughter; and other relatives and friends.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; and two sisters, Barbara Ann Alexander and Junetta DerYuen.


Robert Chesness, 81, Grand Rapids
Robert Allan Chesness, 81, of Grand Rapids died on Sunday, Jan. 12, at his home following a brief struggle with cancer.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, Jan. 16, at Community Presbyterian Church.

Bob was born on Feb. 10, 1932, to Carl and Esther (Christianson) Chesness in Willmar.

He graduated from Paynesville High School, and, later, from St. Cloud State Unversity with a bachelor of science degree.

He married Mary Reamer on Aug. 16, 1953, in Paynesville. She preceded him in death in 1978.

He married Gayle Reading on Sept. 17, 1983. Bob and Gayle had recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.

He served as a biologist and wildlife manager for the Minnesota DNR for 34 years.

Bob is survived by his wife, Gayle Chesness; sons, David (Kathleen) and Richard, both of Grand Rapids; daughter, Paula (Rick) Gunderson of Elk River; stepchildren, Myra (Joe) Daley of Grand Rapids, Marcy (Barry) Miles of Falls Church, Va., and Julie (Nick) Renollet of Chisholm; nine grandchilren; brothers, Jim Chesness of Casa Grande, Ariz., and Chuck Chesness of Paynesville; and sister, Kathy Chesness of Paynesville.

Memorials are preferred to the Itasca Hospice Foundation.


Kathleen Lucas, 74, St. Cloud
Kathleen M. Lucas, 74, of St. Cloud died on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at her home.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in St. Cloud. Burial was in Assumption Cemetery in St. Cloud.

Kathy was born on Sept. 21, 1939, to Edwin and Elisabeth (Koran) Lentsch in St. Paul.

She graduated from St. Gabriel's School of Nursing in Little Falls and worked at the St. Cloud VA Hospital as a registered nurse.

She married Bernard Lucas on January 7, 1961, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in St. Paul.

She worked in the InStep program as a para for special needs children for the St. Cloud School District #742 for 24 years.

Kathy is survived by her son, Dan Lucas of Brooklyn Park; daughters, Deb Lucas-Utsch of Paynesville, Bonnie (Jim) Higgins of South Haven, Cherie (Joe) Skaj of St. Cloud, and Marnie Lucas of Rice, seven grandchildren; a great- grandson; and sisters, Bette Boumeester of New Richmond, Wis., and Gail Hanson of Rosemount.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bernard; brother, John Lentsch; and sister, Carol Lentsch.


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