March 2015 Death Notices - Paynesville Press, Paynesville, Minnesota
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Death Notices
Complete obituaries can be found in the Paynesville Press each week.

March 2015


Johnson Funeral Home


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Obituary Archives

Verna Thomsen, 87, Paynesville
Verna Thomsen, 87, of Paynesville, died on Wednesday, March 25, at the Koronis Manor in Paynesville.

Her funeral service was held on Monday, March 30, at Paynesville Lutheran Church. Burial was in Burr Oak Cemetery in rural Grove City.

Verna Emma Thomsen was born on April 12, 1927, to Edward and Minnie (Peterson) Olson in Union Grove Township.

She grew up on her family farm, attended District #36 Country School, and graduated from Grove City High School in 1945.

On July 30, 1946, Verna married LeRoy Thomsen at the home of her parents. This union was blessed with three sons and 68 years of marriage.

LeRoy and Verna made their home on a farm in Union Grove Township. Verna was the quintessential homemaker, and her family was her job. She raised three sons, cooked, cleaned, gardened, and helped keep the farm running.

In 2002, Verna and LeRoy moved to Paynesville, where they lived until her death.

Verna is survived by her husband, LeRoy; sons, David (Juliann) of Eden Prairie, Douglas (Connie) of St. Cloud, and Terry (Debra) of Sunburg; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Verna was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Adolph Olson, Idella Kadelbach, Janet Wait, and Marlene Olson.


Herbert Schmitz, 86, St. Paul
Herbert J. Schmitz, 86, of St. Paul died peacefully on Saturday, March 21.

Mass of Christian burial was held at Holy Childhood Catholic Church in St. Paul. Burial was in Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Herbert was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was a Korean War POW; was retired from the Minnesota Department of Revenue; and was member of the Knights of Columbus and American Legion.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Florence; children, Paul (Lucy), Stephen, Douglas (Jennifer), Richard (Kathrine), and Suzanne Schmitz; grandchildren, Emily (Nate) Anderson, Heather, Allie, Jackie, Victoria, Andrew, Alex, Nicky, and Rosie; two great-grandchildren; sister, Francis; and brothers, Henry, Martin, Matt, Herman, Nick, and Robert; and many loving nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Mathilda; brothers, Paul and Leonard; and sister, Catherine.

Memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer's Association.


Daniel Olson, 76, Paynesville
Daniel J. Olson, 76, of Paynesville died on Sunday, March 15, following a battle with cancer. A celebration of his life was held on Saturday, March 21, at Crystal Hills Assembly.

Daniel Jon Olson was born on March 12, 1939, in rural Paynesville. He was the middle child of three sons born to Bennie and Lydia (Schaumann) Olson.

He grew up on farms in rural Paynesville. He attended Paynesville High School, where he was active in FFA, graduating in 1957.

In November 1958, he entered the U.S. Army. He served at various posts, all stateside, and was honorably discharged in November 1960.

While he was in the army, he met Juanita Seger when he began attending the church to which she belonged.

Following his discharge, he returned to Minnesota for a short time. He then returned to Maryland where he had met Juanita. They were married on March 23, 1962, in Laurel, Md.

He worked as a welder, custom building ornamental railing for large homes and apartment complexes. His skill as a welder later proved to be a real asset in repairs, etc., throughout his farming career.

By the spring of 1964, they had returned to Minnesota. They bought a farm two miles from where Dan grew up and began dairy farming. The couple was blessed with seven children and 52 years of marriage.

Dan is survived by his wife, Juanita; children, Jon, Brent (Shelly), Denise, Kenneth (Dena), and Danita, all of Paynesville; a daughter-in-law; and brother, Philip of Paynesville.

He was preceded in death by his sons, David (9/24/82) and Steven (9/21/12); parents; and brother, Kenneth.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.


Berniece Swyter, 96, Paynesville
Berniece E. Swyter, 96, of Paynesville died on Monday, March 23.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, at Grace United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Paynesville Cemetery.

A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.

Berniece was born on May 25, 1918, to Herbert R. and Minnie G. (Peterson) Stevenson in Brandt, S.D. She was baptized on Dec. 4, 1922, in Revillo, S.D.

She married George Swyter on May 6, 1939, in Garner Iowa.

Berniece and George farmed in Britt, Iowa. They co-owned a furniture and carpet store in Pine City, Minn. Berniece and George also operated a golf course and campground on Clearwater Lake in Annandale, Minn.

They later built a home on Clearwater Lake, which they enjoyed until she moved to Paynesville in 1986.

Berniece is survived by her daughter-in-law, Carolyn Swyter of Paynesville; a grand-daughter; a great-grandson; brother, Robert of Arizona; sister, Ruth Smeby of Mason City, Iowa; two sisters-in-law; a brother-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; son, Dennis; and brothers and sisters, Hazel, Vera, Harlan, Gladys Delane, Mary Jean, Arnold, and Kenneth. Memorials are preferred.


Imogene Green, 92, Paynesville
Imogene "Gene" Green, 92, of Paynesville died on Tuesday, March 17, at Hilltop Care Center in Watkins.

Private services were held. Burial was in the St. Louis Parish Cemetery.

Gene and her twin sister were born on July 21, 1922, to Thomas and Viola (Yowell) Wright in Quannah, Texas. At the age of 15, her family moved to Portales, N.M., after the death of her mother.

She married Warren Green on May 23, 1941. Throughout her life, she lived in many places, with the majority of her life spent in Texas.

She moved to Paynesville in 1999 to be closer to her daughter and family.

She is survived by her daughter, Irma (James) Kascht of Paynesville; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two great-great-granddaughters; sister, Daffia Bush of Portales, N.M.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a granddaughter; a great-granddaughter; and ten siblings, Estelle Clower, Lucille Barker, Kermit Wright, Curtis Wright, Lois Wright, Dalhia Wright, Laverne Wright, Gerald Wright, Clarene Nelson (twin sister), and Alton Wright.


Lorraine Olmscheid, 88, Lake Henry
Lorraine A. Olmscheid, 88, of Lake Henry. died on Sunday, March 1, at the Koronis Manor in Paynesville.

Mass of Christian burial was held on Thursday, March 5, at St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Lake Henry. Burial was in St. Margaret's Parish Cemetery.

Lorraine was born on Nov. 20, 1926, to Ben and Mary (Loecken) Heinen in Lake Henry.

She married Jerome A. Olmscheid on Sept. 23, 1947, at St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Lake Henry.

They farmed in Lake Henry on her home farm until 1982. After retirement, they moved to the town of Lake Henry, where she served the church as Sacristan for many years.

Lorraine is survived by her children, Ron (Bernice) of Lake Henry, Diane (Robert) Pelzer of Lake Henry, Dan (Lynn) of Paynesville, Gary (Pat) of Lake Henry, Dennis of Paynesville, Randy (Ruth) of St. Martin, Sandy (Roy) Lensing of Belgrade, Mary (Glenn) Miller of Nisswa, and Julie (Joe) Prince of Buffalo; 27 grandchildren; 31 great- grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; a sister-in-law; and a brother-in-law.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jerome (2012); a great-granddaughter; brothers and sisters, Lillian Schmitz, Innocent Heinen, Viola Olmscheid, Cyrilla Heinen, and Jeanette Heinen; and an infant brother.


Ember Schmitz, 35, Paynesville
Ember E. (Cherne) Schmitz, 35, of Paynesville died on Saturday, March 7, at the Methodist Hospital in Rochester.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, at the church and will continue for one hour prior to the service on Thursday morning.

Ember Edna "Missy" Schmitz was born on Sept. 12, 1979, to James and Gail (Mader) Cherne in Albany. She spent her childhood helping on the family farm near Freeport.

She graduated from Upsala High School and from St. Cloud Technical College as an electrician.

She worked at Fingerhut, Cold Spring Granite, and Becker Power Plant.

On July 28, 2007, Ember married Trever J. Schmitz. To this union, one son, Cameron, was born. They made their home in Paynesville and were able to share in seven years of marriage.

Ember is survived by her husband, Trever; son and the joy of her life, Cameron (age five); parents, James and Gail Cherne; sister, Vonda Cherne; brothers, Russell Cherne, Darin Cherne, and Byron Cherne; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Flip and Rose Schmitz.

Ember was preceded in death by her grandparents, Cyril and Violet Mader and Anthony Sr. and Edna Cherne.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.


Helen Mueller, 87, Paynesville
Helen Appolonia Mueller, 87, of Paynesville died on Sunday, March 8, at the Koronis Manor in Paynesville.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 11, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville. Burial will be in the St. Anthony's Cemetery in Regal at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

A visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, at St. Louis Catholic Church and will continue for one hour prior to the services at the church on Wednesday.

Helen was born on June 10, 1927, to William and Eleanore (Braun) Schoenberg in Spring Hill Township.

She grew up in Spring Hill Township, where she attended country school, and later attended St. Francis High School in Little Falls, where she graduated in 1945.

She went on to attend the teachers' college at St. Cloud State University. Helen then taught in the Brandon and Alexandria, Minn., areas for a few years.

She married Robert Mueller on Aug. 20, 1951, at the Catholic Church of St. Michael in Spring Hill. Their union lasted until RobertŐs death in 1993.

They farmed in Lake Henry Township on the family farm until their retirement in 1982. They then moved into Regal, where she lived until 2011, when she moved into Paynesville. She became a resident of the Koronis Manor in 2013.

Helen is survived by six sons, Tom (Linda) of Gilman, Richard (Katie) of Paynesville, Herb (Nancy) of New London, Andy (Kelly) of Lake Henry, Charles (Edie) of Rushford, and Michael (Lisa) of New London; three daughters, Louise (Kurt) Fasen of Monticello, Minn., Angela (Rick) Kraus of Clear Lake, and Lori (John) Seehafer of Burnsville; 37 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; brothers, Fr. Oscar Schoenberg of Onamia, Br. Walter Schoenberg of Dubuque, Iowa, and Br. Leo Schoenberg of Onamia; brothers- and sisters-in-law; and other relatives and many friends.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband; two infant daughters; parents; brothers, Fr. Martin Schoenberg and Victor Schoenberg; two infant brothers, John and Lawrence Schoenberg; and sisters, Sr. Lucy Schoenberg, Mary Jane Schneider, and Flora Eull.


Audrey McCoy, 65, Long Prairie
Audrey A. McCoy, 65, of rural Long Prairie died at her home on Saturday, March 7, after vigorously fighting cancer for nearly eight years.

A Requiem Mass of Christian burial will be held Thursday, March 12, at 10:30 a.m., at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery.

A visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre.

Audrey was born on January 27, 1950, to Benedict and Irene (Vogt) Mehr in Paynesville.

She graduated from the Paynesville High School with honors.

After graduation, she worked as a receptionist at Vision Ease Lens Company until 1970, when she married W. Joe McCoy, with whom she raised seven children.

Audrey was a dedicated home-school teacher and enjoyed reading, writing letters, working crossword puzzles, canning, and caring for a large garden and yard.

Audrey is survived by her husband, W. Joe McCoy of Long Prairie; children, James (Ann Marie) McCoy of Sartell, Cary Ann (Michael) Carey of Kohler, Wis., Carmen (Bernard) Hete of Kittanning, Pa., Genevieve (John) Balister of Colgate, Wis., Bill (Nicole) McCoy of Faribault, Mary Catherine McCoy of Long Prairie, and Joseph McCoy of Long Prairie; 27 grandchildren; and brother, Roger Mehr of St. Martin.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Benedict and Irene Mehr.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.


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