November 2025
Complete obituaries can be found in the Paynesville Press each week.
November 2025
Complete obituaries can be found in the Paynesville Press each week.
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Renee Goerger, 85, Watkins
Renee (Baker) Goerger, 85, of Watkins, Minn., passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, after a courageous three-year battle with Stage IV cancer. Renee was born on May 9, 1940, in St. Cloud, Minn., to Elinor and Leo Baker. She married Leo Bauman on Feb. 24, 1962, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in St. Cloud. Together, they raised three children and shared 32 years of marriage until Leo's passing in 1994, including living in Eden Valley and Paynesville. On June 24, 2000, Renee married James "Jim" Goerger. Together they blended their families and shared many adventures, bound by affection, humor, and a favorite saying - they loved each other "a bushel and a peck." Renee and Jim were devoted to one another until his passing in December 2023. Renee found joy in the simple pleasures of life: a good puzzle, a lucky bingo card, a trip to the casino, or a perfectly cooked ribeye steak. She would never turn down a crisp Diet Pepsi. But above all, she cherished her family. Her happiest days were spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren - especially the precious miles and moments shared with her daughter Julie over the last few years. A tireless worker throughout her life, Renee took pride in every job she held and was admired by her co-workers, who often joked that they wished they could have "more than one Renee." Renee is survived by her children Bryan (Melody) Bauman of Raleigh, N.C.; Julie (Chuck) Swenson of Avon, Minn.; and Ben (Angel) Bauman of Fort Morgan, Colo.; her stepson Mark Goerger; her stepdaughter Lisa (Tim) Schutz of Cold Spring, Minn.; her brother Randy (Sue) Baker; eight grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elinor and Leo Baker; her sister, Diane Zapf; her brother, Gary Baker; her first husband, Leo Bauman; her second husband, James "Jim" Goerger; and her stepdaughter, Amy Goerger. Private services with family will be held at a later date. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff at Garden View Assisted Living and Hilltop Nursing Home in Watkins; to Dr. Al Khatib and the wonderful oncology team at the Paynesville Hospital; and to the staff at Paynesville and Willmar hospitals for their exceptional end-of-life care. Your kindness and dedication meant the world to Renee and her family.
Nicholas (Nick) Edwald Keller, 71, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at his beloved hunting land. A longtime resident of Richmond, Minn., Nick was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a friend to many. He leaves behind a legacy built on hard work, generosity, and an enduring love for family and the outdoors. Nick was born on April 27, 1954, in Paynesville, Minn., to Harold and Mary Jane (Roering) Keller, one of 11 children. He grew up in Regal, Minn., attended school in nearby Belgrade, and graduated from Belgrade High School in 1972. On Aug. 24, 1974, Nick married the love of his life, Janet Hemmesch, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Richmond. Together, they built their home in Richmond and were blessed with three daughters - Julie, Carrie, and Melissa. A proud mason and respected craftsman, Nick established Nick Keller Masonry, where his skill and integrity earned him lasting respect throughout the region. He also served his community through 24 years (1979-2003) of dedicated service with the Richmond Fire and Rescue, including time as fire chief and as a member of the Minnesota Fire Chief's Association. Nick found his greatest peace in nature. A lifelong snowmobile enthusiast, he loved nothing more than hitting the trails, spotting eagles overhead, and watching the moonlight shimmer across the woods. Whether snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, or spending time at "the land" with family and friends, Nick was truly at home in the great outdoors. He never met a stranger - every handshake became a friendship, and every story was shared with a smile. "A man, his sled, and miles of snow..." Nick's passion for snowmobiling became a force for good. As the founder and vice president of the Keller Family Community Foundation, he believed that one person on a snowmobile could make a difference. In 2010, inspired by his mother's memory - who passed away from breast cancer at 56 and in celebration of his own 56th birthday - Nick launched the Snowball Cancer Challenge. What began as a record-setting endurance ride soon grew into the Valentine 500, uniting riders from across the country to support families fighting cancer. Through Nick's vision and leadership, the Keller Family Community Foundation has raised over $1 million, supporting six organizations and eight health care systems across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, and Illinois. His belief was simple yet powerful: when we ride together, we help families fight together. To honor Nick's legacy, riders and supporters are invited to join the Valentine 250/500 Snowmobile Ride on Feb. 5, 2026, in Bergland, Mich., and on Feb. 12, 2026, in Manitowish Waters, Wis., continuing the mission that meant so much to him. Nick was also an active member of several community and outdoor organizations, including the Twilight Riders, the Country Snow Cruisers, the White Thunder Riders, the Snowmobile Hall of Fame (St. Germain, Wis.), and the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, where he shared his energy, leadership, and passion for giving back. Nick is survived by his loving wife of over 51 years, Janet; daughters Julie (Jason) Dornbusch of Miltona, Minn.; Carrie Keller of Williamstown, Victoria, Australia; and Melissa (Josh) Ngeno of Jordan, Minn.; and his cherished grandchildren: Zachary (Shelby) Heinen, Olivia Heinen (Michael Saaranen), Alex Heinen, and Avalyn Dornbusch; Sean Burhop, Alexis Burhop Keller, and Nicholas Burhop Keller; Tyler Ngeno and Nicole Ngeno; and his great-grandson, Desmond Heinen. He is also survived by his brothers John (Cathy) of Litchfield, Minn.; Victor (Debbie) of Hawick, Minn.; Ron (Sherry) of Belgrade, Minn.; and Dennis (Connie) and Allen (Shari) of Regal, Minn.; and his sisters Doris (Keith) Sieben of Rockville, Minn.; Alice (David) Hiltner of Regal, Minn.; and Helen Hiltner of Paynesville, Minn. He leaves behind brothers-in-law Thomas (Renae) Hemmesch, George (Joni) Hemmesch, and James (Sheila) Hemmesch, all of Richmond, Minn.; sisters-in-law Margee Keller (Allen Hansen) of Crookston, Minn.; Ann Lucas of Wichita Falls, Texas; Barbara (Matthew) Walz, Linda (Robert) Schmitz, and Beth Hemmesch of Cold Spring, Minn.; Sue (Pete) Dingman of St. Martin, Minn.; and Joyce (James) Backes of Richmond, Minn.; along with many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Nick was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Mary Jane Keller; brother Walter Keller; sister Carol Keller; parents-in-law Harold and Leona Hemmesch; brothers-in-law Linus Hiltner, Michael Hemmesch, Elmer Hemmesch, David Stang, Robert Lucas, Victor Hemmesch, and Jerome Hemmesch; and nephews Jonathan Hiltner, Tom Robertson, and Bradley Hemmesch. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Olde Coliseum (691 Main Street West, Richmond, Minn). Family and friends are welcome to come and go throughout the afternoon to share stories and memories in honor of Nick's life. Nick's family kindly requests no flowers or plants, due to allergies. To celebrate his life and legacy, memorials may be made to the Keller Family Community Foundation at https://donate.snowballcancer.org/sponsor/13/105.html. Though he has gone ahead on the trail, his tracks remain - a life well lived and deeply loved. |