Erna Thill Schugel, 81, New Ulm, died Sunday, April 8, 2001, at Divine Providence Community Home in Sleepy Eye. Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 11, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Ulm, with interment in the Catholic cemetery in New Ulm. Minnesota Valley Funeral Home of New Ulm handled the arrangements.
Erna was born Jan. 9, 1920, in Brighton Township, Nicollet County, to William D. and Marie (Ulrich) Gieseke. She attended and graduated from DMLC High School in New Ulm. On April 16, 1941, she married Sylvester Thill at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Ulm. After marriage, they lived in Courtland. Erna had worked at the Wearwell Garment Factory, Windings, and Tactronics, all of New Ulm. Later in life, she worked as a cook at the Lafayette Good Samaritan Center in Lafayette. On Jan. 11, 1980, she married Harold Schugel at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Ulm. After marriage, they continued to live in Courtland. In 1993, she moved to New Ulm and lived at Sunset Apartments. She moved to Divine Providence Community Home in Sleepy Eye on Feb. 19, 2001. Erna was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Ulm, a former member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Nicollet, and the Senior Citizens in New Ulm. Erna loved flower gardening, watching the Twins baseball games, sewing, quilting, fishing, playing cards and bingo.
Erna is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Rita Kollmann of North Mankato, Ruth and Roger Voges of Courtland, and Betty and Tom Giefer of New Ulm; son and daughter-in-law, Ron and Jean Thill of Courtland; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; sisters, Alma Voges of Courtland, Leorda Marxhausen of Bloomington, Myrtle Fischer of New Ulm, and Marie and husband Allen Leinberger of Beverly Hills, Fla.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Edwin and Leanora Gieseke, Bill and Betty Gieseke, Vernon and Myrtle Gieseke, Jim and Maureen Gieseke, all of New Ulm, and Gerald and Delores Gieseke of Mahnomen; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Gieseke of Henderson, June Gieseke of Fosston, Mildred Gieseke of New Ulm, and Helen Baier of New Ulm. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Sylvester Thill; her second husband, Harold Schugel; an infant son, Robert; and brothers, Lorenz, Marlin and Reinhold Gieseke.
Arnold Alton Meyer, 87, Springfield, died Wednesday, April 4, 2001 at Springfield Medical Center in Springfield. Funeral services were held Monday, April 9, at St. John Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye, with interment in Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Springfield.
Arnold was born Oct. 15, 1913, in Brookville Township, Redwood County on the Meyer farm, the son of John and Adelina (Schultz) Meyer. He grew up and attended St. John Lutheran School in Sleepy Eye, graduating from Sleepy Eye Public High School in 1931. After his schooling, he worked on this fathers farm and started a trucking business, which he operated for many years. He married Mildred Blocker on Jan. 5, 1940, at St. John Lutheran Church in Springfield. The couple made their home on the Meyer home farm in Brookville Township, where they lived and farmed for many years. Arnold also did custom corn shelling for over 50 years. He retired from farming at the age of 65, and sold the farm to his oldest son. Arnold and Mildred celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1990. Arnold enjoyed mowing, but his favorite pastime was rebuilding tractor and truck motors. Arnold was a long time member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye.
Arnold is survived by his children, Carol Kruschke of Belle Plaine, Steven and wife Mickey Meyer of Springfield, and David and wife Carol Meyer of Granite Falls; eight grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; sister, Arlene Fruehling of Tulsa, Okla.; and step-brother, Gilbert Utecht of Sleepy Eye. He is preceded in death by his sister in infancy in 1908, sister, Alice in 1927; mother, Adelina in 1930; father, John in 1957; step-mother, Ernestina Meyer in 1971; step-sister, Melinda Wersal; brother-in-law, Siegfried Fruehling; and wife, Mildred in 1999.
Casket bearers were: Jon Meyer, Jill Meyer, Brett Kruschke, Jeremy Meyer, Jodi Meyer and Brian Kruschke.
Ann Rose Deibele, 93, of Sleepy Eye, died Thursday, April 5, 2001, at the Sleepy Eye Care Center in Sleepy Eye. Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 10, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, with interment in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements were handled by Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye.
Ann Rose was born Nov. 27, 1907, in New Ulm, the daughter of Adolph and Cecilia (Glaser) Witt. Ann lived her entire life in Sleepy Eye. She married John P. Windschitl on Nov. 26, 1926, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. He preceded her in death in 1950. Ann married Joseph Deibele on Nov. 26, 1951, at Sr. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. He preceded her in death in 1980. Ann moved to the Countryside Retirement Community in 1999, and in August of this year, she moved to the Sleepy Eye Care Center. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, the Christian Mothers, VFW Auxiliary, Sleepy Eye Care Center Auxiliary and Divine Providence Home Auxiliary. Ann loved to crochet and knit. She really enjoyed coffee time with her family and friends and also watching TV, especially "The Price is Right," which was a must in her life.
Ann is survived by her children, Donna Hale of Sleepy Eye, and Pat and wife Judy Windschitl of Wentworth, S.D.; grandchildren, Linda Hale of Vancouver, Wash., Sarah Kelly of Corvallis, Ore., Jenny Archibeque of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Heidi Windschitl of Wentworth, S.D.; great-grandchildren, Emily Hansen and Xavier Archibeque; step-children, Virgil and Elaine Deibele of Sleepy Eye, Linus and Marilyn Deibele of Sleepy Eye, Virginia Bruggeman of Sleepy Eye, and Patsey Hurrle of Woodbury; sisters, Eleanor and husband Walter Kasten of St. Peter, and Vera Shafer of St. Paul; brothers, Milton and wife Bea Witt of St. Paul, and Gilbert and wife Norma Witt of Sleepy Eye; and sister-in-law, Adeline Witt of Sleepy Eye. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband John Windschitl, and Joseph Deibele; sisters, Lola, Kate, Angeline, Delores, Della, Elizabeth, and Meta; brothers, Walter and Kenneth Witt; and son-in-law, Charles Hale.
Theodore "Ted" J. Evers, 76, Bingham Lake, died Thursday, April 5, 2001, at Windom Area Hospital in Windom. Funeral services were held Monday, April 9, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Windom, with interment in the church cemetery. Arrangements were handled by Anderson-Schmidt Funeral Home in Windom.
Ted was born March 24, 1925, to the late Claus Sr. and Marie (Petersen) Evers in Comfrey. He received his education in the country schools in the Sleepy Eye area and was baptized and confirmed into the Catholic faith before his marriage. For several years, Ted worked in the Sleepy Eye area. He was united in marriage on Aug. 4, 1943 to Madeline C. Neidecker at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. After marriage, Ted worked for the Chicago-Northwestern Railroad as an engine watchman until they moved to Leavenworth Township, Brown County, where they farmed for many years until moving to the Windom-Mt. Lake area in 1975, where Ted built homes. For several years, Ted continued to build homes until retiring to Bingham Lake. After retiring, Ted continued to live in Bingham Lake until he was diagnosed with terminal cancer on Jan. 17, 2001. After his diagnosis, Ted became a resident of the Mt. Lake Good Samaritan Village in Mt. Lake, until he was hospitalized on April 2, at the Windom Area Hospital. Ted was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Windom, and the Catholic Order of Foresters. He enjoyed fishing, feeding wild birds, gardening, and most of all he enjoyed and loved his friends and family.
Ted's grateful family includes his wife, Madeline Evers of Bingham Lake; children, Pat and husband Alan Schroeder of Hobbs, New Mexico, Colleen and husband Bruce Pfaff of New Ulm, Nancy and husband Jim Mann of Redwood Falls, Mike and wife Cindy Evers of Butterfield, Deb Beam and Mark of Windom, and Joel Evers of Bingham Lake; 17 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Arlene Ebilsisor of Sleepy Eye, Donna Mae and husband Edwin Iverson of Buhl, Idaho, Margaret Iverson of Lafayette, Mary Ann and husband Norbert Ranweiler of St. George, Claus Evers, Jr. of Sleepy Eye, and Herman Evers of St. Paul; special pet, Lucy; and several other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Jennie Sellner, Dorothy Rockvam and Inez Ludewig; brothers, Joe, Fred, and Hans Evers; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Albert and Elizabeth Neidecker; and son-in-law, Marlin Beam.
Ivan L. Brown, 78, of Sanborn, died Friday, April 6, 2001, at Springfield Medical Center in Springfield. Funeral services were held Monday, April 19, at Zion Lutheran Church in Sanborn, with interment in Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Sanborn. Sturm Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Ivan was born July 16, 1922 in Rochester, the son of John and Marie (Youngerberg) Brown. He was a life long resident of Sanborn. Ivan married Joann Yackel on March 7, 1943, on the family farm near Sanborn. The couple farmed near Sanborn for many years. Ivan was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. He enjoyed farming, hunting, fishing, playing cards and old time music. He especially enjoyed his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and his dog, Murphy.
Ivan is survived by his wife, Joann Brown of Sanborn; children, Phyllis and husband Lenny of Kingman, Ariz., Sydney and wife Millie of Sanborn, and Julie and husband Brian Cook of Sleepy Eye; grandchildren, Greg Wersal, Nina Sanford, Tina Kastner, Matt Brown, Sara Brown, Caleb Brown, Becky Brown, B.J. Cook and Drew Cook; nine great-grandchildren; and sister, Elsie Stocker of Windsor, Colo. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Evan; brother-in-law, Fred Stocker; sister-in-law, Jean Pankonin; and nephew, Ricky Brown.
Casket bearers were B.J. Cook, Drew Cook, Matt Brown, Eugene Brown, Caleb Brown, Alan Brown, Kevin Brown, and Jim Stocker. Honorary casket bearers were Albert Pabst, Jake Schnobrich, Dorvin Mauer and Eddie Spoo.
Elizabeth (Weisz) Cohen, 94, of St. Louis Park and formerly of Sleepy Eye, died Saturday, April 7, 2001. Services were April 10 at Hodroff & Sons Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Children's Hospital, Minneapolis.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Samuel Cohen, who came to the United States as a teenager from Lithuania.
In her teens Elizabeth was a concert pianist and made her grand debut on the major concert circuit of all the major cities of Europe. After marrying Sam, Elizabeth and Sam bought the Isaac's Junk Yard in Sleepy Eye and moved from Minneapolis to Sleepy Eye where Elizabeth gave piano lessons. After Sam's death in the 1960s, Elizabeth moved to St. Louis Park and continued to give piano lessons for the next 45 years.
She is survived by her brother, Martin and Lillian Weisz; nieces, Susan and Jim Vivent, Harriet and Bob Shadur; nephews, Larry and Bliss Rovelsky, Eddie Rovelsky; many loving great nieces and nephews.
Kenneth William Hillesheim, 77, of Sleepy Eye, died Thursday, April 12, 2001, at his home. Funeral services were held Monday, April 16, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, with interment in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Sleepy Eye Honor Guard performed military rites in his honor.
Kenneth was born Nov. 18, 1923, in Stark Township, Brown County, to Meinrad and Bertha (Wiltscheck) Hillesheim, Sr. He grew up on the family farm and attended Qualtrap School House district 25 and attended St. Mary's School in Sleepy Eye. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1945 and served two years in Kiyota, Japan as an MP and cook after the bombing of Hiroshima. Kenneth married Gertrude Fischer on Nov. 18, 1947, at the Church of the Japanese Martyrs in Leavenworth. The couple resided in the Leavenworth area for several years and then moved to Sleepy Eye in 1960. Kenneth started working as a carpenter and masonry worker in 1947 for his brother Clarence, and later in 1965, for Edwin Weiss and also for Pietrus Foods in 1973, until his retirement. He was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, Knights of Columbus and the Veterans of Foreign War. Kenneth enjoyed gardening, woodworking, riding his bike, hunting, a love of polka music and being with his family and friends.
Kenneth is survived by his wife, Gertrude Hillesheim of Sleepy Eye; children and their spouses, Barbara and Timothy Kleiter of St. Paul, Carol Hillesheim of Burnsville, Michael and Marian Hillesheim of Maple Grove, Patrick of Sleepy Eye, Marilyn and Michael Schauman of Sleepy Eye, Joanna and Jeff Schmid of Sleepy Eye, Kenwyn and Rich Evers of Olivia, Maggie and Jim Schroepfer of Sleepy Eye, and Robert and Dana Hillesheim of Buffalo Lake; 15 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters and their spouses, Leona Braulick of Searles, Marion and Art Sellner of Sleepy Eye, Sylvester and Mary Hillesheim of Springfield, and Meinrad Hillesheim of Sleepy Eye; sisters-in-law, Sophie Kral of Sleepy Eye, and Irene Hillesheim of Sleepy Eye; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Hedwig Guggisberg, Martha Neyers, and Rosella Ludewig; brothers, Charles Hillesheim, Clarence Hillesheim, Arnold Hillesheim and Raymond Hillesheim.
Casket bearers were Tom Schmid, Laura Schmid, Angela Evers, Jacob Schauman, Aaron Schauman and Scott Hillesheim.
Charles F. O'Rourke, 64, of Ada, Mich., died Monday, April 16, 2001, at his home. Funeral services were held Thursday, April 19, at St. Robert of Newminster Church in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Charles was born May 25, 1936, in Walnut Creek Township, Faribault County, to Charles and Louise (Stencel) O'Rourke.
Charles is survived by his wife of 47 years, Karen (Fitzsimmons) O'Rourke of Ada; six children; 23 grandchildren; brothers, Dennis and wife Margo O'Rourke of Mesa, Ariz., and Dean and wife Charlene O'Rourke of Vallejo, Calif.; sisters, Patricia and husband Stanley Seifert of Sleepy Eye, Mary Kanelos of Sinking Springs, Pa., Carmel Bennett of St. Clair, Beatrice and husband Ed Nevis of Taylorsville, Calif., and Joette Juarez of Salinas, Calif. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles P. O'Rourke in 1980.
Melvin Stiehm, 78, of Lodi, Calif., formerly of the New Ulm and Gibbon areas, died Saturday, April 14, 2001, at a convalescent hospital in Lodi, Calif. Funeral services were held Thursday, April 19, at Gierhart-Wells and Donahue Funeral Home in Lodi. Graveside services were held Monday, April 23, 2001, at New Ulm Cemetery, New Ulm. Firle Funeral Home of New Ulm handled the local arrangements.
Melvin Paul Stiehm, son of Ferdinand and Hulda (Possin) Stiehm, was born Jan. 10, 1923, in Gibbon. He attended school in Gibbon, and later entered the Merchant Marines. He worked for a railroad in several western states, and also worked for the railroad in Australia for six years. Melvin moved to California in 1970, settling in Lodi in 1986.
Survivors include his brother, LeRoy D. Stiehm of Sleepy Eye; sister, Lorraine Schwartz of Franklin; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by six sisters and four brothers.
Stella Pladsen, 87, of Hanska, died Friday, April 20, 2001, at Luther Memorial Home in Madelia. Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 24, at Lake Hanska Lutheran Church, rural Hanska, with interment in the church cemetery. Firle Funeral Home of Hanska handled the arrangements.
Stella Josephine Nundahl, the daughter of Siver and Julia (Grove) Nundahl, was born April 2, 1914, in Lake Hanska Township, Brown County. She grew up on the family farm and attended Hanska school. Stella was united in marriage to Harry Pladsen on Sept. 28, 1934, at Lake Hanska Lutheran Church. Together, they farmed in Lake Hanska Township until retiring and moving into Hanska in 1976. Following the death of her husband in 1989, Stella continued to make her home in Hanska until moving to Luther Memorial Home in Madelia in December of 2000. She was a lifelong member of the Lake Hanska Lutheran Church, and active in various church organizations, including Ladies Aid.
Stella is survived by her daughter, Elaine and husband Ed Vetch of Two Harbors; son, Charles and wife Mary Pladsen of New Ulm; brother, Lester Nundahl of Madelia; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and three nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Harry Pladsen; son Millard Pladsen; granddaughter, Carrie Pladsen; brother, Melvin Nundahl; and sister, Mabel Tande.
Casket bearers were Clayton and Donald Olson, Grant, Mark and Orris Sletta, and James Wellmann, Sr.
