Ella Mae Sylwester
Ella Mae Sylwester, age 82, a resident of Little Falls, MN, died March 29, 1998 at her home in Little Falls.
Funeral services were held April 1 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Little Falls with Rev. Martin Langemo officiating. Burial was held April 2 at Rose Hill Cemetery in Rockwell City, IA.
Ella Mae Sylwester was born May 5, 1915, in Darling Township, Morrison County, MN to the late Edward and Otillia (Hermanson) Fredrickson. She grew up in Darling Township, and attended school there. After her schooling she taught school in District #117 in Green Prairie Township, Morrison County. She was united in marriage to Ottomar Sylwester on August 2, 1936, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Randall, MN, which Ottomar was pastoring at the time. Following their marriage the couple continued pastoring at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Randall. They moved to Warren, MN, then to Eden Valley, MN, later to Red Wing, MN and finally to Rockwell City, IA where again, they pastored at Immanual Lutheran Church until their retirement in 1976. Shortly after the couple retired Ottomar became ill. He died April 11, 1978. Ella Mae continued to live in Rockwell City until 1985 when she moved to Little Falls where she resided until her death. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Little Falls, the Zion Church Circle, the Lioness Group, served in various positions at the Little Falls Senior Center and volunteered at the Lutheran Care Center in Little Falls.
Survivors include her sons, Roger Sylwester and wife Marilyn of Eugene, OR, Lowell Sylwester and wife Marion of East Aurora, NY; daughter, Carmen Robideau and husband Keith of Maple Grove, MN; brothers, Marshall Fredrickson and wife Betty of Tacoma, WA, Sherman Fredrick-son and wife Judy of Duncan, OK; sister, Hildur Gustafson and husband Albert of Little Falls, and six grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents, brother, Lester Fredrickson and sisters, Evelyn Andrews and Ethel Wennerblom.
Margaret Nekich
Margaret Nekich, age 91, a resident of Little Falls, MN, formerly of Ely, MN, died March 28, 1998, at St. Otto’s Care Center in Little Falls.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held April 1 at St. Otto’s Care CenterChapel in Little Falls with Father John Eccleston officiating. Interment was at a later date in the Ely Cemetery in Ely.
Margaret Nekich was born on January 27, 1907, in Croatia, Yugoslavia, to the late Matthew and Clara (Tonkovich) Pintar. At the age of 14, she came to the United States along with her sister to join their parents already living in Barrackville, WV. She lived in Barrackville for three years. She was united in marriage to Bob Nekich on January 27, 1924 in Fairmont, WV, where the couple made their home. In 1926, they couple moved to Gilbert, MN, where they lived for a year. They then moved to Ely where they made their home for the majority of their lives. After Bob’s death on July 12, 1981, Margaret stayed living in Ely until 1992 when she moved to Little Falls and became a resident of St. Otto’s Care Center. Margaret enjoyed crocheting, knitting, sewing and baking. She was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely for 65 years.
Survivors include her daughters, Eleanore Kosmach of Ely and Clara Doucette and husband Leonard of Little Falls; nieces, Mary Yanick of Lorain, OH, and Marge Dorsey of Davis, WV; 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a son, two brothers and two sisters.
Pallbearers were Robert, James and Garrett Doucette, Nathan Kosbau, Nancy Dalquist and Jack Kosmach.
Albert Zimmerman
Albert Frank Zimmerman, age 95, a resident of Little Falls, MN, died March 26, 1998, at St. Otto’s Care Center in Little Falls.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held March 30 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls.
Albert Frank Zimmerman was born July 20, 1902, in Morrison County, MN, to the late Henry and Martha Zimmerman. He grew up in Bellevue Township, Morrison County, and attended country school there. Following his schooling he helped on his family farm. He worked on the Blanchard Dam at the time of its construction. Albert was united in marriage to Sophie B. Kuchinski on October 26, 1927, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Sobieski, MN. He worked as a logger at Camp Ripley and also farmed in Little Falls Township. In 1980 the couple moved to Hackensack, MN, where he worked at the East Bay Resort. In 1995 Albert and Sophie moved back to Little Falls. On May 6, 1997, he became a resident of St. Otto’s Care Center where he resided until his death. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls. Albert enjoyed gardening, deer hunting, fishing, playing cards and visiting with his family and friends about politics.
Survivors include his wife Sophie; sons and daughters, James and wife JoAnn, Joseph, John and Jerome, all of Little Falls; Robert and wife Leona of Eagan, MN; Donald and wife Juanita of Hackensack; Gerald and wife Colleen of Anoka, MN; Shirley Wolhrabe of Plymouth, MN; and, Doris O’Connor of Flushing, MI; sister, Helen Zeyher of Madison, WI; 38 grandchildren, 62 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, William and Max Zimmerman and sisters, Annie Kolech, Alice Forer, Pearl and Celia Goetzer and grandchildren, Thomas and Janet Zimmerman.
Casketbearers were Ted, Steve, Butch and Mark Zimmerman, Pat Olek and Ronnie O’Connor.
Gordon Sunstrom
Gordon Sunstrom, age 78, a resident of Swanville, MN, died from natural causes March 19, 1998, at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls, MN.
Visitation was March 27 at the Brenny Funeral Home in Little Falls. Graveside services were held at Lakeview Cemetery in Grey Eagle, MN with Reverend Art Hoppe officiating.
Gordon Herman Sunstrom was born June 27, 1919, in Grey Eagle, MN, to John and Emma(Marty) Sunstrom. He had former wives Jannie (Emory) Sunstrom whopassed away, and Beatrice Raster, still alive. He was a veteran of World War II. Gordon was a thirty-second degree Mason, and he had various experiences in the field of electrical engineering before establishing a manufacturing firm in Grand Rapids, MN in 1962. He was the founder and owner of Strom Manufacturing Company Incorporated, makers of banjos and guitars. He is in the Minnesota History books of 1969. He had many close relatives and friends. He was of the Catholic faith and attended the Swanville Church.
Survivors include his son, Tyrone Gordon Wilson of Columbia Falls, MT, his daughter Faye Ella Sunstrom Carter of St. Louis, MO, and others. Also grandchildren Brian Lee Multer of Jackson, MO and Janna Gayle Carter of St. Louis and two others.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his former wife Jannie (Emory) Sunstrom.
Joy M. Shoutz
Joy M. Shoutz, age 61, a resident of Cushing, MN, formerly of Dassel, MN, passed away March 24, 1998, at her home in rural Cushing.
Funeral services were held March 28 at the United Methodist Church in Litchfield, MN with Reverend Margery Lisle officiating. Interment was at Ripley Cemetery in Litchfield.
Joy Marie Shoutz was born July 10, 1936, in MeLeod County, MN. She attended and graduated from the Litchfield High School in 1954. Joy was united in marriage to Clayton Shoutz on June 12, 1954, at the First Lutheran Church in rural Cosmos, MN. They lived in rural Litchfield until 1971 whenthey moved to ahome on Lake Ripley. They lived there until 1978 when they moved to a farm they had bought just north of Litchfield in Forest City Township. In 1982 they moved to a home on Lake Washington when they owned and operated a laundromat in Hutchinson, MN, for 10 years called the 7 West Wash-n-Dry. They lived there until retirement in 1996 when they built ahome on Fish Trap Lake in Scandia Valley Township, Morrison County, near Cushing, where they moved one year ago. Joy loved sewing, crafts, painting porcelain dolls, quilting, and garage sales. She enjoyed living by the lake, tending her beautiful flower beds and birdwatching.
Survivors include her husband Clayton of Cushing; one daughter Lorinda (Rick) Pearson of Eden Prairie, MN; one son Cary (Lisa) Shoutz of Little Falls, MN; three grandchildren, Callie and Keegan Shoutz and Mackenzie Pearson.
Mary Ann Smith
Mary Ann Smith, age 56,a resident of rural Motley, MN, died March 26, 1998, at her home.
A Mass for Christian Burial was held on March 30 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Motley, with Fr. Robert Landsberger officiating. Burial followed at the Motley Public Cemetery.
Mary Ann Smith was born on May 4, 1941, southwest of Staples, MN, near Philbrook, to Julia Kasper and the late Bill Kasper. She grew up and attended country school between Staples and Motley. In 1958 she graduated from the Motley High School. For several years she worked in St. Paul for Farmers Union GTA. On May 28, 1966, she married Larry Smith at St. Michael’s Church in Motley. She worked at Bjerga Feed Store in Motley and then at Madden’s Resort.She was a great baker and cook and she loved to fish.
Survivors include her husband; her mother; three brothers, Melvin (Kip) Kasper of Hendrum, MN, Dave (Rox) Kasper of Grand Forks, ND, and Jim (Ronnie) Kasper of Glyndon, MN; four sisters, Delores (Rudy) Kullmann of Cottage Grove, MN, Lorraine Fornshell of Portland, OR, Margie (Kenneth) Perkins of Glyndon, and Tootie Panko of Rolling Meadows, IL; and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, and two brothers-in-law, Darald Fornshell and Jack Panko.
Casketbearers were Duane Epplescheimer, Ervin Bjerga, Tommy Zetah, Morley Thorsett, Shorty Allen and Dick Dvorak.
Earl LaBar
Earl Claude LaBar, age 77, a resident of Randall, MN, died February 15, 1998, at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls, MN.
Funeral services were held February 19 at the Randall Presbyterian Church with Rev. Suzanne Cekalla officiating. Burial followed at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery by Camp Ripley.
Earl was born May 19, 1920, in Grey Eagle, MN, to the late Roy and Emma (Glasco) LaBar. He moved with his parents to North Dakota at an early age, but later returned to Grey Eagle. He was united in marriage to Mary Plasek on May 1, 1941, in Long Prairie, MN. They moved to Nashwauk, MN, where he worked in the mines. He entered the Army during World War II. Following his discharge, he returned to Nashwauk and drove truck in the mines for Cleveland Cliffs Mining Co. for 35 years until his retirement in 1977. At this time the couple moved to Randall. Earl was a member of the Randall American Legion and enjoyed his family, children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed fishing and walking.
Earl is survived by his wife, Mary; three daughters, DeloresWitucki and husband James of Little Falls, Karen Walker and husband LeRoy of Little Falls and Kathy LaBar of Long Prairie; three sons, Ronald LaBar, Gerald LaBar and wife Chery and Galen LaBar and wife Janet, all of Minneapolis, MN; 21 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Gary; six brothers and six sisters.
Joseph Kummet
Joseph G. Kummet, age 85, a resident of Pierz, MN, died February 15, 1998, at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, MN.
Funeral services were held February 17 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz with Rev. Ronald Dockendorf officiating. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Joseph was born April 5, 1912, in Morrison County, MN, the son of the late George and Amelia Kummet. He grew up and attended school in Lastrup, MN. After completing his schooling, Joe worked as a farm hand for the neighbors and in the winter logged. He was united in marriage to Clara J. Paulsen on October 4, 1939, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz. The couple farmed in Platte, Buh and Granite Townships in Morrison County. In 1968, they moved in to Pierz. Joe enjoyed blacksmithing and could make or fix just about anything. He was a great storyteller, loved the outdoors and, most of all, his grandchildren. Joe was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz.
Survivors include his sons, John Kummet and wife Marilyn of Baxter, MN, and George Kummet and wife LyAnn of Pierz; daughters, Maureen Voltin and husband Marv of Eden Prairie, MN, and Mary Kummet-Weiss of Little Falls, MN; sisters, Marguerite Kummet of St. Paul, MN, and Sr. Marie Kummet OSF of Milwaukee, WI, and grandchildren, Deb Casey, Jack, Bill and Amy Kummet, Tania, Kyle, Andria and Brett Voltin and Sarah, Joseph and Vanessa Weiss.
He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brother, Louis Kummet and sisters, Gertrude Kummet and Celia Weimiller.
Pallbearers were Jack and Tony Kummet, Kelley Casey, Kyle Voltin, Joseph Weiss and Tony Pederson.
Marie Goranson
Marie Goranson, age 90, a resident of St. Mary’s Villa in Pierz, MN, died February 11, 1998, at the Villa.
Funeral services were held February 14 at St. Mary’s Villa Chapel in Pierz with Father Ken Brenny officiating. Burial was at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Pierz.
Marie was born December 16, 1907, in St. James, MN, to Carl and Amelia (Fisher) Rastetter. She was united in marriage with Carl Goranson. They resided in South Bend, IN, most of their married life and Marie did cooking and housekeeping in her early years. She had been a resident of Pierz since 1991.
Survivors include brothers, Ben Rastetter of Pierz, Leonard Rastetter of St. Cloud, MN, and Edward Rastetter of Hibbing, MN; sisters, Louise Bertsch of St. Paul, MN, Betty Rastetter of Pierz and Sally Schirmers of Pierz.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carl; a brother, Joseph and two sisters, Hildegard Virnig and Amalia Grundhoefer.
Raymond Sobieck
Raymond Sobieck, age 84, a resident of the Country Manor in Sartell, MN, formerly of Bowlus, MN, died February 12, 1998, at the St. Cloud Hospital from cardiovascular disease.
Mass of Christian Burial was held February 16 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Bowlus with Father Laurn Virnig officiating. Burial was in the parish cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association.
Raymond was born August 31, 1913, in Two Rivers Township to Peter and Catherine (Casey) Sobieck. He married Eva Marie Richard on September 4, 1939. Raymond was employed at the Belgrade Grain Elevator in Bowlus where he became manager in 1948 and later became a part-owner. He served in the CCC camps, was a volunteer fire fighter for 20 years and served as a member of the city council and as mayor of Bowlus. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. His wife Eva Marie preceded him in death on November 13, 1988. In November of 1991 he married Josephine Burgraff and moved to her home in Port Angeles, WA, where he lived until her death on October 8, 1995. He moved back to Minnesota and resided at Country Manor Apartment in Sartell.
Survivors include his sons and daughters, Jean Pfleiderer and significant other Paul Pettinger of Chanhassan, MN, Katherine Sobieck of Los Angeles, CA, Karlene Jendro and husband Rolland of Loretto, MN, Barbara Grossman of Moorhead, MN, Charles Sobieck of Bowlus, Peggy Truman and husband Jim of Bertha, MN, and James Sobieck and wife Ann Morris of Seattle, WA; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Eva Marie; wife, Josephine; sisters, Agnes Kenna and Rose Celona and brothers, Wilfred and James.
Casketbearers were grandchildren: Christine Reed, Keith Sobieck, Ross and Kyle Jendro, Donald and David Pfleiderer.
