Melvin L. Castner, Jr.
Funeral services for Melvin L. Castner, 84, Hinckley, formerly of Anoka, took place Dec. 13 at United Church of Christ, Sandstone. Rev. Sharon Osborn officiated.
Castner died Dec. 10 at Pine County Medical Center. He was born Nov. 27, 1915 in Minneapolis to Melvin Castner, Sr. and Mertyl Ann Bean. He worked for 30 years at Pillsbury Mills, retiring in 1975.
He is survived by his daughter, Jean (Clarence) Christensen, of Ramsey; sons, Charlie (Cheryl) Castner; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother, Frank (Marge) Castner of Minneapolis; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Blanche; and sister, Wanda.
Pallbearers were Steve Sell, Frank Loken, Wayne Oak, Don Faulkner, Bruce Wahlberg, and Mike Hruby.
Interment
was at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Friesland. Arrangements were by Hansen’s North Pine Funeral Home, Sandstone.
Sharon M. Davis
Funeral services for Sharon M. Davis, 55, Mora, took place Dec. 14 at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church. Rev. Tessa Moon-Leiseth officiated.
Davis died Dec. 10 in Coon Rapids. She was born Aug. 8, 1943 in Braham.
She is survived by her husband, Jim; sons, Ed; daughters, Kristin, Marlene, Amy and husband Tim; grandchildren, Allen, Shelby, T.J., Nathaniel, Lianne; and other relatives and friends.
Interment
was private. Arrangements were by Washburn-McReavy Seman Chapel, Coon Rapids.
Ronald E. Greenlun
Funeral services for Ronald Everette Greenlun, 77, Zimmerman, took place Dec. 13 at Dare’s Funeral Home, Elk River. Rev. Dave Bohmert officiated.
Greenlun died Dec. 8 in Mesa, Ariz. He was born July 21, 1922 in what is now Coon Rapids to Edward Greenlun and Martha Jane Edwards. He was a grocer in Coon Rapids and Zimmerman. He served in World War II and was a member of the Coon Rapids American Legion.
He is survived by his sons, Jack, Dave, Gerald, Paul and Doug; daughter, Mary Corbin; 18 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Jane; brothers; and parents.
Pallbearers were James, Jeffry, Michael, Eric, Mark, Luke and Matt Greenlun, and Jason Albert.
Interment
was at Bellwood Cemetery, Zimmerman. Arrangements were by Dare’s Funeral Home.
Vincent A. Hilgert, Sr.
Funeral services for Vincent A. Hilgert, Sr., 78, Brooklyn Park, took place Dec. 10 at Gearhart Funeral Home, Anoka Chapel. Rev. Jerry O’Neill officiated.
Hilgert died Dec. 7. He was born in Augusta, Wis., to Joseph and Caroline Hilgert. He was an engineer at Control Data.
He is survived by his sons and daughter-in-law, Vincent and Bonnie, Michael and friend JoDee; grandchildren, Scott, Jane and Darin; and special friend, Joyce Puff.
Interment
was at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Arrangements were by Gearhart Funeral Home, Anoka Chapel.
Michael J. Nicholas
Funeral services for Michael John Nicholas, one day, Elk River, took place Dec. 13 at First Baptist Church of Anoka. Revs. Abe Cardosa and Jim Nicholas officiated.
He was born Dec. 8 at Fairview-Riverside Hospital in Minneapolis and died Dec. 9 at the hospital.
He is survived by his mother, Julie; grandparents, Dave and Norma Anderson; great-grandmother, Hazel Witt, all of Michigan; uncles and aunts, Jim and Michele Nicholas of Ramsey, Doug and Jeri Derks of Michigan; and cousins, Mark, Tiffany, Rochelle, Andrea, Brandon and Matthew.
Interment
was private. Arrangements were by Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Home, Anoka.
Anna Peterson
Funeral services for Anna Peterson, 91, Coon Rapids, took place Dec. 13 at First Baptist Church of Coon Rapids. Rev. David Johnston officiated.
Peterson died in Anoka. She was born Dec. 20, 1907 to Erick Edlund and Martha Lidstrom. She was a retired cook at Lino Lakes Treatment Center.
She is survived by her sisters, Ellen Westlund, Florence Swanson, and Grace Larson (Sydney); 14 nieces; and nine nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilfred.
Pallbearers were Dale and Brody Edlund, Virgil and Donald Westlund, and Eldon and Gerald Larson.
Interment
was at Stanchfield Baptist Cemetery. Arrangements were by Gearhart Funeral Home, Coon Rapids Chapel.
Orin J. Randall
Orin Randall, 67, Daytona Beach, Fla., formerly of Coon Rapids, died Dec. 16.
He was born Nov. 29, 1931 in Onalaska, Wis., served with the Navy Seabees during the Korean War and was a truck driver for 24 years with P.I.E. He was a member of the Coon Rapids American Legion and Anoka County Voiture 40&8.
He is survive by his wife, Mary; daughters, Jan Randall (Billy) Gartrell, of Holly Hills, and Deborah Randall of Milwaukee, Wis.; and grandchildren, Jamie Hoffman, Tracee Anderson, Cody Gartrell and Dylan Gartrell.
He was preceded in death by his son, David; brother, Richard; and his parents.
Charles F. Tornell
Funeral services for Charles F. Tornell, 56, Coon Rapids, took place Dec. 15 at Epiphany Catholic Church, Coon Rapids. Rev. Thomas Wilson officiated.
Tornell died Dec. 11 in Minneapolis. He was born July 20, 1943 and owned and operated Tornell Mortgage Company.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; children, Jason G., Preston H. (Kara), Heather E., Evan C., Parker C.; grandchildren, Elizabeth J., Abigail H.; mother, Linda Dorothy;. brother, Brian; and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Charles B. Tornell.
Pallbearers were Jason, Preston, Evan, Parker and Brian Tornell, and Dave Berg.
Interment
was at Epiphany Cemetery, Coon Rapids. Arrangements were by Washburn-McReavy Seman Chapel, Coon Rapids.
Annette R. Brown
Funeral services for Annette M. Brown, 58, Coon Rapids, took place Dec. 6 at Epiphany Catholic Church, Coon Rapids. Rev. Bernard A. Reiser officiated.
Brown died Dec. 3 in Coon Rapids. She was born May 20, 1941 in Hennepin County.
She is survived by her husband, Tom; children, Tom (Diana), Bob (Patty), Linda, Joe (Nikki), Bill (Christy); 11 grandchildren; sisters and brothers-in-law; nieces and nephews; and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Irma and Hans Anderson; sister, Dorothy; and grandson, Steven.
Honorary pallbearers were her children, Thomas, Robert, Joseph and William Brown, and Linda Given.
Interment
was private. Arrangements were by Washburn-McReavy Seman Chapel, Coon Rapids.
Mary L. Dehn
Funeral services for Mary L. Dehn, 73, Anoka, took place Nov. 27 at Anoka Wesleyan Church. Rev. Albert Fookes officiated.
Dehn died Nov. 20 in Anoka. She was born Dec. 28, 1925 in Browns Valley. She was a former employee of Kottke’s Bus Service, Coop’s Locksmith, and the StarTribune.
She is survived by her children, Jim Pavin of Anoka, George and Virgil Pavin of Minneapolis, Cherryl Evans of Mounds View, Carol Broberg of Coon Rapids, Lynette Pavin of Anoka, Shelly (Gary) Amus of East St. Paul, and Sheila Dehn; stepchildren, Gail (Ken) Roush of Coon Rapids, Bruce Dehn of Yankton, S.D., Denise Dehn of Roseville; sisters-in-law, Jane Burnett of Anoka, Barb (Lloyd) Cropper of Coon Rapids; 17 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; special family friend and caregiver, Sue Rothanburg; and other relatives and friends.
Interment
was private. Arrangements were by Washburn-McReavy Seman Chapel, Coon Rapids.
Tamara H. Hagberg
Funeral services for Tamara J. Hagberg, 35, Blaine, took place Dec. 7 at Abundant Life Community Assembly of God Church, Blaine. Rev. Jarry Cole officiated.
Hagberg died Dec. 3 in Coon Rapids. She was born May 14, 1964 in Tacoma, Wash., and was a human services technician at Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center.
She is survived by her son, Joshua Hagberg; grandson, Austin Johnson; parents, Robert and Jacqueline Hagberg; lifetime partner, Randy Fenno; brothers, Tim (Tanya) Hagberg, Troy Hagberg; a niece and nephew; and other relatives and friends.
Pallbearers were Joshua, Tim, and Troy Hagberg, Randy Fenno, Tom Smith, and Jay Torkelson.
Interment
was at Morningside Memorial Gardens, Coon Rapids. Arrangements were by Washburn-McReavy Seman Chapel, Coon Rapids.
Lois V. Haggberg
Funeral services for Lois Virginia Haggberg, 72, Coon Rapids, took place Dec. 8 at Faith Lutheran Church, Coon Rapids. Rev. James Donald officiated.
Haggberg died Dec. 4 in Coon Rapids. She was born March 11, 1927 to Alfred Martelle and Esther Gullickson.
She is survived by her husband, Merlyn R. Haggberg; daughters and son-in-law, Sandra and John Scully, Sheila Parr, Diana Nybeck; grandchildren, Joshua, Jeb. Raki, James and Simone; great-grandchildren, J.D. and Cayla; and sister, Bernadine Martelle.
She was preceded in death by infant son, Mark.
Pallbearers were Doug Bjurback, Jeb Nybeck, James Parr, and John, Raki and Joshua Griss.
Interment
was at Faith Lutheran Cemetery, Isle. Arrangements were by Gearhart Funeral Chapel, Coon Rapids.
Irma F. Irwin
Funeral services for Irma Frances Irwin, 75, Isanti, formerly of rural Anoka, St. Francis and Coon Rapids, took place Dec. 6 at Spencer Brook United Methodist Church. Rev. Victoria Ashley officiated.
Irwin died at home Dec. 3 after a lengthy illness. She was born May 18, 1924 in rural Anoka to John and Leola Walburn. She graduated form St. Francis High School, and lived with her family in Coon Rapids, where she was a school district cook, until moving to a farmstead in Isanti County in 1961.
She is survived by her husband, Kermit, of Isanti; daughter, Patricia Swanson and her husband Dick Gutzke of Brooklyn Center; son, Donald Irwin and wife Poppy of St. Francis; grandchildren, Bruce Irwin, Lee Swanson, Julie Annis and husband Steve, Brian Swanson and wife Lisa; four great-grandchildren; sisters, CoraBelle Crane and husband Howard of Palmdale, Calif., Icy Ann Kask and husband Alan of Chisago City; brother, Donald Walburn and wife Ione of Anoka; sisters-in-law, Joyce Williams, Josie Nutter, Lucy Fritzges and husband Harold; brothers-in-law, Maurice Irwin and wife Marty; and by many nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Willard; and sister, Thelma.
Interment
was at West Oak Grove Cemetery, St. Francis. Arrangements were by Strike Funeral Home, Isanti Chapel.
Algot Pedersen
Memorial services for Algot Pedersen, 62, Buffalo, took place Dec. 4 at Zion Lutheran Church, Buffalo. Rev. Edward A. Blair officiated.
Pedersen died Nov. 23 at Pulaski Lakeshores, Buffalo. He was born March 21, 1937 in Anoka County to Ole and Hazel Benson Pedersen. He worked mainly in carpentry and auto body repair.
He is survived by Sharon; sons, Kevin (Mary), Monnie, Bob (Kristi), Lloyd (Meri), Chatz (Nicki), all of Isle; stepdaughters, Jean (Joel) Barthel, of South Haven, and Janet (Loren) Wurm of Maple Lake; 14 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; brothers and sisters, Palmer of Park Rapids, Grace West of Brighton, Colo., Shirley (Douglas) Richards of Andover, Dennis (Norma Jean) of Big Lake, Pat (Donald) Polomy of Brooklyn Park; Margaret (Wilbur) Eck of Monticello, and Gary of California; stepfather, Ray Georges; aunt Lucille and uncle Adolph Benson; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two infant brothers; and sister-in law, Lorna Pedersen.
Arrangements were by Peterson Chapel, Buffalo
Wesley N. Randall
Funeral services for Wesley Randall, 73, Lexington, took place Dec. 7 at Gearhart Funeral Home, Anoka Chapel. Rev. Liane Rock officiated.
Randall died Dec. 3. He was born on Jan. 25, 1926 in Woodville, Wis., to Norman P. Randall and Myrtle Haugheland. He was a boiler engineer.
He is survived by his son Mike; daughters and sons-in law, Jolene Beauthuin, Barbara and Jim Beck, Dennis Randall, Cathy Acton and Chynna Randall; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brothers, Leland and wife Gladys, Vincent and wife Arlene Randall; sisters, Ila Sittlow and Arlyss Butler; and stepsister, Norma McGee and husband Don.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan.
Interment
was at Morningside Memorial Gardens, Coon Rapids. Arrangements were by Gearhart Funeral Home, Anoka Chapel.
Andrew J. Rotz
Funeral services for Andrew J. Rotz, 85, Princeton, formerly of Anoka, took place Dec. 3 at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, Anoka. Rev. Michael Paquet officiated.
Rotz died Nov. 30 at his residence. He was born Nov. 9, 1914 in Elk River to John Rotz and Elizabeth Ekker. He was a foundry worker.
He is survived by his son, Andy of Princeton; daughters, Phyllis Cech and husband Edward of California, Cheryl Singler of Michigan; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brother, Joe Rotz; and sister Rose Leider.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie; sisters, Anna Nemeth, Mary Bodnar, Elizabeth Hipsag, Katherine Barsody; and brothers, John and Louis Rotz.
Pallbearers were Jeff Cech, Michael and Timothy Rotz, Hans Van Alstine, Charles Leider and Joseph Barsody.
Interment
was at Calvary Cemetery, Anoka. Arrangements were by Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Homes, Anoka.
Florence W. Upton
Memorial services for Florence W. Upton, 55, Wyoming, took place Dec. 3 at Washburn-McReavy Seman Chapel, Coon Rapids. Rev. James Donald officiated.
Upton died Nov. 29 in Wyoming. She was born Aug. 28, 1944 in Memphis, Tenn. She worked for International Paper and Weyerhauser Corp. and was closing assistant for Burnet Title Company the past three years.
She is survived by her husband, George; son, Neal; mother, Mary Wilson Tucker, of Memphis, Tenn.; brother, Neil Tucker, of Memphis, Tenn; and sisters, Mary Beth Tucker, of Memphis, Tenn., Virginia Watters of Mobile, Ala., and Cornelia Shannon of Rush Center, Kan.
Interment
was private. Arrangements were by Washburn-McReavy Seman Chapel.
Anthony J. Wielinski
Funeral services for Anthony J. “Tony” Wielinski, 48, Coon Rapids, took place Dec. 3 at Epiphany Catholic Church, Coon Rapids. Rev. Bernard A. Reiser officiated.
Wielinski died Nov. 29 in Coon Rapids. He was born June 13, 1951 in Little Falls and was employed in the quality control in the steel industry. He and his wife were members of Coon Rapids High School Marching Band boosters for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Randi and Bobbi; brother, Valentine, Jr.; and sisters, Maryann Skelton, Doris Doroff and Rosalyn Masterson.
Pallbearers were Jeff Geisler, Daryl Johnson, Mike Brozek, Mike Woodward, Bruce Carlson and Mark Van Bergen.
Interment
was at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls. Arrangements were by Washburn-McReavy Seman Chapel, Coon Rapids.
Benjamin Burris
Funeral services for Benjamin Michael Burris, stillborn, Brooklyn Park, took place Oct. 3 at Gearhart Anoka Funeral Chapel. Rev. David Dolezal officiated.
He was born and died Sept. 29 in Fridley.
He is survived by his parents, Ryan and Karrie Burris; sister, Cassie; brothers, Ethan and Andrew; grandparents; great-grandparents; aunts and uncles; and nieces and nephews.
Interment
was private. Arrangements were by Gearhart Anoka Funeral Chapel.
