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John A. Miller
John A. Miller, 50, Eagle Lake, formerly of Sleepy Eye, died March 7, 2003, at his home from an apparent heart attack. Funeral services were Wednesday at All Saints Catholic Church in Madison Lake, with interment in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Sleepy Eye, with Military Honors. Mankato Mortuary handled the arrangements.
John was born Oct. 18, 1952, to Murley M. and Mary E. (Naylor) Miller in Rochester. He moved with his family to Sleepy Eye in 1961. John attended St. Mary's Grade School and graduated from St. Mary's High School, Sleepy Eye in 1971. He joined the United States Army in 1971, and served as a medic and occupational therapy assistant in Fort Riley, Kans., until being discharged in 1974. He married Joyce Schroepfer July 27, 1973, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. John returned to Rochester in 1974, and earned his associate degree as a registered nurse from Rochester Community College in 1979. He was employed by Rochester State Hospital until it closed and then Woodside Convalescent Center until he became disabled in 1987 due to a back injury. John was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He enjoyed playing cards, watching the History channel, fishing, the outdoors and time spent at the lake on vacations, sports and his family and grandchild.
John is survived by his wife, Joyce Miller; son, Jesse Miller; daughter, Jackie Miller; granddaughter, Gabrielle Miller, all of Rochester; mother, Mary Miller Klinkner of Eagle Lake; sisters, Joyce and husband Ron Miland of Spring Valley, Jeanne and husband Doug Hume of Eagle Lake, Janis and husband Dave Fromm of Eagle Lake, and Joan Bowe of Eagle Lake; brothers, Jim Miller of New Ulm and Jay and wife Kris Miller of Buffalo; aunts; uncles; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Murley on June 5, 1972; and brother, Jeffrey on June 26, 1964.
Byron "Barney" A. Tessmer
Byron "Barney" A. Tessmer, 73, Cobden, died Wednesday, March 5, 2003, at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Funeral services were held Saturday at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sleepy Eye, with interment in Home Cemetery, Veterans Memorial Garden Section, Sleepy Eye, with full military honors. Sturm Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Barney was born April 1, 1929, in Sleepy Eye, the son of Gladys (Romberg) and Walter Tessmer. He grew up in rural Sleepy Eye and attended St. John's Lutheran School, Sleepy Eye. Barney served in the United States Army during WWII, from 1952 until he was discharged in 1954. He married Lois I. Moeller on Nov. 9, 1956, and worked for the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Norman was born Feb. 10, 1918, in Albin Township, Brown County, the son of William and Elizabeth (Kastner) Guttum. He attended country school in Albin Township, Brown County. On June 17, 1941, Norman was united in marriage to Agatha Braun at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. After marriage, they farmed Norman's family farm in Albin Township until 1947, when they moved to a farm in Sigel Township, Brown County. They farmed there until 1980, when they retired and moved into New Ulm. He was a member of The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Church in New Ulm, a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Aid Council and a member of the Sigel Town Boys.
Norman is survived by his wife, Agatha Guttum of New Ulm; daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Ann and Harold Holm of New Ulm, Carol and Thomas Odean of Long Lake and Linda and Peter Stadtherr of New ulm; sons and daughter-in-law, Paul and Darlene Guttum and David Guttum, all of New Ulm; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and sister-in-law, Laverna Wiesner of Sleepy Eye. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Janet Guttum; grandson, Jonathan Holm; brothers, Arthur and Joseph Guttum; and sister, Adeline Wellmann.
Father Gerald A. Hillesheim
Father Gerald A. Hillesheim, 60, Fairfax, formerly of Minneota, died Friday, March 14, 2003, at Methodist Hospital in Rochester. Funeral services will be Friday, March 21, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Sleepy Eye, with interment in The Church of the Japanese Martyrs Cemetery, Leavenworth. Visitation is from 3-8 p.m. at The Church of the Japanese Martyrs, Leavenworth, and continuing 8-11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. There will be a rosary at 4 p.m. and a parish prayer service at 7 p.m. Thursday, both held at The Church of the Japanese Martyrs, Leavenworth. Sturm Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Gerald Arthur Hillesheim, the son of Raymond and Odelia (Huiras) Hillesheim, was born June 30, 1942, in Sleepy Eye. He was baptized by Father Michael and grew up on the family farm in Leavenworth Township. Gerald attended District #12 Country School and Japanese Martyrs School until the eighth grade. Gerald became a student at Nazareth Hall in St. Paul, attending school there for six years, moving then to St. Paul Seminary to complete the last six years of his education. He was ordained to the Subdeaconate on March 11, 1967, at the Basilica of St. Mary's in Minneapolis and ordained to the Deaconate on June 3, 1967, at the Cathedral in St. Paul. Father Gerald was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Alphonse J. Schladweiler at The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm on March 9, 1968. His first Solemn Mass was held on March 10, 1968, at the Church of the Japanese Martyrs in Leavenworth. He became assistant priest at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Winsted, serving there for 13 years, after which he became Pastor at St. George Catholic Church in St. George and taught at Cathedral High School in New Ulm. Father Gerald became Pastor at St. Edward's Catholic Church in Minneota, St. Cyril's and St. Methodius Catholic Church in Taunten and St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent, serving those parishes until moving to Fairfax in June of 2002. Father Hillesheim was Pastor at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Fairfax, St. Willibrord's Catholic Church in Gibbon and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Franklin, serving those parishes until his death. Father Gerald's greatest love was his priesthood, being able to serve God's people. He was an avid Colo. The couple moved to Sleepy Eye in 1947, where Joyce settled into the role of wife, mother and homemaker. She enjoyed raising her girls, sewing clothes for them and their dolls. She was an active member of the Congregational Church and it's Women's Circles. She was also a member of the Sleepy Eye Chapter of the Eastern Star. Joyce worked summers for many years at Del Monte Canning Factory and in 1966, she went to work for the city of Sleepy Eye as a bookkeeper. She worked for the city until retiring in the mid 1980s. Joyce loved to travel and she and Arvid traveled extensively throughout the United States and also to England.
Joyce is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Deanne and James Weisser of Mobile, Ala., Sherri and Leon Spaeth of Tacoma, Wash., Linda and Thomas Tangen of Bloomington, and Connie and Mark Kusche of Golden Valley; grandchildren, Theodore and Brian Weisser; Ryan and Kimberly Spaeth; Paul, Carolynn and Stephanie Tangen; and Kristin and Matthew Kusche; great-grandchildren, Carly and Connor Weisser; sister, Helen Hall of Aberdeen, S.D.; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Arvid; and grandson, Carl Tangen.
Myrtle Schroeder
Myrtle Marie Schroeder, 79, Evan, formerly of New Ulm, died Monday March 24, 2003, at her home in Evan. Funeral services are 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 27, at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Ulm, with interment in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 7-8 a.m. Thursday at Schmucker Funeral Service in New Ulm, and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Myrtle was born Jan. 8, 1924, in Cottonwood Township, Brown County, the daughter of Edwin and Rose (Breu) Hamann. She spent her youth on the family farm and attended country schools. Myrtle was united in marriage to Earl Schroeder on June 18, 1946, at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm. They made their home in New Ulm, where Myrtle did housekeeping and worked several years at the former Wear-Well Garment Factory. Myrtle also worked many years in the laundry business for Norge Village, New Ulm Laundry and Jerry's Cleaners. The onset of Alzheimer's Disease initiated her retirement in 1996. That year, Myrtle and Earl moved to Evan. She was a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm.
Myrtle is survived by her husband, Earl of Evan; daughters, Rebecca and husband Ronald Netzke of Evan, and Rhonda and husband Joel Dahlgren of New Ulm; son, Jeffrey Schroeder of Evan; grandchildren, Brian and wife Ronda Netzke of Searles, Todd and wife Kara Netzke of Red Wing, Jason and wife Amy Netzke of Sleepy Eye, Steven and wife Kari Netzke of Waite Park, Randy Netzke and special friend Colette Wenish of Mankato, Andrew Kitzberger of New Ulm and Daniel Kitzberger of Duluth; 13 grandchildren; brother, Delton and wife Rosie of Hamann of Lafayette; sisters, Shirley and husband Gerald Forst of Gibbon, and Betty and husband Gerald Jarvis of Rochester; brother-in-law, Dennis and wife Grace Schroeder of Fairmount, Ill.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents, Myrtle was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Paul Kitzberger, brother, Edwin Hamann and sister Norma Meyer.
Evelyn H. Petersen
Evelyn H. Petersen, 94, Appleton, Wis., died Saturday, March 22, 2003. Funeral services were Wednesday at Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye, with interment in St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, New Ulm.
Evelyn was born Jan. 2, 1909, in Home Township, Brown County, Wisconsin to be closer to their daughters. Evelyn was a member of Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church of Appleton and a former member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye. Evelyn loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and cherished every moment with them. She enjoyed knitting, embroidering and playing cards.
Evelyn is survived by daughters, Marian and husband Herbert Grams, LaDonna and husband Floyd Schwecke and Linda and husband Dan Gigstead; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sister, Adeline and husband Bernard Lange; four sisters-in-law; and five brothers-in-law.
Ida Martha Schwartz
Ida Martha Schwartz, 88, Sleepy Eye, died Sunday, March 23, at Sleepy Eye Care Center in Sleepy Eye. Funeral services are Thursday, March 27, 11 a.m., at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye, with interment in Home Cemetery, Sleepy Eye. Sturm Funeral Home is handled the arrangements.
Ida was born Nov. 22, 1914, in Willow Township, Redwood County, to August and Anna (Lapschis) Krueger. She attended country school in Willow Township. On Sept. 6, 1937, she married Franklin Schwartz at Trinity Lutheran Church in Willow Lake Township. After marriage they farmed in Leavenworth Township for many years. Ida was a charter member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye. Her faith was the most important aspect of her life. She enjoyed her family, cooking, gardening and observing the planting and harvesting of crops each year.
She is survived by sons, David Schwartz of Sleepy Eye, Tom and wife Sue Schwartz of Apple Valley, Douglas Schwartz of Sleepy Eye and Darryl and wife Nanette Schwartz of Sleepy Eye; 11 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, son-in-law, Chuck Schewe of Sleepy Eye; sister, Elsie Werner of Wabasso and numerous sisters-in-law. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Franklin; daughters, Elaine, Shirley and Clarice; brothers, Walter, August, Helmuth, Paul, Louis, William and Edwin; sisters, Ella, Esther, Leona and a brother and sister in infancy.
Arthur J. Schmidt
Arthur J. Schmidt, 85, Chicago, formerly of New Ulm, died Friday, Nov. 22, 2002, at the Resurrection Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Chicago. Internment was Nov. 27 at Abraham Lincoln Veterans National Cemetery in Joliet, Ill. Cards may be sent to Lillian A. Schmidt, 5334 W Winona St., Second Floor, Chicago, IL 60630.
Arthur was born Aug. 27, 1917, in Linden Township, the son of Henry and Louise (Stueber) Schmidt. He moved to Chicago in 1978, to live with his sister, Lillian, where he resided until his heart attack in March of 2001. He was in intensive care for two weeks and then was transferred to the Resurrection Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Arthur served in the United States Army from 1941-1945, and was in the Philippines. He came back to New Ulm and worked as a farm hand and also painted buildings at farm sites. He was a member of the American Legion Post 547 and the Disabled American Veterans of Chicago. Arthur enjoyed old time concertina music and dancing.
He is survived by his sister, Lillian Schmidt of Chicago; and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Bernice S. Meidl
Bernice S. Meidl, 90, Sleepy Eye, died Thursday, Nov. 28, 2002, at Divine Providence Community Home in Sleepy Eye. Funeral services were Saturday at Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye, with interment in Home Cemetery, Sleepy Eye.
Bernice was born July 19, 1912, in Bovey, the daughter of David and Kathryn (Puckett) Hamm. She attended grade school in Wisconsin and moved to Sleepy Eye, where she graduated from Sleepy Eye Public High School in 1929. Bernice married Anton Meidl on July 28, 1942, in New Ulm and the couple made their home in Sleepy Eye. Bernice worked as a clerk for many years at Sauter's Variety, McKnights, Doeltz Pharmacy and Sheridan Drug, all of Sleepy Eye. After Anton died, Bernice continued to live in Sleepy Eye, moving to Ross Park Apartments and later to the Sleepy Eye Care Center and Divine Providence Home. She was a member of Faith United Methodist Church in Sleepy Eye, the Sleepy Eye VFW Auxiliary and the Sleepy Eye Historical Society. Bernice enjoyed fishing, hunting, cats and dogs, and especially spending time with her friends.
Bernice is survived by her nieces; nephews; cousins; special friends, Ron and Jane Fischer and family of Sleepy Eye and Larry and Marlene Fischer and family of Sleepy Eye. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Anton in 1981.
