Obituaries 2012

January 2012

Teresa M. Dingmann, age 85
Cold Spring
September 27, 1926 – February 4, 2012

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring, MN for Teresa Dingmann, age 85, who died peacefully Saturday at home surrounded by her family.  Burial will be in the Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Cemetery Richmond.

A visitation for Teresa will be after 4:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring.  Parish prayers will be 8:00 p.m. followed by a rosary with the St. Boniface Christian Women.  Visitation will continue from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning at the funeral home. 

Teresa was born September 27, 1926 in St. Martin, MN to Peter and Catherine (Lieser) Mandernach.  She married Albert Dingmann on June 2, 1947 at St. Martin Catholic Church in St. Martin.  After living in Richmond for several years, they moved to Wayzata, MN for 25 years and later moved back to Cold Spring, MN.  She was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, St. Boniface Christian Women and St. Julian’s Mission Group.  Her greatest joys were spending time with her family, playing cards, and quilting.  Her apple strudel and turkey dressing will be missed by many.
 
She is survived by her children, Patt (Larry) Froemming, Linda Dillman, Ken (Deb), Ivan (Diane), Rosie, Nick (Kim), Earl (Cindi), Harry (Deb Clark), Dianne (Lynn Spelman), Janice (Bill) Schloss, Kathy (Paul) Eidem, Paul (Julie), and Rob (Brian Miller); siblings, Br. Michael Mandernach, CSPX, Sr. Leonore Mandernach, OSB, Sr. Margaret Mandernach, OSB, Sr. Mary Mandernach, OSB, Br. Robert Mandernach, OSC, Cyril, Lillian Smith, and John (Dianne); sisters-in-law, Irene Schneider, Mildred Dingmann, Viola Dingmann, and Eileen Dingmann; 23 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. 

Teresa was preceded in death by her husband, Albert in 2002; sons, Jim, and infant son, grandson, Jacob; brothers, Joe, and Albert; sisters, Laverne and infant girl.

A special thank you to St. Cloud Hospital Hospice for their wonderful care given to Teresa for the past 6 months, with special thanks to Wanda, RN and Pat, PCA.

Catherine Tamble, age 85
Cold Spring
February 11, 1926 – February 2, 2012

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring, MN for Catherine Tamble, age 85, who died Thursday at the Assumption Home.  Burial will be in the St. Boniface Parish Cemetery.

A visitation for Catherine will be from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Monday at the Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring.  Parish prayers will be at 4:00 p.m.  Visitation will continue from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning at the funeral home. 

Catherine was born in St. Martin, MN to John and Rose (Schaefer) Ehresmann.  She married Alfred Tamble on May 21, 1949 in St. Martin Catholic Church in St. Martin.  Catherine was a wonderful mom.  She loved being with her family and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Catherine was a member of St. Boniface Parish and Christian Women.

Survivors include her children, Janice of Duluth, Sandy (Gary) Vogt of St. Joseph, Jack (Mary Jo) of Monticello, Jim (Cindy) of Waite Park, Gordon (Patty) of Cold Spring, and Barb (Scott) Bell of Cold Spring; 13 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; brother, Jerry (Joan) Ehresmann, and sister, Dorothy Dold . 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred (1989); brothers, Romauld, and Donny, and sister, Juletta.

Edmund “Ed” Plantenberg, age 82
Richmond
May 5, 1929 – January 27, 2012

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Richmond, MN for Edmund “Ed” Plantenberg, age 82, who died Friday at the Assumption Home in Cold Spring.  Burial will be in the Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Cemetery.

Relatives and friends may call after 4:00 p.m. Monday at the Wenner Funeral Home in Richmond.  Parish Prayers will be at 4:00 p.m. followed by a rosary with the Catholic Order of Foresters.  Visitation will continue from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning at the funeral home.

Ed was born in Richmond, MN to Edmund T. Sr. and Irene (Zumwalde) Plantenberg. He married Irene Backes on September 6, 1950 in St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Farming, MN.  Ed was co-owner of Plantenberg’s in Richmond until his retirement in 1991.  He enjoyed bowling, hunting, fishing, trapshooting, snowmobiling, golfing and anything outdoors.  Ed dearly loved his family and grandchildren.  He served 29 years with the Richmond Fire Dept. and was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish and the Catholic Order of Foresters.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years Irene; children, Tom (Cathy), Pam Murphy, Gene (Ute); 4 grandchildren, Megan, Brian, Jennifer and Emily, and 5 great-grandsons.
 
He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Joan Worm.

Memorials preferred.

Peter Molitor, age 91
Richmond
April 29, 1920 – January 26, 2012

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Richmond, MN for Peter Molitor, age 91, who died Thursday at the Assumption Nursing Home, Cold Spring.  Burial will be in the Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Cemetery.

Relatives and friends may call after 4:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Wenner Funeral Home in Richmond.  Parish Prayers will be at 4:00 p.m followed by a rosary with the Richmond Knights of Columbus and Catholic United Financial.  Visitation will continue from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning at the funeral home.

Peter was born in Rockville, MN to George and Elizabeth (Theis) Molitor. He married Hildegard Zimmerman on October 15, 1946 in Assumption Parish, Eden Valley, MN.  Peter loved to tell stories about the past and was an avid gardener, especially growing herbs to make his own seasonings “Pete’s mixture”.  He also enjoyed woodworking, fishing, hunting, canning, cooking, and watching All Star Wrestling. 
 
Survivors include his children, Melvin (Linda) Molitor of Coon Rapids, David Molitor of Orondo, WA, Janice Molitor of St. Cloud, Kathy Dietman of Kimball, Allen (Lisa) of Clearwater, Linda (Bill) Phillips of Cold Spring, Lisa Hansen of Cold Spring; 15 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Elizabeth (Theis) Molitor; wife of 65 years, Hildegard; son, Duane; siblings, Elizabeth Molitor, Genevieve Mumm, Michael Molitor, and Joseph Molitor. 

Ethelyn “Lynn” Engel, age 85
Cold Spring
January 4, 1927 – January 24, 2012

Mass will be held Saturday January 29th at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring at 10:30 a.m.  Relatives and friends may call Friday evening from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. at the Wenner Funeral Home, 600 Red River Ave. S., Cold Spring.  After battling cancer fiercely for over a year, Lynn died peacefully surrounded by her family.

Lynn Engel was born Ethelyn Carol Johnson in St. John, North Dakota to Irene and Al Johnson. She  attended Valley City teacher’s college and became a school teacher at Kindred, ND elementary school where she met and married Angelo John “Jay” Engel on April 23, 1949.   They moved to Cold Spring, MN to be near St. John's University and The College of  St. Benedict and to  teach together at St. Boniface High School – Lynn, Phy Ed and Jay, Music and Band.

Lynn and Jay raised seven happy successful children. They instilled the values of education in all of their children; Lynn's philosophy for raising children relied on love and humor (and iodine); she was never one to use harsh discipline.  Lynn and Jay then retired to spend summers at the Lafayette Resort and winters in Hemet, CA.  After Jay’s death, Lynn spent winters in Mesa, AZ near several of her brothers. 

Lynn was an avid golfer and was a founding member of Rich-Spring Golf Club. She had a love for singing, was an excellent card player and a fearless chaser of bullies. She believed in fairness with a vengeance.  Lynn played in the same bridge club for 50+ years and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary #455 Cold Spring, and St. Boniface Christian Women.  She never wanted to be the center of attention but could not be ignored.

In 1969, Lynn and her nine siblings established the Lafayette Resort on Big Birch Lake, MN. The resort remains the summer family gathering place for four generations, which includes hundreds of Lynn’s and her siblings' descendents.

Lynn is survived by nine siblings; Elaine (Gordy) Caldis, Duane "Bud" (Ann) Johnson, Ray (Caryl) Johnson, Ben (Marilyn) Johnson, Lee (Betty) Johnson, Larry (Marilyn) Johnson, Brian (Susan) Johnson, Marna (Brad) Keith, and Brad Johnson and Larry Chaput.  She is also survived by her seven children; Virginia (Robert) Becker, John (Carol), Valerie "Puddy" (Greg) Hamilton, Kay Taylor, Kurt (Terri), Greg (Susan), and Shelley (Kyle) Torvinen; 17 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren, with a ninth on the way.

Lynn is preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Jay on December 24th 1993.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society in the name of Lynn Engel.

Irmund Willenbring, age 93
Richmond
June 22, 1918 – January 23, 2012

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 27, 2011 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Richmond, MN for Irmund Willenbring, age 93, who died Monday at the Assumption Home in Cold Spring.  Burial will be in the Sts. Peter & Paul parish cemetery.

Relatives and friends may call after 4:00 p.m. Thursday at the Wenner Funeral Home in Richmond.  Parish prayers will be at 4:00 p.m. followed by a rosary with Catholic United Financial.  Visitation will continue from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Friday morning at the funeral home.

Irmund was born in Richmond, MN to Henry and Margaret (Koetter) Willenbring.  He married Amanda Brinker on April 29, 1946 in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.  Irmund farmed north of Richmond and worked at the Cold Spring Granite Company for 27 years.  He enjoyed farming, woodworking, fishing, tinkering, find a word puzzles, playing cards, reading and being with his family.  Irmund was a member of Catholic United Financial.

Survivors include his children, Steven (Barb) of Spanaway, WA, Wanda (Marvin) Frie of Upsala, Nancy (Roger) Elfering of Albany, Alan (Joan) of Richmond, Karen (Bill) Hennen of Avon; son-in-law, Math Schmitz of Belgrade; 26 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; brother, Lawrence.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Amanda; daughter, Linda; 4 grandchildren; 17 brothers and sisters. 

Nelda M. Moser
Cold Spring
December 7, 1912 - January 22, 2012

Services celebrating the life of Nelda Moser, age 99 of Cold Spring, will be 11:00 AM Saturday, January 28 at the First Presbyterian Church, 373 4th Ave S. St Cloud. Burial will be in North Star Cemetery. Nelda died Sunday at the St. Benedicts Senior Center in St. Cloud. There will be a visitation from 4-8:00 PM Friday at the Miller-Carlin Funeral Home in St. Cloud and again after 10:00 AM Saturday at the church in St. Cloud.

Nelda was born December 7, 1912 in St. Cloud to Wilhelm and Helma (Abbe) Miller. She graduated from high school and married Willibald (Bill) Moser on October 14, 1932. The couple lived in St. Cloud until moving to Cold Spring in 1962. Nelda was a homemaker raising her daughter. Nelda loved to garden and fish and she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in St. Cloud.

Nelda is survived by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband on June 8, 1994; her daughter, Doris Mae Mendel on May 17, 2007; her great-grandson, Rhett Reiter, and her brothers and sisters, Leona Miller, Albert Miller and John Miller.

Carla Susan Meyer, age 58
St. Cloud
June 11, 1953 – January 22, 2012

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 26, 2012 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Richmond, MN for Carla Susan Meyer, age 58, who died Sunday at Talahi Care Center.  Burial will be in the Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Cemetery.  Relatives and friends may call from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Wenner Funeral Home in Richmond.

Carla was born in Richmond, MN to Albert and Darlene (Ganzer) Feldhege.  Carla loved being a mother and grandmother.  Her hobbies included bingo, card playing, and shopping.  Carla will be most remembered by her “warm smile” that greeted all.
 
Survivors include her son, Chet Meyer; daughter, Stacy Meyer; grandchildren, Nathan Meyer, Mariah Serwa, CJ Meyer, and Malika Meyer; brothers, Dave Feldhege and Tom (Linda) Feldhege; sisters, Cheryl (Dave) Kammermeier, Beth (Alvin) Decker, and Lori (Denny) Mueller, and sister-in-law, Cyndi Feldhege.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, John Feldhege and sister-in-law, Pat Feldhege. 

Harold “George” Hickman, age 74
Watkins
November 26, 1937 – January 20, 2012

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Cold Spring, MN for Harold “George” Hickman, age 74, who died Friday at his home from cancer surrounded by his family.  

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24 at the Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring.  Visitation will continue 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning at the funeral home.  

George was born in Lester Prairie, MN to Millard and Alice (Clark) Hickman.  He married Esther Brutger on November 26, 1960 in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Eden Valley, MN.  George was a heavy equipment operator and mechanic for many construction companies throughout Minnesota and North and South Dakota.  He was a member of Local Union 49 Operating Engineers.

Survivors include his wife, Esther; children, Millard “Buck” (Jane), Warren “Pale” (Sandy), Dwayne “Hink” (Heather), Shannon “Mop Squeezer” (Brian) Dobbick; 10 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; 14 brothers and sisters.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 3 brothers and 1 sister. 

Alfred “Fritz” J. Kraemer, age 93
Cold Spring and formerly of St. Cloud
July 24th, 1918 ~ January 19, 2012

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud for Alfred “Fritz” J. Kraemer, age 93, of Cold Spring and formerly of St. Cloud, who passed away on Thursday, January 19, 2012, at Assumption Court in Cold Spring. Reverend Thomas Knoblach will officiate. Burial will take place in Assumption Cemetery in St. Cloud.

Family and friends may call after 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Church in St. Cloud.

Fritz was born on July 24, 1918 in Luxemburg Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Adam and Mary (Stein) Kraemer. He served honorably in the United States Air Force during WWII. Fritz married Lorraine Corrigan on October 14, 1954 in Deulm, Minnesota. He worked for Franklin Manufacturing the majority of his life. Fritz was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.

He enjoyed spending time at the Whitney Senior Center and wood working.

Fritz is survived by his brothers and sisters, Edwin, Sylvester, Othmar, Jerome, Bernadette Schreifels, Al, Judy (Don) DeWenter, Carol Kraemer, Bernard Kaiser, Math Kaiser, and Sylvester Kaiser; many nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, and great-grand nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lorraine in 1990; brothers and sisters, Gebbard, Romuald, Sally, Alcuin, Marie, Cyril, and Mary.

Memorials are preferred.

Ervin V. Schmitz, Age 83
St. Paul, MN
May 15, 1928 – January 17, 2012

Beloved Husband, Dad, Grandpa
Great-Grandpa and Friend

Preceded in death by son Kevin, parents Ben and Cecilia Schmitz, brother George and sister Marie. Survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Lorraine (Frank); children Steve (Kathy), Sheila (Mike) Peters, Mike (Cindy), Joe, Greg (Tracy), and Jim (Laura); grandchildren Lisa, Lindsay, Janessa, Ashley, Amanda, Lia, Nicole, Nathan, Michelle, and Calen; great grandchildren Aydin and Emma. Also survived by 5 brothers, 3 sisters, nieces, nephews and many other loving extended family and friends. Mass of Christian Burial 10 AM Monday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church (Randolph at Albert Ave’s, St. Paul). Visitation 4-8 PM Sunday at O’Halloran & Murphy Funeral Home (575 S. Snelling Ave, St. Paul) 651-698-0796 and one hour prior to Mass at church Monday. Interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Holy Spirit Catholic Church or donor’s choice.

Abbey Lucille Holthaus, infant
Cold Spring

Abbey Lucille Holthaus was born into eternal life January 10, 2012 at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Abbey is the daughter of Ryan and Amanda Holthaus and sister of Bryce and Brayden. Her grandparents are Louie and Jane Schaefer of Cold Spring and Jerry and Linda Holthaus of Waite Park, aunts and uncles, Stacey and Andy Canfield, Louie Schaefer Jr., Darrin and Barb Holthaus, Shannon and Jim Aleshire, Tammy and Travis Welle, Amanda Holthaus and fiancé Eric Halland and seven cousins.

Services will be private.

Edmund “Ed” Massmann, age 87
Rockville
May 3, 1924 – January 1, 2012

Edmund A. Massmann, beloved husband and cherished father, passed from this world on New Years Day.  Despite suffering from cancer for the past 8 years, Ed remained a steady presence in his family home, up to the end showing the warmth and humor that characterized his life.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 5, 2012 at Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Rockville, MN.  Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Relatives and friends may call after 4:00 p.m. Wednesday and from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning at Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring.  Parish prayers will be at 7:00 p.m. followed by a rosary with the Knights of Columbus.

Ed was born on May 3, 1924, in New Munich, Minnesota, to Henry Massmann and Mary (Eickhoff) Massmann, the third of eleven brothers and sisters.  He married Bernadine (Haider) on November 19, 1966, at St Margaret’s Church, in Lake Henry, Minnesota.

Ed was a dedicated and hard-working farmer his entire life, growing various crops over the years, as well as raising dairy cows on their farm in Rockville.  He was a proud member of Knights of Columbus and the Legion of Mary Auxiliary, as well as a parishioner at Mary of the Immaculate Conception, in Rockville.

He is survived by his wife Bernadine, his four children, Henry (Kathryn) Massmann, Ronald (Kathleen) Massmann, Mark (Mary) Massmann, and Julie (Scott) Reberg.  In addition, Ed was blessed with twelve grandchildren.  Three of them, Abraham, Bridget, and Jacob, greeted him when he left this world.  He leaves behind Amber, Katlyn, Edmund, Tiffany, Lawrence, Patrick, Alexandra, Samuel, and Kathrine.  He is also survived by four brothers and two sisters, as well as an abundant number of nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. 

Ed lived a full and rich life of 87 years, committed to God, family, and country, and will be remembered by his bride and his children as a loving husband and father.  He was, like so many of his generation, a hard-working and dedicated godly man, who went about his responsibilities, caring for and supporting his family, raising them deeply in the Roman Catholic faith and loving them until his final day.