Online Obituaries Wednesday, March 31, 1999 March obits by date  March obits by name February obits by date  February obits by name Click here for today's obituaries    Ruth L. Kiecker, 79 of Fairfax died Sunday, March 28, 1999 at her home.    Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Wellington Township, Renville County with burial in the church cemetery.    Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. today and 7:30-8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Hauser-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Fairfax, and one hour prior to the service at the church.    She is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Melford Kiecker of St. Peter, Lyle and Cheryl Kiecker of Burnsville, Orin and Jane Kiecker of Fairfax; daughters and son-in-law, Karla and Terry Olstad of Marshall, Nora Kiecker and friend Wayne Thran of Fairfax; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brother, Martin Grewe of Gibbon; sisters, Helen Schwartz of Gaylord, Orpha Steffen of Gibbon; former sister-in-law Pat Wermerskirchen and her husband Chuck of Jordan; nieces, nephews, friends.    She was preceded in death by husband, Clarence in 1991; son, Norbert in 1982; grandson, Jordan in 1992; sister, Dorothy Buboltz; and brother Melvin Grewe.    She was born Sept. 26, 1919, in Moltke Township, Sibley County to Otto and Emma (Bentz) Grewe. She married Clarence E. Kiecker on Nov. 21, 1944 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Moltke Township and they farmed in Wellington Township. She lived on the farm until moving to Fairfax in 1997. She was a member of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Wellington Township and was active with Ladies Aid and the altar guild.    Francis W. Brandel, 83, Rt. 3, New Ulm died Tuesday, March 30, 1999 at his home.     Mass of Christian Burial is 11 a.m. Monday at Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm with burial in the Catholic Cemetery.    Visitation is 3-8 p.m. Sunday and 7:30-10:30 a.m. Monday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm. The Catholic Order of Foresters No. 691 will pray the rosary at 6:30 p.m., and there will be a parish prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.    He is survived by his wife, Frances T. Brandel of New Ulm; daughters and sons-in-law, Anita and David Hoffmann of New Ulm, Gail and Leo Bromenschenkel of Sleepy Eye, Carla Brandel and Dan Heuel of Rochester, Maria Lisa and Randy Hoffman of Mankato; sons and daughters-in-law, Joel and Diane Brandel of North Mankato, Peter and Sharon Brandel of New Ulm; 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sister, Zita Traurig of Aurora, Colo.; brother and sisters-in-law, Laurel and Dorothy Brandel of Cokato; and sister-in-law, Winifred Brandel of New Ulm.     He was preceded in death by a son and a daughter, both in infancy; a granddaughter; a great-granddaughter; brothers, Father Wilfrid and Norbert; and a sister, Viola Swanson.    He was born April 17, 1915, in West Newton Township, Nicollet County, to Joseph and Dorothea (Gleisner) Brandel. He attended District No. 16 Country School in West Newton Township, Nicollet County. He married Frances T. Portner on June 4, 1946, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in New Ulm. They farmed for 6 years in West Newton Township before moving to the farm in Lafayette Township, Nicollet County. They were dairy farmers until 1972 when he was forced into quitting because of a heart attack. He was a member of Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Catholic Order of Foresters, a past member of the Cathedral Cemetery Board on which he served for 26 years, and a past member of the Brandel Bavarian Band.