Online Obituaries Tuesday, May 11, 2004 2004 obituaries    2003 obituaries 2002 obituaries    2001 obituaries 2000 obituaries    1999 obituaries The Journal Online   Experience New Ulm Click here for today's obituaries    Alvin Bartels s, 86, of Winthrop, died Monday, May 10, 2004, at the Good Samaritan Center in Winthrop.    Arrangements are pending at the Dalin-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Winthrop.    Mervyn 'Merv' Steffen , 60, of Nicollet, died Sunday, May 9, 2004 at his home in Nicollet.    Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday, May 14, at the Nicollet Conservation Club, rural Nicollet. Pastor Barb Lindeman will officiate. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in Nicollet.    Visitation will continue on Friday for one hour prior to the time of service at the Conservation Club.    Mervyn is survived by his wife, Sharon Steffen of Nicollet; a son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Anne Steffen of Mankato; mother-in-law, Evelyn Schons of rural Nicollet; a sister, Alona L. Knutson of New Hampton, Iowa; and by nieces and nephews.    He was preceded in death by his parents; and father-in-law, Victor Schons.    Mervyn was born on March 6, 1944, in St. Paul to Clarence J. and Verona C. (Frank) Steffen. He attended Cottonwood High School graduating in 1962. In 1964, Merv enlisted in the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force, he went to Air Force Tech School studying electronics. On April 11, 1970, he married Sharon Schons at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Nicollet. From 1968-2004, he worked at KEYC TV in Mankato becoming chief engineer on February 15, 1999, and he held this job until his death. He was a member of the Nicollet Conservation Club, the Winthrop Golf Club, and he enjoyed golfing, trap-shooting, fishing, hunting, and had a great sense of humor.    Eleanore Wills , 89, of 500 South Franklin Street in New Ulm, died Sunday, May 9, 2004, at the New Ulm Medical Center in New Ulm.     Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m., Thursday, May 13, at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Ulm with burial in the New Ulm City Cemetery. Father Edward J. Ardolf will officiate.    Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Wednesday and 7:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm. There will be a parish prayer service at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.    Eleanore is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas and Mary Wills of Plymouth, Richard "Dick" and Donna Wills of New Ulm; grandchildren, Sheri Johnson and her husband, Denny of Madelia, Julie Portner and her husband, Lee of New Ulm; stepgrandchildren, Arlene Engeldew and her husband, Leslie of Minneapolis, Jerry Christensen of Plymouth; a stepgreat-grandson, Derek Fagerwold of Plymouth; sisters, Florence Fredrich and Hildegard Clyne, both of New Ulm; brothers and sisters-in-law, Charles and Bonnie Wiedl, George and Leatrice Wiedl, all of New Ulm and Albert and Carol Wiedl of Chisago City.    She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Melvin Wills on September 13, 1999; and by brothers, Alfred and Joseph Wiedl.    Eleanore Theresa Wiedl was born February 28, 1915, in New Ulm to Albert and Katherine (Groebner) Wiedl. She married Melvin Wills on June 18, 1935, at the St. Mary's Catholic Church parish house in New Ulm. After marriage they lived in New Ulm where she worked at Stork Brothers and the Wear Well Garment Factory. She also worked at Tony Downs Foods in Madelia. She was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Ulm.    Karley Brooke Young    She was born Tuesday, May 4, 2004, at 6:55 a.m., at St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee, Minn., 7 pounds, 8 ounces, 20 1/2 inches, to Peter and Shannon "Shen" (Johnson) Young.    Karley stayed long enough to touch hearts before she died on Friday, May 7, 2004, at 9:25 p.m. at Children's Hospital, Minneapolis, Minn.    Survived by: parents, Peter and Shannon "Shen" Young of Prior Lake; brother Ashton Young of Prior Lake; grandparents, Dennis and Beverly Johnson of New Ulm, James and Joyce Young of Dayton; great-grandmother, Norma Johnson of Hanska; aunts and uncles, Paul and Lisa Young of Ostego, John and Barb Young of Plymouth, Lisa and Joe Waldoch of White Bear Lake Township, Eric and Sheila Johnson of New Ulm, Michael Johnson of New Ulm; cousins Jenna, Collin Jessica and Michael Young, Luke and Amanda Young, Alexa and Ryan Waldoch, Heather and Courtney Johnson.    Preceded by: great-grandparents Arnold Johnson, Louis and Rose Adam, Harold and Amanda Young, Albert and Selma Bebensee; and uncle Corey Johnson.    Visitation: Tuesday, May 11, 5-8 p.m. at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake    Funeral Service: Wednesday, May 12, at 11 a.m., at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, Prior Lake, Minn., with Reverend Michael Lee officiating.    Pallbearers: Eric Johnson, Paul Young, John Young    Funeral Arrangements by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake, Minn.