Online Obituaries
Tuesday, July 01, 2003
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Rev. Msgr. Arnold Berg , 94 ,of Springfield, died on Saturday, June 28, 2003, at Gil-Mor Manor in Morgan.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 2, 2003, at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Springfield, with interment at St. Raphael's Catholic Cemetery in Springfield. The Principle Celebrant will be Bishop John C. Nienstad and he will be assisted by the Priests of the New Ulm Diocese.
Visitation will be at 4 - 8 p.m. today and 9-10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Springfield. There will be a 7 p.m. Parish Prayer Service today and a 10 a.m. Men's Rosary Wednesday, both at the church.
Arnold Joseph Berg, the second son of Anton H. and Anna C. (Hillesheim) Berg, was born on Aug. 9, 1908, in Springfield. Because he was born with a defective heart, he was baptized the following day.
At the age of seven, he began his primary studies at St. Raphael's School, where in six years he completed his elementary education. For three years, he attended St. Raphael's High School, then attended Nazareth Hall for another three years. He began his final studies for the priesthood in 1927 at the St. Paul Seminary. In his deaconate year, he was appointed Seminary Master of Ceremonies, teaching his fellow students how to conduct themselves for liturgical functions. In that same year, he conducted all the Holy Week ceremonies at the St. Paul Cathedral. Also, he was offered the opportunity to sit with the Faculty as a non-voting member in judgment on his fellow students. He turned down the offer. When offered the opportunity to do post-graduate work at Heidelberg University in Germany, he told the Archbishop that he wished to do parish work.
He was ordained on June 3, 1933, by the Most Reverend John Gregory Murray, D.D. at the St. Paul Cathedral. His First Solemn High Mass was sung at the Church of St. Raphael in Springfield, on June 6, 1933.
His first appointment was to the Church of St. Matthew on the East Side in St. Paul, a parish with a large grade school, a two-year high school and with 2,100 families. In addition to regular priestly duties, he was in charge of the parish picnic, the three-day bazaar, directing plays and operettas, and bowling alley. After nine years and eight months, in 1943, the Archbishop assigned him to the Church of St. Mary in Seaforth, a parish of some 70 families. His stay in Seaforth was of comparatively short duration. They were years of rest and relaxation amid kindly and loving parishioners. He remained there until June of 1947. It was his first parish and he loved it there.
In June of 1947, he assumed charge of the Church of St. John the Baptist in Searles, a parish with a school and 120 families, a rural parish where families loved their church, school and pastor. He remained there until June 1960. When the parish celebrated its Golden Jubilee, he wrote a detailed history of the parish. As a part of his priestly duties, he visited the parishioners in their homes every year except during the last two years, when he was already in the diocesan chancery. In addition to his priestly duties, he designed and had built a convent, an enclosed front porch for the rectory, a steam heating plant for the church and rectory, a new well and pumphouse and storage shed. Under his direction the church was decorated, a marble altar was installed, new light fixtures placed, the church kitchen renovated and toilet facilities provided in the church basement. Along with his janitor, on hands and knees, they installed floor tile in the church, classrooms, kitchen and auditorium. Tile ceilings, light fixtures and wardrobes, and new windows were installed in all four classrooms. They were busy years and he loved them all.
Late in 1957, the news broke that a new diocese of New Ulm had been created. Shortly after, a letter came appointing him Personal Master of Ceremonies to the new Bishop, and first Chancellor of the newly established diocese, a secret to be revealed on Jan. 30, 1958.
From Jan. 30, 1958, until June 1960, he was both Pastor at Searles and Chancellor of the Diocese of New Ulm. On June 3, 1960, even before the new chancery and residences were completed, he left Searles for his new residence at the Chancery of New Ulm. On Sept. 1, 1963, His Holiness, Pope John XXIII conferred upon him the honor of Domestic Prelate with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor. Upon the death of the first Vicar General, Monsignor was appointed Vicar General on Feb. 20, 1964, a title he was to retain until June 30, 1978.
At the close of 20 years of work for the Diocese he "wore these hats:" Vicar General, Chancellor, Director of the Propagation of the Faith, of the Holy Childhood Association, of the Diocesan Mission of San Lucas Toliman, of Worship, of Finance, of Investments (having never lost a penny in 20 years), of Property Maintenance, of the Diocesan Insurance, (both general and health), and Bishops Representative on the Pension Plan for Priests. He devised the DUF (Diocesan United Fund) wrote the first specifications for the Diocesan Insurance Plan. A priest of the Diocese remarked at one of the many meetings -- after the Bishop retired Monsignor Berg, he had to hire 11 people to replace him.
After Monsignor's retirement, he lived for 11 months in the Catholic Rectory at Lafayette. Shortly into the New Year of 1979, Monsignor was told by a compassionate member of the Personnel Board that in May of that year he would be notified by the Bishop to vacate the rectory.
Two weeks to find a new home for himself and his faithful housekeeper. By the end of May, he was able to move into his new home at 107 W. Lincoln in Springfield. There he spent his retirement years taking care of his "ranch" as he called it, in peace and quiet, caring for his lawn, flower gardens, doing much reading along with his domestic tasks. Monsignor enjoyed traveling, especially to Guatemala.
He is survived by his niece, Carol and husband Russell Renberg of Comfrey, and a nephew, James A. and wife Carol Berg of McHenry, Ill. He is preceded in death by his parents Anton H. and Anna C. Berg; brothers, Leo A. and Sylvester A. and wife Elinor Berg; and nieces Charlotte Berg and Charlene Warmbier.
Patrick 'Pat' Dolan, 85, of Redwood Falls, died Sunday, June 29, 2003 at Redwood Area Hospital.
Services are 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 2, at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Redwood Falls with burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at Nelson-Martin Funeral Service, Redwood Falls with a prayer service at 7 p.m. and Wednesday at the church, one hour prior to the service.
He is survived by a son Dallas of Vesta; daughters, Rae Ann Brenkman of Eden Prairie, Laurie of Redwood Falls, Connie Erickson of Redwood Falls and Bonnie Dolan of Kitwe, Zambia; six grandchildren; brothers, Louis and Mark of Milroy, John of Shorewood, Laurence of Faribault, and Donald of Prescott, Wis.; sisters, Agnes Marquart of Marshall, Margaret Letourneau of St. Paul, Dorothy Rohlik of Lucan and Eleanora Schommer of Marshall.
He was born Jan. 27, 1918, to John and Mary Dolan in Milroy. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942-1946.
Joseph Haas , 91, of Gibbon, died Saturday, June 28, 2003, at the New Ulm Medical Center in New Ulm.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, July 3, 2003, at the St. Willibrord's Catholic Church in Gibbon, with Father Ron Huberty celebrating. Burial will be in the church cemetery in rural Gibbon. Visitation will be 4 - 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 7:30 - 10 a.m. Thursday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in Gibbon. There will be a rosary by the St. Willibrord's Catholic Aid Society at 6:30 p.m. and a parish prayers service at 7:30 p.m. both Wednesday at the funeral home.
Joe is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia and Ed Dummer of New Ulm, Elaine and John Palmer of Fairfax, and Carol and Tom Penkert of Scottsdale, Ariz.; son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Connie Haas of Gibbon; a daughter-in-law, Carol Haas of Gibbon; 19 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; sisters, Lucille Simons of Rockville, Md., and Bernadine Weishar of Wauwatosa, Wis.; a brother and sister-in-law, LaMont and Marie Haas of Cashton, Wis., and by his dog "Oscar". He was preceded in death by his wife Cecelia on Feb. 9, 1991; a son, Kenneth Haas on April 16, 1982; a grandson, David Palmer on July 9, 1986; and by brothers and sisters, Gertrude Hemmersbach, Martha Chicanick, Dorothy Gohres, Lawrence Haas, Aurelia Rogahn, Regina Ebert, Hildegard Schreier, Larry Haas, and Anne Fishburne.
Joseph W. Haas was born on Aug. 4, 1911, in Cashton, Wis., to Joseph and Anna (Brueggeman) Haas. He attended country school in Cashton, Wis. On Oct. 27, 1938, he married Cecelia Krzmarzick in Sleepy Eye. After marriage they farmed in Home Township, Brown County, until 1948, when they moved to a farm in Severance Township, Sibley County. They retired in 1973 and moved to Gibbon.
Joe was a member of the St. Willibrord's Catholic Church, the St. Willibrord's Catholic Aid Society and a past member of the Severance Township Country School Board.
Larry Herring , 59, of Lafayette, died Monday, June 30, 2003, at Methodist Hospital in Rochester. Arrangements are pending with the Schmucker Funeral Service in New Ulm.
Joseph Lang, Jr. ., 58, of Springfield, died at the Springfield Medical Center on Friday, June 27, 2003, after a long bout with cancer.
Services will be Tuesday, July 1, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Springfield, with burial at St. Raphael's Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation will be at Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield from 7:30-10 a.m. today. There will be a men's rosary at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church.
Joseph Sylvester Lang, Jr. was born August 30, 1944 in Springfield, the son of Joseph Lang, Sr. and Mildred (Schunk) Lang. He graduated from Sanborn High School and drove truck for Hubbard Milling for 35 years. Joe was united in marriage to Diane Roiger on December 30, 1964 at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Springfield, where they have resided for the past 34 years. Joe was a member of St. Raphael's Catholic Church and St. Thomas Court 776 where he served in the past as Chief Ranger. He was also a member of the Cemetery Board, Grain Millers Local Union 62G, and served with the Springfield Boy Scouts for over 20 years. Joe enjoyed hunting, fishing, card playing, his family, going to the cabin, and spending time on the road visiting his many friends.
Survivors include wife, Diane of Springfield; sons, Michael of Springfield, Marc and fiancée Deb Pulliam of St. Cloud, Martin of Brookings, S.D., and Matthew of Willmar; daughters, Laurie and husband John Reyant of New Prague, and Lisa and husband Paul Welsh of Lakeville; grandchildren, Tyler Lang, Samuel and Katherine Reyant, and Corey, Justin, and Natasha Pulliam; his father, Joseph Lang, Sr.; a brother, Jim and wife Ginny Lang of Sanborn; a twin sister, JoAnn and husband David Schwartz of Springfield; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.
Joe was preceded in death by his mother, Mildred in 1983, a daughter in infancy, and one niece and one nephew.
Edward Lee , 86, of Springfield, died on Sunday, June 29, 2003, at St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 3, 2003, at St. John Lutheran Church in Springfield, with burial in the Springfield City Cemetery. Pastor Carl Seamon will be officiating. Visitation will be 4 - 8 p.m. today at the Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield, and will continue 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the church.
Edward William Lee was born June 30, 1916, in Lake Park, the son of Albert and Emma (Arndt) Lee. At the age of 19, he moved to New Ulm and worked there until moving to Springfield in 1936, where he worked as a hired hand. Ed returned to Lake Park and farmed there for three years before returning to the Morgan and Springfield area and farming until 1987. Ed and his wife Hank moved into Springfield in 1975, where he was a member of St. John Lutheran Church. Ed enjoyed his family, farming, hunting, fishing, golfing playing cards, and was an avid and loyal Twins fan.
He is survived by wife Henrietta "Hank" Lee of Springfield; daughter Bonnie and husband Bruce Bloemke of Springfield; son Dan and wife Donna Lee of Plymouth; grandchildren, Kara and husband Randy Platz of Springfield, and Ross and wife Stacey Bloemke of Walnut Grove; great-grandchildren, Jack, Jake, Tom and Camille Platz; brothers, Robert Lee of Washington, Arnold and wife Caroline Lee of Thief River Falls, Clinton Lee of Anchorage, Alaska, and William and wife Shirley Lee of San Diego, Calif.; and sisters, Dorothy and husband John Buck of Center City, Norma Aune of Minneapolis, and Mae Lois Jahr of Lake Park. Ed was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Alfred, Ezra and Mac Lee; and sisters, Ivey Knudsen, Florence Sievertsen and Evaline Solum.