Online Obituaries
Thursday, July 8, 1999
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Carl Engesser, 47, of Redwood Falls, formerly of Springfield, died Wednesday, July 7, 1999, at St. Cloud.
Arrangements are pending with Sturm Funeral Home, Springfield.
John J. Gag, 86, formerly of 923 N. Washington in New Ulm, died Tuesday, July 6, 1999 at Laurels Edge in Mankato.
Mass of Christian burial is 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Ulm with burial in the Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. today and 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. Friday at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm. There will be a parish prayer service at 8 p.m. tonight at the funeral home.
He is survived by his wife, Olivia Gag of Mankato; daughters and son- in- law, Elaine Jarvey of Madison, Wis., Arlene and James Kopetzki of Waldorf; son and daughter-in-law, John E. and Lois Gag of North Mankato; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, Norbert and Ruth Gag of North Mankato; many nieces and nephews; and sisters-in-law, Mildred Drexler and Alice Portner both of New Ulm.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters; one nephew; and a son-in-law.
He was born on Sept. 26, 1912, in Cottonwood Township, Brown County to Henry and Anna (Warta) Gag. He married Olivia Zupfer on April 20, 1937, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Searles. They farmed in Cottonwood Township, Brown County until 1979 when they retired and moved into New Ulm. In 1998 they moved to Laurels Edge in Mankato. He was a life-time member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Ulm and was a past director of the Sigel Creamery.
Christine H. Romberg, 74 of Gillette, Wyo., formerly of New Ulm and Kensington, Penn., died July 6, 1999.
No memorial service will be held per her request. Her remains will be memorialized at the Black Hills National Cemetery west of Rapid City, South Dakota. Memorial contributions may be made to the Brown County DAV Van, New Ulm.
She is survived by her children Marvin Romberg Jr. of Gillette Wyo.; Thomas Romberg of Boise, Idaho; David Romberg of Indianapolis, Ind., and Carol Kramer of Gillette; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A graduate of New Kensington High School, she attended the University of Pittsburgh and enlisted in the U.S. Army/ Air Force in 1945 in Spokane, Washington. She married Marvin H. Romberg and moved to New Ulm in 1948. She clerked for J.C. Penney and Herberger's. She worked for the Brown County Veterans Service Office for 18 1/2 years. She retired in 1987 as the Service Officer for Brown County. She was a member of the Turner Ladies, Lind House Association, Wanda Gag House Association, American Legion Post 132, and the American Legion Auxiliary.
Edmund H. Sellner, 90 of Sleepy Eye died July 6, 1999 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.
Services are 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church with burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 4-8:30 p.m. today and 7:30-10 a.m. Friday at Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye. There will be a Catholic Aid rosary at 4 p.m. and a parish prayer service at 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.
He is survived by his wife, Lucille; children, Janet and husband Jim Braun of Annandale, Myra and husband Scott Simon of Sleepy Eye, Rosie and husband Mike Zeig of Sleepy Eye; eight grandchildren and spouses; five great-grandchildren; brothers, Leonard of Sleepy Eye, and Clement and his wife Dorothy of Sleepy Eye; sisters, Clara Schroepfer of Sleepy Eye, Amelia Heitzer of Sleepy Eye, Angeline and husband Lester Weber of Gibbon, Kate and husband Harold Johnson of New Ulm, Martha Weber of Gibbon, Bertha and husband Lyle Muehlbauer of New Ulm, and Anna Hacker of Lafayette.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, William, Albert, Christ and Florian; and sisters Mary Moldan and Mathilda Blumhoefer.
He was born Oct. 24, 1908, in Albin Township to Christopher and Marianna (Schloegl) Sellner. He attended country school in Albin Township. He married Lucille Schroepfer on June 29, 1937, in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. The couple farmed in Stark Township. He was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, St. John's Society, and Catholic Aid Association.
LeRoy Spiess, 70 of Madelia died Tuesday, July 7, 1999 at his home.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Madelia with burial at 1:30 p.m. in Calvary Cemetery in St. Peter.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. today with a 4 p.m. rosary and a 7:30 p.m. prayer service at Pilgrim Funeral Home in Madelia; and continues 9-10:15 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
He is survived by wife, Madelyn; sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Kathy of Waconia, Brian and Teresa of Rapid City, S.D.; daughters and sons-in-law, Lynette and Dean Steele of Fargo, N.D., Glenda and Jess Dalton of Monticello; 12 grandchildren; brothers, Jerome Spiess of St. Peter, Richard Spiess of North Mankato.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Grace and Elaine; brother Stephen; and a granddaughter.
He was born Oct. 10, 1928 to Stephen and Minnie (Schabert) Spiess in St. Peter where he grew up and attended John Ireland Catholic School and graduated from St. Peter High School. He worked in the dry cleaning business before serving with the Army National Guard during the Korean Conflict, 1951-1953. He married Madelyn Martell on Dec. 29, 1956 in St. Peter. They made their home in Madelia where he owned and operated Lee's Cleaners. He retired in 1994. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Catholic Aid, and Knights of Columbus. He was a member, and past president of the Madelia Chamber of Commerce. He was also a 17-year member of the Madelia High School "chain gang" during football games.
Irene Ondrachek, 85 of Glencoe died Tuesday, July 6, 1999 at Glencoe Area Health Center.
Services are 11 a.m. today at First Congregational Church in Glencoe, with burial in New Ulm City Cemetery.
She is survived by brother and sister-in-law, Armin and Vivian Altmann of Lafayette; nieces, Marie Altmann of Minnetonka and Agnes Shepers of Golden Valley.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clarence; and brother, Hugo Altmann.
She was born Oct. 3, 1913, to Anton and Hedwig (Bauermiester) Altmann in Lafayette Township. She attended District 51 until the seventh grade. She graduated from New Ulm Public School in 1931. She attended Normal Training and received a teaching degree in 1932. She taught school in Courtland, Sleepy Eye, Springfield, Comfrey, and New Ulm. On May 1, 1946 she married Clarence Ondrachek at First Congregational Church in Glencoe. She was a member at First Congregational Church where she was a deaconess, treasurer of Joy Circle and served on the wedding committee.
Kenneth H. Peterson, 80, died Wednesday, June 30, 1999 in Hurley, Wisc.
A memorial service was held Monday in Ironwood, with full military honors.
He is survived by his wife Mary; daughters, Sharon and husband Richard Seeboth of New Ulm, and Wendy and Timothy Babler of Wauwatosa, Wisc.; grandchildren, Deborah and husband Jeff of Nevala of Minneapolis, Steven and wife Ann Seeboth of New Ulm and Chani Ninnemann of Wauwatosa; great-grandchildren, Bethany, Spencer and Seth Nevala; and numerous nephews, nieces and in-laws.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Ned.
He was born Oct. 22, 1918 in Upson, Wisc., to Paul and Sophie (Hovde) Peterson. He attended Hurley Schools and graduated from Iron Belt High School in 1936. He was employed for a time as a welder in Detroit. He served in the Marines, Army Reserve and National Guard for 34 years. He served in World War II as a flight instructor in Texas and North Carolina, During the Korean Conflict he served with a helicopter squadron. He returned to the Midwest and worked in a machine tool factory. He then took a job in Honduras with United Fruit Company, spraying bananas from a helicopter. In 1954, he joined the Wisconsin National Guard. He was recalled to active duty in 1961 and sent to Fort Lewis, Wash. during the Berlin Crisis. In August 1962, he received his third discharge from the armed services. He worked for the Wisconsin National Guard at the state office headquarters in West Bend. He became the assistant state aviation officer and support facility commander. At the time of his retirement he was the first master aviator in the history of the Wisconsin National Guard. He has logged a record 10,944 hours in the air.
He married Mary Kovacevich on April 18, 1944 in Corpus Christie, Texas. He was a member of the Ironwood American Legion, Hurley Veterans of Foreign Wars and former member of the Mellen Masonic Lodge.
Thomas Lippert, 49, of Salt Lake City, Utah and formerly of New Ulm, died Tuesday, July 6, 1999, in Salt Lake City. He is the son of Ray and Myra Lippert of New Ulm.
Private family services will be held. There will be no visitation.
Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm is in charge of arrangements.
Bernice Nordby, 92, of Farifax, died July 7, 1999, at Fairfax Nursing Home.
Arrangements are pending at Hauser-Hantge Funeral Chapel, Fairfax.