Online Obituaries Wednesday, October 27, 1999 October obits by date  October obits by name September obits by date  September obits by name The Journal Online  Experience New Ulm!    Evelyn Brekke, 82, of Springfield, formerly of Sleepy Eye, died Sunday, Oct. 25, 1999, at New Ulm Medical Center.    Services are 11 a.m. Thursday at Albion Lutheran Church, St. James, with burial in the church cemetery.    Visitation is 4-8 p.m. today and 7:30-8:30 a.m. Thursday at Sturm Funeral Home, Springfield, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.    She is survived by her daughter, Marjorie and husband Leonard Reddemann of Springfield; son, Eugene and wife Peggy of Blackduck; six grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; one step great-great grandchild; sister, Olive and husband Willie Hoffman of Springfield; sisters-in-law, Betty Odegard of St. James and Gladys Odegard Reeves and husband Cliff of New Ulm; and several nieces and nephews.    She was born April 4, 1917, to Oliver and Olga (Christenson) Odegard in rural Comfrey. She attended grade school at District 26 in Albin Township. She married Hilmer C. Brekke on Jan. 3, 1935, in rural St. James. The couple farmed in the Godahl area until 1966 when they purchased the Spider Lake Resort in Grand Rapids. Upon their retirement, the couple moved to Sleepy Eye in 1976 and then to Springfield in 1989. She was a member of Albion Lutheran Church, the Ladies Aid and the church choir.    Elmer Nesteby, 96, of Lucan, died Monday, Oct. 26, 1999, at Wabasso Health Care Center.    Services are 10:30 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Lucan, with burial in the church cemetery.    Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Thursday at the church, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., and will continue one hour prior to services at the church Friday.    Kulow Funeral Service, Echo, is in charge of arrangements.    He is survived by daughters, Martha VanLoy of Lucan, Helen Kerr of Coraville, Ariz., Gladys and husband Jim Jacobson of Marshall, Lucille and husband Bill Larson of Marshall, and Linda Ohman of Rim Rock, Ariz.; son, Robert and wife Rita of Phoenix, Ariz.; 23 grandchildren; 37 great-grand-children; and sister, Inga and husband James Baker of Waterloo, Iowa.    He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Anna on Oct. 16, 1994; brothers, Alfred, Ted, Albert and Carl; sisters, Mable, Ida, Alma, Emma and Mayme; sons-in-law, Gus VanLoy and Walter Kerr; and great-grandchildren, Chad VanLoy and Fallon Hansen.    He was born Oct. 20, 1903, in Boyd to Nels and Ingrid (Docken) Nesteby. He grew up in Iowa, where he attended St. Olaf School. He moved to Mable, Minn., where he worked in the onion fields. He worked his way across southern Minnesota to Sacred Heart, where he thrashed and hauled bundles. He married Anna Brey on Jan. 29, 1935 in Wabasso. He was employed at various jobs throughout is life. He had lived in New Ulm, Wanda, Vesta, Wabasso, Marshall and Lucan.    Homer H. 'Blink' Hoelz, 89, of Belle Plaine, died Tuesday, Oct. 26, 1999, at Belle Plaine Lutheran Home.    Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of the Prairie Church in Belle Plaine, with burial in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Belle Plaine.    Visitation is 4-8 p.m. today and 8-10 a.m. Thursday at Fenske-Hayes Funeral Home in Belle Plaine.    He is survived by his wife, Irene of Belle Plaine; son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Helen Hoelz of New Ulm; daughters and sons-in-law, JoAnn and Dick Schmit of Belle Plaine, Judie and Bob Walerlus of Owatonna, Kay and Paul Schmidt of Rosemount, Jackie and Gust Barbes of Rochester; sister, Mabel Mayer of Glenwood; 26 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.    He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; four sisters.    He was born Dec. 21, 1909, in Lester Prairie to George and Wilhelmina "Minnie" (Schupp) Hoelz. He grew up in Plato and attended school in Lester Prairie. He went into the flour milling business with his father and brothers. He later moved to Belle Plaine and went into the feed mill business until retiring and selling the business. He married Irene Gehlen on Aug. 31, 1936, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Glencoe. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus.