Esther Lou Kelly went home to Jesus on December 14, 2021, at age 80.Esther, born on May 14, 1941, to Dwain and Eunice (Leonard) Feller in Elkader, Iowa, immediately brought joy and laughter into the world. Esther grew up with her parents and two sisters, Mary and Pam. Esther graduated from Orange High School in Waterloo, Iowa, in 1959. After graduating, Esther worked making ice … [Read more...]
Loura L. Kilbourn
Loura L. Kilbourn, 89, of Ostrander, Minn., died on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at the Spring Valley Care Center. Loura Lucina Orr was born March 7, 1932, to George and Gladys (Reckard) Orr in Duncombe, Iowa. After high school, Loura obtained a degree from beauty school in Des Moines, Iowa. She was united in marriage to Melvin E. Kilbourn on February 9, 1954, in Des Moines. … [Read more...]
Alan D. Williams
Alan D. Williams, 73, of Wykoff, Minn., passed away on Monday, December 13, 2021, in Rochester, Minn. Al graduated from Wykoff High School in 1966, entered the Army and was stationed at Fort Riley, Kans. He married the love of his life, JoAnn Rowe, on June 22, 1968. She passed away on November 9, 2014. Al and JoAnn returned to the area and he went to work for the City of … [Read more...]
Wilton L. “Willy” Bunke
Wilton L. “Willy” Bunke, 92, of Rushford, Minn. was at his home when he was called to his eternal resting place on Sunday, December 12, 2021. Wilton Leonard Bunke was born on September 21, 1929, in Winona, Minn.. He was the tenth of 13 children born to Paul C. and Ragna (Boe) Bunke. He was raised in Hart, Minn., where he attended parochial school through the eighth grade. On … [Read more...]
Joel Bruce Worra
Joel Bruce Worra, 76, of Rochester, Minn., died on December 11, 2021, at Benedictine Madonna Towers in Rochester. Joel was born on June 24, 1945, to parents Luther Krueger and Doris (Stafford) Worra in South Haven, Mich. He grew up in Bangor, Mich., spent his summers in Rushford, Minn., and graduated from college at Winona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in … [Read more...]
Alice M. Elliott
Alice M. Elliott, 86, of Chatfield, Minn., passed away on Sunday, December 12, 2021, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn., after a brief illness. Alice Marie Waadevig was born on March 3, 1935, to Gilmer and Julia (Brunner) Waadevig in the Rushford, Minn. Alice attended a country school thru 6th grade and assisted taking care of her younger siblings. Alice worked at … [Read more...]
Stanley Andrew Engen
Stanley Andrew Engen, 99, of Caledonia, Minn., died Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Northgate Care Center, Waukon, Iowa. He was born in Caledonia, Minn., on October 18, 1922, to Peter and Celia (Myhre) Engen, the fourth of five children. He attended Caledonia High School. He was drafted to the United States Armed Forces in 1943 for the WWII effort in the European Theatre and … [Read more...]
Eileen Marie Johnson
Eileen Marie Johnson, nee Anderson, passed away on December 1, 2021, age 89. Preceded in death by husband William Bradford Johnson, parents Elmer and Minnie Anderson, and cousin Patricia Anderson. Survived by children Tim (Gennene) Johnson, and Ginny (Tom) Johnson; grandchildren Joe and Chloe, brothers Alan (Nadine) Anderson and David (Verla Jean) Anderson, cousins Janice … [Read more...]
Melvin “Bud” Harold Higbe
Melvin “Bud” Harold Higbe, 87, of St Joseph, passed away Sunday, December 12, 2021, at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. He was born June 4, 1934, in St. Joseph, Mo., son of Jessie and Clarence Higbe. Bud married Frances Kinnaird on January 27, 1962, in St. Joseph, Mo. He served in the U.S. Air Force and worked at Armour & Co. later in the upholstery business and also as a … [Read more...]
Jimmy “Jim” Ptacek
A Mass of Christian Burial for Jimmy “Jim” Ptacek, 83, a longtime Pleasant Grove Township area farmer, took place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Stewartville, Minn., with Rev. Kevin Connolly officiating. Mr. Ptacek died on Friday, December 3, 2021, of natural causes while surrounded by his loving family at The Waters on Mayowood … [Read more...]