Obituaries

Michael Zirbes

Nov 16, 2024

Michael William Zirbes passed away peacefully at St. Mary's Hospital on November 16, 2024, at the age of 74.

He was born August 14, 1950, in La Crosse, Wisconsin to Clarence (Red) Zirbes and Patricia (Marcou) Zirbes. They moved to Rochester, Minnesota when he was 6 years old. He graduated from Mayo High School in 1969. He then went on...

Harriet Rudd

Nov 14, 2024

Harriet (Grein) Rudd, 88, of Rochester, MN, peacefully went to her Heavenly Home with Jesus on November 14, 2024.

Funeral service will be held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN, on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Jeff Niederstadt officiating. A livestream of the service is available at: hclc.tv/rudd.

Harriet was born in...

Norma Footh

Nov 13, 2024

Norma was born in Mankato, MN to Gladys (Pearson) Knoss and Fredrick Knoss. She grew up on the family farm and attended Rapidan High School, just outside Mankato. While at Mankato State Teachers' College, she met her future husband, Willard Footh. While he served during WWII, Norma taught for two years in Mapleton. After the war, they were married at...

Carol Veloske

Nov 11, 2024

Carol Irene Veloske, age 81, of Rochester, Minnesota, passed away peacefully in the presence of family on November 11, 2024.

Carol was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She is survived by her son, Edward Vankirk; daughter, Barbara (Michael) Soderbeck; granddaughters, Jenna (Darren) Eck and Jessica (Miles) Norman; sister, Patty Martinson; brother, Mark (Patricia) Stevens; nephews, Jeff Amaris, Troy (Elizabeth)...

Lawrence "Larry" Pfiefer

Nov 11, 2024

Lawrence W. Pfiefer, 83, of Hayfield passed away on November 11, 2024.

Lawrence William Pfiefer was born in Hayfield, Minnesota on October 6, 1941 to August Lawrence and Elizabeth (Prokopec) Pfiefer. He was the third of 6 children.

Lawrence grew up and lived on the family farm in Hayfield his entire life. He attended country school and then Hayfield High School, where...

Timothy Molko

Nov 11, 2024

Timothy Alan Molko, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, was called home into the embrace of God on November 11, 2024, at age 70. He died at home, after a steadfast fight against pancreatic cancer, surrounded by his wife and two sons.

Tim was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, on November 25th, 1953, to Edward and Delores (Weiss) Molko. He...

Constance Wickert

Nov 9, 2024

Constance "Connie" Marie Wickert, age 83, of Rochester, MN passed away on November 9, 2024 at home.

Connie was born August 19, 1941 in East Chain, Minnesota the daughter of Randolph and Stella (Wildes) Laabs. She grew up in Fairmont, Minnesota, graduated and attended Vo-Tech. In 1965, she was baptized and confirmed in the catholic faith at St. Pius Catholic...

Karen Pasch

Nov 9, 2024

Karen Louise Pasch (nee Ackland), age 84, of Rochester, MN went to be with her Lord and Savior on November 9, 2024. She was born on October 4, 1940 to Fred and Dorothy Ackland in Toledo, OH.

Karen attended DeVilbiss High School and the University of Toledo, where she graduated with a BS degree in Mathematics.

In 1962 Karen married...

Marjorie Wood

Nov 8, 2024

Marjorie Wood, age 99 and 4 months, Rochester, Minnesota passed away at her home on November 8, 2024. Marjorie (known to many as Marge) was born on 7/07/1925 in Oronoco, Minnesota to Helen (Bennett) Markham and George E. Markham. She graduated from Rochester High School.

Marjorie married Harry Gardner Wood, Jr. on January 31, 1953, and together they had two...

Dorothy Vonch

Nov 8, 2024

Dorothy J. Vonch, 91, died peacefully on Friday, November 8,2024 at Madonna Towers after a lengthy battle with dementia.

Dorothy Jean Vonch was born September 29,1933 to Charles and Mabel (Larson) Rud in Rochester, MN. She graduated from Rochester High School in 1951. Dorothy married Larry E. Vonch on November 11, 1951 at East St. Olaf Church in Rock Dell,...

Robert Bolen

Nov 8, 2024

Robert "Bob" Bolen was born on September 30, 1947, in Two Harbors, MN. In 2017, he and his wife moved to Rochester, MN, to be closer to family and medical care. Bob passed away peacefully on November 8, 2024, at the Spring Valley Nursing Home.

A 1966 graduate of Two Harbors High School, Bob served his country with honor as...

Joseph Jenkins

Nov 4, 2024

Joseph R. Jenkins, 84, passed peacefully on November 4, 2024, in Pine Island, Minnesota.

Born in Chicago, IL, to Joseph Blackburn Jenkins and Chlora Viola Goodin on December 29, 1939. Joe met the love of his life, Barbara Marie Olson, in Eau Claire, WI, where they were married, in 1963. Joe was a Morse Code interceptor for the Army Security...

Robert Wichser

Nov 4, 2024

On Monday, November 4, 2024, our Dad, Robert R. Wichser (Bob) bid farewell to his time on this earth. He made 97.66 trips around the sun and the time and place was to his choosing. He was surrounded by his 2nd family, the "exercise gang of 125 Live". Having just finished his workout, it was time for coffee, conversation, and...

Paul Baker

Nov 3, 2024

The Rev. Dr. Paul Andrew Baker, 80, died November 3, 2024 at Cascade Creek Memory Care after a struggle with Alzheimer's. He was born January 26, 1944 at Camp LeJeune, NC. to career marine John & Helen Baker and baptized at the base chapel. The family settled in Tucson, AZ in 1950 where Paul entered First Grade. At age 15...

Werner Kaese

Nov 2, 2024

Werner Erich Kaese, "Casey", passed away peacefully at home in Rochester, MN on November 2nd at the age of 96.

He was born April 3, 1928, in Reading, PA to German immigrants Margarete and Arthur Kaese. After living in North Carolina, Montreal, Alabama, Tennessee and Wisconsin he graduated from Wilson High School in West Lawn, PA. He earned his undergraduate degree...

Glen Briske

Nov 2, 2024

Glen Ralph Briske, 85, passed away on November 2, 2024 at Samaritan Bethany, Rochester, MN.

Glen was born in Wabasha, MN and graduated from Eyota High School in 1956. Following High School, Glen served 3 years in the Army and 4 years in the Air Force. He then farmed for 5 years prior to attending Dunwoody College of Technology...

KaRissa Rubin

Nov 1, 2024

KaRissa Kay Rubin of Dover, MN, passed away unexpectedly November 1st, 2024 at the age of 45

KaRissa was a social butterfly, who had an outgoing, bubbly personality. She loved spending time with her family up north, and cheering for the Vikings. She adored her children and grandchildren and spent as much of her time as she could with them.

KaRissa was...

Edna Barnes

Oct 30, 2024

Edna E. Barnes, age 90, passed away peacefully on October 30, 2024, in Rochester, Minnesota.

Edna Earl Barnes was born on August 17, 1934, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to Eddie and Curtis Mary (Jefferson) Atkins. She was one of 12 children. Edna attended school and played basketball in Hattiesburg. In the ninth grade, she paused her education to care for her...

Patricia Blanchard

Oct 30, 2024

Patricia A. Blanchard, 80, of Rochester, MN passed away October 30, 2024. Pat, as she was known by her family and friends, was born on August 26, 1944, and grew up in Goodhue, MN. She was raised there by her parents, Cy and Bessie Benda. She completed grade school and started high school in Goodhue before transferring to Our Lady...

Jason Weinrich

Oct 27, 2024

Jason Keller Weinrich, passed away October 27th at Methodist Campus. Jason had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer only weeks ago and was receiving hospice care. Last Friday he took a bad fall, hitting his head on the cement floor. St. Mary's determined that he had a brain bleed and possible mini stroke and never did regain consciousness.

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