Obituaries

Eugene Murrell

Feb 26, 2025

Reverend Eugene "Gene" Murrell, 64, died on February 26, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. Gene was born February 9, 1961, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to parents Theadore and Anetta (Houser) Murrell. He grew up in Mitchell, Nebraska, and graduated from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna. There, he met the love of his life, Vona Brodhead. They married on...

Bradley Grotte

Feb 25, 2025

Bradley Dean Grotte, age 65, of Lakeville, Minnesota, passed away the evening of February 25, 2025. Brad was born in Menomonie, Wisconsin on April 28, 1959. Brad graduated from Burnsville High School and went on to college at SDSU where he met and was smitten with his wife of 40 years, Tamara (Curl). The couple eloped on April 16, 1984,...

Kristen Chapman

Feb 25, 2025

Kristen Chapman, age 61, passed away on February 25, 2025, after a brief battle with breast cancer. A cherished daughter, sister, aunt, and devoted caregiver, Kristen was born on March 11, 1963, in Charles City, Iowa.

After graduating from Greene Community High School in Greene, Iowa, Kristen completed the Certified Nursing Assistant program at North Iowa Area Community College...

Marie Espinda

Feb 24, 2025

Marie C. Espinda, 87, of Rochester, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on February 24 surrounded by her family.

Marie Caroline Engrav was born on January 2, 1938, in Waukon, Iowa to Halvor and Erna Engrav. She grew up on a farm in Ridgeway, Minnesota. The family eventually moved to Winona where she attended St. Martin's Lutheran School, Winona Senior High and went...

James "Jim" W. Pellow

Feb 22, 2025

James "Jim" W. Pellow passed away on February 22, 2025, in Collins, Mississippi, at the age of 88. Born on March 13, 1936, in Joplin, Missouri to Roy and Alice (Smith) Pellow. Jim spent his formative years growing up in Houston, Texas until the age of 13 when the family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Jim honorably served his country for a...

Marissa Punyawai

Feb 22, 2025

Marissa Javier Punyawai, age 68, of Rochester, Minnesota, passed away on February 22, 2025 at her residence. Born on April 21, 1956 in Bacolod City, Philippines, she was the beloved daughter of Felipe, Jr. and Alicia (Coscolluela) Javier.

Marissa was raised in the Philippines, where she pursued her education and attained a bachelor's degree in nursing. She married...

David Guenther

Feb 22, 2025

David Dale Guenther, age 59, of Rochester, passed away at home on February 22, 2025. He was born on July 6, 1965, to Dale and Dorothy (Holstad) Guenther.

A proud graduate of John Marshall High School, Class of 1983, David was known for his commitment to hard work. He held various jobs in the area, from vending machine stocker...

Nancy Berkman

Feb 21, 2025

Nancy Louise Berkman passed away on February 21, 2025, at Cascade Creek Memory Care. She was born on October 5, 1947, in Rochester, Minnesota to John Worrall and Georgeanne Maytum Berkman. A fact that Nancy would only acknowledge if firmly pressed was that the Mayo brothers were her great-great uncles. She grew up in the Homestead neighborhood and as a...

Lien Huynh

Feb 20, 2025

Lien Ngoc Huynh passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on February 20, 2025, at 3:53 PM. She was born in Saigon, Vietnam and lived a life filled with love, resilience, and dedication to her family.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ky Khai Lam and her daughter, Van Thu Lam. Lien is survived by...

Jay Brent Martin

Feb 19, 2025

Jay Brent Martin died peacefully surrounded by family after a long courageous battle with cancer, on February 19, 2025. 

He was born on June 27, 1965 in Bismarck, North Dakota to Alfred and Jeannette Martin. He grew up on a farm near Balfour with an older brother, Neal, and numerous cats, dogs and horses, and cattle. He attended Balfour Public School...

John Vine

Feb 17, 2025

John J. Vine, 63, of Zumbrota, MN, passed away on February 17, 2025, at his home.

John was born on December 10, 1961, in Decorah, Iowa, to Alvin and Donna (Lovstuen) Vine. He graduated from North Winneshiek High School in 1980 and went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Upper Iowa University.

After graduating from college, John spent a year teaching...

Pearl Zaki

Feb 15, 2025

Pearl Anna Zaki, 100, peacefully departed this life on February 15, 2025, in Rochester, Minnesota. For the past 20 years, she made her home at Madonna Towers, where she spent her final moments surrounded by care and comfort. Born on June 8, 1924, in Minnieska, Minnesota, Pearl was the middle child and only daughter of Alfred and Louise (Timm) Iwinski....

Mark Oldenburg

Feb 13, 2025

Mark William Oldenburg, 73, of Rochester, MN passed away on February 13, 2025, at his home. Mark had been battling with heart problems for several years.

Mark was born in Rochester, MN on January 25, 1952, to Fred (Fritz) and Mary (Manahan) Oldenburg. He graduated from Chosen Valley High School, class of 1970, in Chatfield, MN. Mark proudly served in...

Colin Yennie

Feb 12, 2025

Colin Robert Yennie, 80, of Oronoco, passed away on February 12, 2025. Born on November 1, 1944, in Goodhue County to Mildred (Stiller) and Edwin Yennie. Colin graduated from Pine Island High School in 1962 before attending Dunwoody Institute, where he completed the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning program in 1964. On May 24, 1965, he married Karen Ellingson, and together...

George Sedivy

Feb 11, 2025

George Francis Sedivy (Bud), 89, peacefully passed away on February 11, with family by his side, at Homestead Rehabilitation and Care Center, where he received hospice care for the last 8 days. He was the eldest child of George Sr. and Gladys Sedivy, born in Montgomery, MN. After graduating from the University of MN with a degree in electrical engineering,...

Thomas O'Connor

Feb 10, 2025

Thomas Edward O'Connor was born on March 23, 1944, in Preston, Minnesota, to John Edward O'Connor and Elvera Workman. Tom spent his early years in Preston, working as a dairy farmer alongside his father.

Tom received his GED before proudly serving in the U.S. Army from June 1, 1965, to March 1, 1967, during which time he served in South...

Bernice Bymers

Feb 8, 2025

Bernice Solveig (Sally) Bymers, age 92, of Rochester, MN, passed away peacefully on February 8, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.

Sally was born on March 8th, 1932 in Albert Lea, MN to Laurel and Annie Munson. She spent the first few years of her life on a farm outside of Albert Lea until moving to the city in the 4th...

Charlene Brehmer

Feb 6, 2025

A memorial service for Charlene L. Brehmer, 92, of Rochester, Minnesota will be at 11:00 am on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester. Visitation will be a half hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be at Oakwood Cemetery immediately following the service.

Charlene LaVonne Banick was born on September 11, 1932,...

Bette Geiselhart

Feb 6, 2025

Bette Geiselhart was born on August 21, 1939, at Saint Mary's Hospital to Syverin P. and Loretta (Matzke) Nelson. She attended Trinity Lutheran School until eighth grade and graduated from Rochester High School in 1957. She received her LPN at St. Mary's Hospital and took the trip of a lifetime to Los Angeles with friends where she worked at Saint...

Jeffrey Kubiak

Feb 4, 2025

Jeffrey Edwin Kubiak

"Caveman"

Oct. 02, 1954 - Feb. 04, 2025

Jeff passed away at St. Mary's hospital in Rochester MN. He was born in Milwaukee WI on October 2, 1954 to Edwin and June Kubiak. He grew up in Greenfield WI with his 2 younger brothers Eric and Mark. After high school Jeff joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He received an honorable...