Richard J. Ginder

Richard J. Ginder, age 90, of Stacyville, passed away Thursday, December 2, 2010, at the Stacyville Community Nursing Home in Stacyville.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 6, 2010, at the Sacred Heart Oratory in Meyer with Rev. John Moser officiating. Burial was at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Meyer with military honors at the grave by Stacyville American Legion Post 569.

Richard was born west of Osage on November 19, 1920, to Peter and Rose (Hemann) Ginder. His family bought a farm near Meyer and moved there in 1926. He attended Sacred Heart Church and school in Meyer.

Richard served in the Air Corps and was stationed in Europe during World War II. He was in the Battle of the Bulge. On October 16, 1951, he married Marian Srp. Three daughters were born to this union. Marian died March 6, 1978. Richard married Angela (Mauer) Mayer on September 17, 1986. Marrying Angie, he added four more daughters and two sons to his family.

Richard was a life-long farmer in the Meyer area. He was Wayne township trustee for many years. After retirement, he built a new house in Stacyville. He enjoyed farming, gardening, woodworking projects, playing cards, going for coffee and visiting.

He was a member of the American Legion for over 60 years. Richard and Angie moved to the Stacyville Community Nursing Home in the fall of 2009.

Richard is survived by his wife, Angie Ginder of Stacyville; two daughters, Rose Ann (Steve) McCarthy of McIntire, and Gladys (David) Kasel of LeRoy, Minnesota; grandchildren, Jason (Elizabeth) Rice of Ostrander, Minnesota, Chad (Sarah) McCarthy of Buffalo,Minnesota, Kristin (Bill) Newton of Little Cedar, Melissa McCarthy of Ames, Emily Kasel of LeRoy, Minnesota, and Nicholas Kasel of LeRoy, Minnesota; and five great-grandchildren. Richard is also survived by step-children, Tom (Beverly) Mayer of St. Ansgar, DeeLyn Mayer of Waterloo, Joyce Welch of New Hampton, Tony (Lori) Mayer of St. Ansgar, Barbara (Gary) Fossey of St. Ansgar, and Mary (Paul) Brown of Auburn, Alabama; numerous stepgrandchildren and stepgreat- grandchildren. Also surviving are his twin, Roger (Marce) Ginder of Osage, other siblings, Paul Ginder of Madison Lake, Clarence (Ruth) Ginder of Osage, Sister Edna Ginder of Dubuque, Marie (Bob) Donner of Osage, and Vernon (Sylvia) Ginder of Austin.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marian; daughter, JoAnn Rice; great-granddaughter, Mallory Rae Newton; and step-son-in-law, John Welch.

Erwin Junior “Red” Larson

Erwin Junior “Red” Larson, age 79 of Austin, died Monday morning, November 29, 2010 at Albert Lea Medical Center. He was born December 10, 1930 in Radcliffe, Iowa, the eighth child of Erwin and Alice (Lunning) Larson. The family moved to Hayward, Minnesota where they purchased a farm in 1936. Erwin attended schools in Hayward and Albert Lea, graduating in 1949 from Albert Lea High School.

He married Ruth Sorlien on February 28, 1953 at Oakland Lutheran Church. Erwin, commonly known as “Red,” farmed with his dad until 1966. Red and his family moved into the village of Hayward where he operated the Amoco bulk oil and gas business. In 1969 they moved to Albert Lea, and Red managed the Amoco Farm Center. They re-located to Fort Dodge, Iowa in 1979 where he managed an LP business until 1982. From there they went to Austin, Minnesota to manage a farm plant until his retirement in 1992. A member of Hayward Lutheran Church, Red was an avid fisherman and hunter, liked to play golf, travel, landscape the four acre lawn and work with anything in mechanics or carpentry as a hobby.

He never said a cross word. He was always encouraging and lived by what he believed.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth of Austin; a son, Jeffrey (Arlene) Larson of Evansville, Wisconsin; daughters, Jodie Larson of Riverton, Wyoming; Maren (Raymond) Jones of Pt. Kembla, NSW, Australia; Teresa (Bill) Kuntz of Sigourney, Iowa; eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren; sister, Lucille (Bill) Stephenson of Denver, Colorado; brother, Daryl (Patricia) Larson of Marshfield, Wisconsin; sister-inlaw, Lucille Larson of Albert Lea; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Everett, Luverne, Jewel, Curtis; sisters, Ethel and Doris.

Memorial services were held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 6, 2010 at Hayward Lutheran Church with Pastor Katie Fick officiating.

Lucina Julia Blaser

Lucina Julia Blaser, age 80, of Osage, passed away Friday, December 3, 2010, at the Faith Home in Osage. Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 7, 2010, at the Sacred Heart Oratory in Meyer with Rev. John Moser officiating. Burial was at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Meyer.

Lucina was born Lucina Julia Freund on August 23, 1930, in Johnsburg, Minnesota, to Isidore and Catherine (Klapperich) Freund. She graduated from Adams High School in 1948. After high school, Lucina worked for the Hormel Estate in Austin, Minnesota. On August 30, 1950, she married Gervis Blaser. They made their home farming for over 50 years, most recently in Meyer, Iowa. Lucina was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She always put other’s needs before her own. She enjoyed music and was a long time member of the Sacred Heart Church Choir. She loved to dance, sew and nurtured a big garden every year and will be remembered for her homemade breads, especially her donuts and kolaches.

Lucina is survived by her husband, Gervis Blaser of Osage; eight children, Glenn (Carla) Blaser of Forest City, Charlotte (Craig) Podein of Spring Valley, Minnesota, Diane (Don) Hofland and Joyce (Jack) Morrow, both of St. Ansgar, Patricia (Matt) Flynn of Stewartville, Minnesota, Julie (Scott) Thurnau of Zumbrota, Minnesota, Mark Blaser of Forest City, Russell Blaser of Mason City; 17 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; nine brothers and sisters, Ardella Dahle of Placerville, California, Lucille (Kenneth) Blaser of Osage, Virginia (Dean) Elliott of Adams, Minnesota, Delphin (Phyllis) Freund of Austin, Minnesota, John (Jean) Freund of Winona, Minnesota, Mary Orth of Backus, Minnesota, Raphael (Ruth) Freund of Adams, Minnesota, Bertilla Noble and Angela Smith, both of Cedar Rapids.

Dennis Lee “Skeet” Anderson

Dennis Lee “Skeet” Anderson, age 70, of Park Rapids, MN died on Monday, October 18, 2010 at his home on Portage Lake. Dennis was born on October 9, 1940 at Osage, Iowa the son of Harlan A. and Leona B. (Lemler) Anderson.

He grew up and attended school at St. Ansgar, Iowa where he graduated from high school in 1958. He was united in marriage to Sonja Kay Bumgarner on April 25, 1964 in Austin, MN. They lived in St. Ansgar until 1978, where Dennis worked for White farms from 1964 until 1977. They moved to Park Rapids in 1979 where they owned and operated the Taco House Restaurant on Long Lake until 1987.

He worked at L&M Fleet in Park Rapids from 1989-1995. He also worked for two years at Brainerd International Raceway 1996-1997. From 1996 until 2009 he owned and operated Northstar Fireworks in Park Rapids, MN. He retired in 2009. Dennis enjoyed snowmobiling, especially working on vintage sleds. He won many trophies drag racing and snowmobile racing until his health stopped him from racing. He also liked cooking and canning food, especially Mexican cuisine, and to spend time fishing. Fireworks were his passion.

He is survived by his wife - Sonja K. Anderson - of Park Rapids, MN; 2 daughters - Marlena J. (J.T.) Harris of New Llano, LA; Lynn M. Cruz of Park Rapids, MN; 5 grandchildren - Ryan A. Cruz of Park Rapids, MN; Kaitlyn Price of Lawton, Oklahoma; Timothy, Shannon and Thomas Harris; his mother-in-law - Katheryn M. Bumgarner of Austin, MN; Brother-in-law - Eugene (Jeanette) Bumgarner of Needles, CA; his brother - Mark Jerdet; nephew - Eugene Bumgarner of Austin, MN; Niece - Minday Hafner of Rose Creek, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents; Father-inlaw - Richard Bumgarner; brother-in-law - Richard M. Bumgarner; son-in-law - Mark Cruz.

Frances M. Hertel

Frances M. Hertel (Ritta) age 73 of Sumner, Iowa formerly of Grayslake, Illinois passed away Friday, December 10, 2010 in North Richland Hills, Texas. Fran was born February 12, 1937 to Ernest and Gertrude Ritta.

She graduated from Grayslake High School and married Aloyisus Hertel on July 9, 1955. They later divorced. Francis retired from Target in December, 2003.

She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Fran loved NASCAR, the Chicago Bears and collecting pigs.

Fran is survived by her children, Marie Hertel, Libertyville, IL; Georgia Brown (special friend, Ken) of North Richland Hills, TX; Gene (Cindy) Hertel; Bob (Sally) Hertel of St. Ansgar; Larry (Mary) Hertel of Sumner, IA; Sandy (Dave) Boettcher of St. Louis Park, MN; 19 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; her sisters Shirley Clark of Zion, IL and Marjorie Neal of Rochester, NY; a brother Earnest “Boots” (Joan) Ritta of Port Charles, FL and many nieces and nephews.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, sister Irene McCormick, grandson Matthew Woods and brother- in-laws Alan McCormick, Ray Clark and Cecil Neal. A Celebration of Fran’s life will be held at a later date.

Mickey Kofoot

Mickey (Milda) M. Kofoot, 82,of St. Ansgar, formerly Mickey Hook died December 17, 2010 of complications suffered from an auto accident on November 24, 2010 at Mercy Medical Center, North Iowa, Mason City.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar with Rev. Dr. Byron Northwick officiating. Burial was in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, St. Ansgar.

Mickey was born June 22, 1928, in Holland, IA to Harm and Anna (Nefke) Meyer, one of seven children. She graduated from Lake Park High School in 1946. She then attended St. Luke’s Nursing School in Cedar Rapids, IA, where she later met her first husband Kenneth C. Hook. They were married July 15, 1950 in Round Lake, MN. They made their home in Cedar Rapids, IA until 1965 when they moved to Guttenburg, IA, they moved to Osage, IA in 1966 and then to St. Ansgar, IA in 1970 where she has resided since. Kenneth died in 1990 and was married to Marvin Kofoot of St. Ansgar until his death on November 24, 2010. Mickey was a library clerk and homemaker.

She was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar and in Rachel Circle. Mickey enjoyed spending time with family and friends, growing flowers, and garden club, quilting, taking evening walks and traveling with her husband Marvin, and working at the library.

She was preceded in death by her parents Harm and Anna Meyer, husband Kenneth C. Hook, husband Marvin Kofoot; brothers James and Wayne Meyer; and sisters Dorlene Stricker and Joyce Meyer.

Mickey is survived by six children; Steven (Darcy) Hook of Kensett, IA, and their children Michael, Scott, Jeff, Tammy, Stephanie and Sean, Dennis (Lucy) Hook of Mason City, IA and their children Adam and Kevin; Kathie (Richard) Peterson of Chicago, IL, Sheila (Jerry) Brown of St. Ansgar, IA, and their children Sarah, Waylon and Clint; Wendy (Ronald) Heuton of St. Ansgar and their children Johnnie, Desiree, and Jason; Brian (Shelly) Hook of Denver, CO and their children Amilea and Colton; Stepchildren Larry ,Dean, Allen, Vicki, and Debra; sister Lulu Settle of Rixeville, VA; and brother Vern Meyer of Worthington, MN; and thirteen greatgrandchildren.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar is in charge of arrangements. (641) 713-4920.

Kenneth Libersky

Kenneth Eldon Libersky, 83, Sand Lake, MN and formerly of St. Ansgar, IA, died Thursday Dec. 16, 2010, following a massive heart attack.

Kenneth was born on August 17, 1927 at Osage, Iowa, the son of Frank and Georgia Libersky. Kenneth and Annette Schwandt were married on June 5, 1948 and shared 63 years of a wonderful life together.

Kenneth, known as "Kenny" to his many friends, worked for St. Ansgar Implement from 1944 to 1971 when he built his own welding business, St. Ansgar Welding. In 1978 he built Grafton Welding. During this time, Ken and Annette purchased their "little piece of heaven", 2 acres on Sand Lake in Northern Minnesota. They designed and built their retirement home, moving there in 1991.

Kenny was an active community member, township supervisor, and a pillar of the Northwoods Chapel. Ken's life passions were traveling with his wife and daughters, fishing, hunting, woodworking, rebuilding old tractors, church and spending time with his many friends.

One of his greatest pleasures was teaching his grandchildren, and later his great-grandchildren, how to fish.

Ken is survived by his wife Annette and three daughters: Gloria Heath, Jane Picht, and Ann Libersky.

He is also survived by his brother Harland, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Because of Ken's excellent medical care and respect for Mayo Clinic, his body was donated to Mayo Foundation for advancement of medical education.

His family is planning a Celebration of Life service for next summer.