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Obituaries from the week of March 8, 2000Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Fred Sanow, 77

Services were held on Saturday, March 4, 2000 for Fred Sanow at Tracy Lutheran Church, Tracy, MN. Rev. Stephen Olson and Rev. Marlene Elmstrom officiated. Organist was Eileen Schimming with Bill Elmstrom as soloist.

Casket bearers were Todd Myhre, Jodi Myhre, Curtis Sanow, Christina Sanow, Jerry Sanow and Vernon Sanow, Jr.

Fred Johannes Sanow was born November 9, 1922 to Frank and Jenna (Aljets) Sanow in Murray County. He was baptized on August 23, 1925 at his families' home and Confirmed on June 30, 1940 in Lake Wilson, MN. He attended school in Chandler, MN. Fred enlisted into the Army in 1945 where he was stationed in Camp Hood, TX and then was stationed in the Philippines until his honorable discharge in December of 1946.

On June 25, 1948 Fred married Marie Anderson at the Tracy Lutheran Church in Tracy, MN, where they made their home. Fred worked as a hired hand on farms as a young man and worked at several area filling stations. Fred also worked for Cornelius and Johnson, where he was a block and bricklayer and laid cement. In 1965, Fred went to work for the city of Tracy until 1974, when he began working for Tri-County Co-op. In 1983 he went to work for the Cenex Service Station until his retirement in 1996.

Fred enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening and watching sports. He was also a member of the Tracy Lutheran Church. Fred died Thursday, March 2, 2000 at the Tracy Municipal Hospital at the age of 77.

Fred is survived by his wife Marie; one daughter, Donna and her husband George Questad of Crooks, SD; two sons, Ronald and his wife Bonnie of Brainerd, MN and David and his wife Theresa of Lewiston, MN; four grandchildren; five brothers, Sylvester of St. Leo, MN, Raymond and Frank both of Marshall, MN, Vernon of Tracy, MN and Donald of Minneota, MN; three sisters, Louise Rolf of Watertown, MN, Rosetta Woodbury of Echo, MN and Sylvia Roberts of Marshall, MN; one half-sister, Franceo Kautz of Flandreau, SD; nieces, nephews and cousins.

His parents, two brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.

Interment was at the Tracy City Cemetery with Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.

Douglas A. Lau, 71

Services were held on Tuesday, March 7, 2000 for Douglas Lau at the Tracy Lutheran Church in Tracy, MN. Officiants were Reverend Stephen Olson and Reverend Marlene Elmstrom. Organist was Dick Stelter with Bill Elmstrom as soloist.

Honorary casket bearers were Tom Holland, Dustin Alcorn and David Alcorn. Casket bearers were Larry Fisher, Duane Peterson, Gary Schaar, Bob Hatch, Milt Moen and Brent Larson.

Douglas Allen Lau was born April 24, 1929 to Ewald and Ruth (Price) Lau in Lyon County, Tracy, Minnesota. He grew up on the family farm northeast of Tracy, and attended Tracy Public School, graduating in 1947.

Following graduation, he enlisted in the National Guard, which turned into active duty in 1950. He served overseas in Japan, being part of a medical unit until his discharge in 1952.

On June 28, 1952, he and Lois Moline were married at Tracy Lutheran Church. Following their marriage, they made their home on the family farm until 1987 when he and Lois moved into Tracy. Doug retired from farming in 1991.

Doug was baptized on September 22, 1929, and confirmed March 29, 1941. He was a member of Tracy Lutheran Church where he served as a trustee.

Community involvement included serving 13 years on the Tri-County Co-op Board, being a member of the Tracy Country Club Board and the Flying Club of Tracy. During leisure time, Doug enjoyed shooting skeet, hunting, fishing and flying.

He is survived by his wife, Lois, of Tracy, MN; one daughter, Julie and husband David Schilling, Oklahoma City, OK; two sons, Jeff, wife Billie Jo, Tracy, MN; and Jack, wife Sandy, Tracy, MN; seven grandchildren; one aunt, Edna Robinson and one uncle, Milton Lau.

Preceding him in death were his parents.

Interment was held at Tracy City Cemetery with Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.

Josephine Swenson, 92

Services were held Wednesday, March 1, 2000 for Josephine A. Swenson at Trinity Lutheran Church, Owatonna, MN. Josephine died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000 at Northfield Hospital at the age of 92.

Josephine Grinde was born April 1, 1907 in Murray Co. the daughter of Ole and Inga (Furan) Grinde.

On June 9, 1933, she married Everett Swenson. The couple lived in Pipestone until 1941, when they moved to Owatonna.

Mrs. Swenson was a long-time employee of Hammer's Fashion Center, Owatonna.

She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School and was a member of the Ladies Aid. She enjoyed crocheting.

Mrs. Swenson is survived by two sons, Curtis Swenson of Northfield, Murray (and Beverly) Swenson of Hutchinson; two daughters, Karen Weiser of Milwaukee, WI, Reve (and Robert) Farina of Massapequa Park, Long Island, NY; two brothers, Lloyd (and Cora Mae) Grinde of Slayton, Vernon (and Doris) Grinde of Tracy; a sister, Doris Onken of Slayton; 13 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, two sisters and a brother.

Corey A. Olson, 24

Corey Allen Olson, 24, of Burnsville, MN died suddenly on March 1, 2000 at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, MN. Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 4, 2000 at English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove with burial in the Walnut Grove Cemetery.

Corey was a 1994 graduate of Apple Valley High School and served four years with the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1998. He was united in marriage to Nicole Buchholz on June 1, 1996.

He was presently employed with Dependable Tire of Savage, MN. He was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time at his grandparents farm.

He will be lovingly missed by his daughter Marissa of Tracy, parents, Tom and Jackie Olson, brother Matthew and sister Jennifer all of Burnsville, MN; grandparents Curt and Dolores Shaw of Tracy, Nita and Harlan Hansen of Brooten; great-grandmother Hazel Shaw of Tracy and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather LeRoy Olson.

Eva Ruppert, 96

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Eva Ruppert at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Currie, MN on February 24, 2000. Monsignor Paul Evers officiated. Kayo Silvernale was song leader and the organist was Patty LeClaire. Reader was Dorothy Ruppert.

Casket bearers were Keith Stanton, Melvin Ruppert, LeRoy Shea, William Olivier, Melvin Ruppert Jr. and Kerry Ruppert. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery in Currie.

Eva Helena was born February 18, 1904 in Murray Township to John Valentine Ruppert and Mary Lucille (Weiler) Ruppert. She was baptized and confirmed at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Currie, MN. She received her schooling at the Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Currie.

As a young woman, Eva left Currie and moved to Rochester. A former waitress and caterer, for many years Eva spent her winters at Tucson, AZ, where she worked as a waitress in country clubs. In Rochester she worked as a waitress at a number of restaurants, including Michael's, the Green Parrot, and Wong's. She also worked for Dr. Baker and did catering for the Mayo doctors at their homes.

She was an active member of St. John's Catholic Church, St. John's Women's Council and past president of Saint Mary Magdaline's group. She lived at the Fontaine Towers for a number of years before entering Carrington Cottages where she spent her final years.

Eva died at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, MN on February 20, 2000, two days after her ninety-sixth birthday.

Survivors include a sister, Susan Coddington, in Worthington; a brother Edward and his wife Mary in Sioux City, IA; sister-in-law Ella (Mrs. Aloysious) Ruppert, Currie; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; brothers Matthew, John (Andy), Joseph, Nicholas and Aloysious; and sisters Marie, Mary, Kathryn and Elizabeth.

Albert C. Verly, 84

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, March 8, 2000 at 2 p.m. for Albert Cornelius Verly at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall, MN.

Albert C. Verly was born on February 12, 1916 in Stanley Township of Lyon County the son of Cyril and Lucy Bulcke Verly. He attended country school.

He was married to Anna Doom on September 16, 1941 in Marshall, MN. The couple farmed south of Marshall and then in 1949 moved to the farm North of Marshall where they farmed until moving to Marshall in 1989. Albert enjoyed Rolle Bolle, traveling, camping, photography and cards. He especially enjoyed visiting with family and friends.

Mr. Verly passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2000 at McKennon Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 84.

He is survived by his wife, Anna Verly, Minneota, MN; sons Joe (Carol) Verly, Marshall, Roger (Shirley) Verly, Ghent, MN, Fran (Sharon) Verly, Marshall; daughters Bernie (Nick) Reuter, St. Cloud, MN, Shirley (Denny) Timmerman, Boyd, MN, Char (Denny) Popowski, Garner, IA, Rose (Lynn) Goltz, Tracy, MN, Pat (Gary) Timmerman, Marshall, Theresa DeBaere, Ghent, Elaine (Doug) Sietsema, Watertown, SD, Lou (Gary) Wischer, Marshall and Cathy Verly, Litchfield, MN; one sister Mary Doom of Marshall; 49 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his parents, three sons, granddaughter, great-grandson, one brother and infant brother and sister.

Interment was at Calvary Cemetery in Marshall with Rehkamp Funeral Home of Marshall handling arrangements.

Donald G. Comnick, 80

Reverend Donald G. Comnick, age 80, of Milroy, MN, passed away at the Weiner Memorial Medical Center in Marshall, MN on Friday, March 3, 2000. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 7 at the First Lutheran Church in Marshall. Burial was at the Westbrook City Cemetery in Westbrook, MN.

Donald Gerald Comnick was born to Gottlieb and Emma (Hanson) Comnick on August 4, 1919, Rosehill Township, Cottonwood County, MN. He was baptized on September 7, 1919 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rosehill Township and confirmed on September 2, 1934 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Westbrook, MN. He was a graduate of the Westbrook High School, Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa and Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. He was ordained on June 4, 1944 at Grace Lutheran Church in Westbrook, MN.

One June 20, 1950, Donald was united in marriage to Mildred “Millie” Ring in Windom, MN. Donald served as pastor for Grace Lutheran Church in Weschester, IL, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Falls, IL, Emanuel Lutheran Church in Evansville, IN, First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, IA, Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Milroy, MN, Trinity Lutheran Church in Lucan, MN and interim pastor for Peace Lutheran Church in Ruthton, MN and Grace Lutheran Church in Russell, MN.

Pastor Donald was very active in all the communities where he lived and preached. He conducted worship services at several nursing homes each month. After retirement, he did supply preaching on Sundays. He has served on the Religious Center Board of Southwest State University in Marshall, the Prairie Arts Chorale Board and as conference chairman of the A.L.C. and the E.L.C.A. He was a vocal soloist with the city band in Rock Falls, IL, served as chairman of the Heart Fund and the Red Cross. He was a past president of the Lions Club and the Ecumenical Speaker at many Lions Club Conventions. He belonged to A.A.R.P., was song leader of the Marshall Golden Kiwanis and was on the Redwood County Board of Aging.

Pastor Don's enjoyments in life were singing, playing the piano, and attending musical events (especially those of Mary, Randy and Rachel). He was a Master Gardener who loved flower arranging and gardening. He loved shopping (especially for antiques), attending Elderhostels and traveling throughout the world (visiting the United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe, Africa, the Holy Land). He attended two Lutheran World Federations in Europe with Millie.

Pastor Don's loves in his life were his Lord and his family, especially being “Papa Don” to his only grandchild, Rachel. He had just celebrated his 55th ordination anniversary in June of 1999. Pastor Don was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Marshall, MN at the time of his death.

He is survived by his wife, Millie of Milroy; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Randy Morken of Alexandria, MN; a granddaughter, Rachel Morken of Alexandria, MN and brother and sister-in-law Reverend Russell and Helen Comnick of Menahga, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Evelyn Gunderson.