Obituaries from the week of September 26, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Lois E. Johnson, 88

Funeral services were held on Sat., Aug. 25, 2001 for Lois E. Johnson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove, MN. Pastor Terri Skildum officiated with Errol Steffen as soloist and Janice Carter as organist.

Casket bearers were Errol Buterbaugh, Roger Carlson, Donald Swenson, Jr., Larry Anderson, Tom Sommerfeld and Steve West.

Lois Elizabeth Johnson was born on the family farm in Redwood Co. the daughter of Axel and Selma (Werner) Truedson on December 27, 1912. She attended country school then went to the Walnut Grove High School.

Lois was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church of Walnut Grove. She was united in marriage to Arthur F. Johnson on November 19, 1943 at the Trinity Lutheran parsonage. The couple made their home in Walnut Grove where Lois was a homemaker and Arthur was a mechanic for many years. He passed away on June 11, 1988.

Lois was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid, the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed traveling, playing cards and visiting with friends and family.

Lois passed away on August 21, 2001 at the age of 88, at the Immanuel St. Joseph Hospital in Mankato, MN after a short illness.

She is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie and Harland Huebsch, Good Thunder, MN; one special grandson, Timothy of Good Thunder, MN; one sister-in-law Rosella Truedson, Walnut Grove, MN; nieces, nephews and several cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Arthur and one brother Warner Truedson.

Bishop Raymond Lucker, 74

Bishop Raymond Alphonse Lucker, second bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm, died September 19, 2001, at the age of 74, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Home, St. Paul.

A priest for 49 years, and a Bishop for 30, he retired as New Ulm Diocese Bishop last November.

He was a pioneer in the catechetical renewal movement nationwide and a leader in the development of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and the National Conference of Diocesan Directors of Catechetics. Bishop Lucker was one of the founders of the Catechetical Forum, an association of catechetical writers, professors of catechetics, CCD directors, and other catechetical leaders. He was a delegate to the International Catechetical Congress in Rome in 1971.

Bishop Lucker earned two doctoral degrees: one in sacred theology (S.T.D.); and the other in education (Ph.D.). He held active membership in the Catholic Theological Society of America, and served on the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Administrative Committee, and the committees on Latin America, Evangelization, Diaconate, Laity, Catechetical Directory, and Charismatic Renewal. The Bishops of the United States elected him in 1977 as a delegate to the Synod in Rome, and in 1987 as an alternate delegate.

Mass of Christian Burial was conducted at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm, Tuesday, Sept. 25. Burial was at the New Ulm Catholic Cemetery.

Viola D. Wendland, 90

Funeral services were held for Viola D. Wendland on Tuesday, September 25, 2001 at Faith Lutheran Church in Sanborn, MN. Rev. Robert Mehltretter officiated with Susanne Ladd as organist.

Casket bearers were her grandsons: Monte Rosen, Todd Rosen, Troy Wendland, Bradley Wendland, Brandt Wendland and Ryan Wendland.

Viola Dorothy Wendland was born October 13, 1910 to Herman and Bertha (Mitzner) Schultz near Marshall in Lyon County, Minnesota.

She grew up on a farm seven miles north of Balaton with three sisters and five brothers.

Viola attended rural school in Lyon County known as the Red Top Schoolhouse.

Viola was married to Leo Wendland on August 10, 1933 at the St. Peter's Lutheran parsonage in Balaton. They made their home on a farm one mile south of Balaton and where Viola lived until her death.

She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and was a faithful member of Faith Lutheran Church and attended Bible Class.

Viola was a devoted wife and mother and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Her other interests included playing cards and volunteer work.

She died on Saturday, September 22, 2001 at the Tracy Area Medical Services at the age of 90 years.

Viola is survived by two daughters, Shirley Wendland of North Mankato, MN and LaDonna Rosen of Balaton, MN; two sons and their wives, Willis and Joan Wendland of Balaton and Roger and Tonya Wendland of Balaton; one brother and his wife, Melville and Esther Schultz of Belle Plaine, MN; one sister Deloris and husband Don Benson of Taylors Falls, MN; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Her parents, husband, Leo, two sisters and four brothers preceded her in death.

Interment was at St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery in Balaton, MN with the Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton handling arrangements.

Roman G. Zwach, 87

Mass of Christian Burial was held for Roman G. Zwach on Friday, Sept. 21, 2001 in St. Michael's Catholic Church in Milroy. Military rites were conducted by the Milroy American Legion Post 274.

Roman George Zwach was born Saturday, April 4, 1914 in Gales Township, Redwood County, Minnesota to Joseph and Barbara (Hammerschmidt) Zwach. He was baptized and confirmed in the St. Michael's Catholic Church in Milroy. Roman attended Milroy Public School graduating from Milroy High School in 1932. He then attended the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus before returning home to farm.

Roman served in the U.S. Army during W.W.II. On November 20, 1946 he was united in marriage to Rita Logue in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy. They settled on the farm where he farmed until retiring in 1985 and moved into Milroy.

Roman entered the Wabasso Health Care Center in 1996.

He was an active member of the St. Michael's Catholic Church, served on the building committee, was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and the Milroy American Legion. He also had served as mayor of Milroy.

Roman enjoyed pitching horseshoes, playing golf, bowling, playing cards and loved to follow the Notre Dame Football team.

Roman died on Sunday, September 16, 2001 in the Redwood Area Hospital at the age of 87 years, 5 months and 12 days.

He is survived by a son Larry of Walnut Grove; a daughter Aisleen Benda and her husband Jim of St. Louis Park,; two grandchildren, Joel and Joshua; two sisters Emma VanKuelen of Marshall and Carol Kesteloot and her husband Vic of Marshall; three brothers, Harry Zwach and his wife Louise of Marshall, Paul Zwach and his wife Bernice of Tracy and Robert Zwach and his wife Doris of Milroy.

He was preceded in death by his wife Rita on June 25, 1993; three brothers, Joe, John and Henry; two sisters Elsie Schloegel and Rose Fischer.

Burial was in the church cemetery with the Sunset Funeral Home of Echo handling arrangements.

Delaine Gronewold, 72

Delaine Gronewold, age 72, died Sept. 20, 2001, at the Worthington Regional Hospital. Services were held Tuesday, September 25, 2001 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Richard Shafer officiating. Burial was held at Worthington Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Benson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Delaine was born Oct. 20, 1928, the daughter of Frank and Gertrude Henrichs Meester. She married Heye Gronewold Jan. 4, 1947, in Adrian. He preceded her in death.

She attended school in Ellsworth. She worked for the Campbell Soup Company for 35 years. She was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Worthington.

Surviving are two sons, Jerry (Ardes) Gronewold, Worthington, and Stephen (Vickie) Gronewold, Worthington; two daughters, Judy (Ray) Smith, Garden City, Kan., and Sharon Polzine, Tracy; four brothers, Henry (Lois) Meester, Lismore, Gorden (Elaine) Meester, Ivanhoe, Dennis (Barb) Meester, Florida, and Gary (Judy) Meester, Ellsworth; four sisters, Elizabeth Grote, Sibley, Iowa, Doris Kramer, Magnolia, Margaret (Jim) Odenbrett, Ellsworth, and Connie (Jim) Wendt, Tennessee; 13 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.