Obituaries from the week of November 28, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Sharon Christian, 34

A memorial service will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fort Walton Beach, FL for Sharon S. Russell Christian. Sharon passed away on November 22, 2001.

Sharon was born on August 15, 1967 in Fort Walton Beach and grew up there and graduated from Choctawhatchee High School in 1985. She worked as a real estate agent and property manager for C21 Coastal Realty for almost 10 years.

Sharon met and married Paul Christian at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Shalimar. After Paul's discharge from the USAF, they lived in Minnesota, Virginia and Montana.

She returned to Ft. Walton Beach in May to assist her grandmother. On July 19th she had a seizure at which time they discovered four melanoma brain lesians. She lived out her final days as she wished with her devoted husband always at her side. They took trips to visit family in Minnesota and friends in Virginia; and traveled to the Bahamas and cruised to the Western Caribbean.

Sharon is survived by her husband of 9-1/2 years, Paul; her devoted grandmother, Annie Mae Russell of Ft. Walton Beach; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Darrell and Mary Christian, Garvin, MN; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Susan and Thomas Drackley, Lewiston, MN, David and Julie Christian, Tea, SD, Jim and Melissa Christian, Currie, MN, Amy and Jeremy Lindeman, Roseau, MN; 10 nieces and nephews.

Sharon was preceded in death by her father Phillip Wayne Russell.

Interment will be at the South Ebenezer Cemetery in Laurel Hill, FL. Donations in Sharon's honor may be made to Covenant Hospice, 101 Hart St., Niceville, FL 32578.

The Emerald Coast Funeral Home of Fort Walton Beach handled arrangements.

Ivadell Dammen, 82

Funeral services were held on Friday, November 23, 2001 for Ivadell Dammen at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Ann Township, Cottonwood Co., MN. Pastor Paul Carlson officiated. Organist was Nancy Osland with soloist Nancy Harnack.

Casket bearers were Matthew Dammen, Daniel Dammen, Douglas Dammen, Don Raveling, Gene Raveling and Bob Heggerston.

Ivadell E. Marie Raveling Dammen was born on February 25, 1919 in Johnsonville Twp., Redwood Co., MN to John and Ida (Otto) Raveling. She was baptized into the Lutheran faith on May 18, 1919 at Johnsonville Lutheran Church.

She graduated form Lamberton High School in 1927.

On June 20, 1938 she was united in marriage to Melvin (Pete) Dammen at her parents home near Lamberton. The couple farmed south of Revere until 1945 when they moved to Murray County where they farmed until 1988. They moved back to the Dammen home farm in 1978 and Pete continued to farm in Murray Co.

Ivadell was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and she loved to go any where especially for rides. The couple especially enjoyed their holiday lighting. She loved her six grandchildren and most recently her great-granddaughter Attie Marie, her namesake who was born on Ivadell's birthday.

Ivadell passed away Monday, November 19, 2001 at the Tracy Nursing Home, she had reached the age of 82.

She is survived by two sons: Dennis and his wife Blanche of Winona, MN, Dallas (Rick) and his wife Gale of Marshall; six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband on April 3, 2000 and two brothers.

Interment was at St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery in Walnut Grove, MN with the Jacobson Funeral Service handling arrangements.

Robert W. Nelson, 78

Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 24, 2001 for Robert W. Nelson at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy. Pastor Home Dobson officiated with special music by Roger Baumann.

Casket bearers were Jeremy Bassett, Justin Bassett, Joshua Ankert, Jason Stobbe, Matthew Rogers, Myron Tofting, Bud Payne and Bryan Hillger.

Robert (Bob) Willard Nelson was born January 26, 1923, to Robert and Edna (Brown) Nelson in Tracy, Minnesota. Bob grew up on a farm north of Tracy and attended Country School District #35 and graduated from Tracy High School in 1940. He also attended one year of agriculture school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

On October 3, 1945 Robert married Alice Cooreman at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy, at which time he was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith. They made their home on the family farm in Gales Township.

Bob farmed most of his life. They owned the Red Rooster Cafe from 1968 until 1973, at that time he then purchased and operated a small grocery in Revere, MN for several years. In the mid 70's, he moved back to Tracy and made it his home.

He was an active member of the Tracy community. He had served on the Tracy City Council and as a board member of the Tracy Tri-County Co-op. Bob was currently on the Tracy Police Commission. He was also a member of the Walnut Grove Legion, past officer of the Eagles Club and a member of the Kiwanis Club.

Bob loved to fish and go hunting, he enjoyed dogs and was a good marksman. Bob was known for his care of his vehicles and enjoyed driving everywhere.

Robert died Wednesday, November 21, 2001 in the Prairie View Healthcare Center at the age of 78.

He is survived by three daughters: Linda (Arthur) Rogers of Tracy, MN, Julianne (Roy) Stachmus of Gold Canyon, AZ, Brenda (Juergen) Ankert of Mesa, AZ; nine grandchildren: Jeremy and Justin Bassett, Joshua Ankert, Jason Stobbe, Matthew and Mesa Rogers, Kerri Johnson, Kristen Thaden and Jessica Gibson; six great-grandchildren; one brother, Henry (Annabelle) Nelson of Denver, CO; three sisters: Joyce Grinde and Olive Bangasser both of Tracy, MN and Catherine (Darold) Short of Cottage Grove, MN; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Robert is preceded in death by his parents and two brother-in-laws.

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

Fannie Quigley, 83

Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 24, 2001 for Fannie Quigley. Pastor Homer Dobson officiated. Soloist was Joanne Knott with Eleanor Hewitt as soloist.

Casket bearers were Richard Visker, Jon Dirk Visker, Walt DeBlieck, Jans Dale Visker, Elvin Kruger and Jim Quigley.

Honorary casket bearers were Austin Mosier, Nathan Tiedemann, Danielle Reinke, Darren Rensink, Nicholas Mosier, Elisabeth Tiedemann, Nichole Reinke and Bobby Ziemke.

Fannie Quigley was born on January 2, 1918 in Little Rock, Iowa to Eltjo and Katherine (Dilly) Visker. As a young child the family moved to White, SD and then in the spring of 1934 on to Minnesota by Lake Shetek. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith. She attended Country School.

On September 30, 1944 Fannie married Thomas R. Quigley at the Church of Christ in Tracy, MN. They made their home at the Quigley family farm, later moving to a farm northeast of Tracy. In the mid 1960's they moved to Tracy and started Quigley Sanitation Service.

Fannie worked at the Tracy Bakery, Tracy Greenhouse, Horsman Poultry and the Christian Manor over the years. Besides this, she also worked with her husband's sanitation service. She was a member of the Church of Christ, the Priscilla Circle, and Willing Workers. She enjoyed flowers and gardening and had a large collection of plates of the different states.

Fannie died Wednesday, November 21, 2001 at the Tracy Area Medical Services at the age of 83.

She is survived by one daughter Dottie (Wayne) Tiedemann of Hull, IA; one son Thomas A. Quigley of Tracy, MN; three brothers, Jans (Mabel) Visker of Tracy, Johnny (Joyce) Visker of Tracy, and Joe (Nicky) Visker of Coatsville, IN; three sisters, Jenni Haney of Tracy, Tena (George) Quigley of Tracy, and Dorothy Kruger of Sibley, IA; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceding her in death were her parents, one brother Hank, two sisters, Marie and Grace.

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

Joane Schmalz, 66

Joane M. Schmalz, age 66 of Mora, formerly of Golden Valley, passed away on November 15, 2001 after a courageous battle with cancer.

She was an active member with the Order of Eastern Star and Zuhrah Shrine Auxiliary.

She was preceded in death by children Sharon and DuWayne, parents Harley and Helen Hollingsworth, brothers Leonard and Chester.

She will be deeply missed by her husband of 42 years Dale; daughter Kristine (Tom) Orluck, Nancy (Bob) DeLalley; four granddaughters, Michelle and Melissa Orluck, Jacquelyn Schmalz and Mackenzie DeLalley; sisters Ludema (Francis) Kassel, Jeane Carter, Joyce (Stanley) Severson; and brother Vernon (Helen) Hollingsworth; many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Nov. 20, at Calvary Lutheran Church, Golden Valley. Interment was at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Memorials may be sent to Masonic Cancer Research Center U of M.

Kenneth Swanson, 77

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday) November 28, 2001 for Kenneth G. Swanson of Lake Crystal. Rev. Greg Hovland officiated the services at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Vernon Center, MN. Burial with military honors will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 29 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Kenneth G. Swanson was born August 18, 1924 in Tracy, MN to Ernest and Edith (Nilsson) Swanson. He attended and graduated from Walnut Grove High School in 1942 and later graduated from Mankato Teacher's College. He served in the United States Army Air Corp from 1943 to 1945 and was honorably discharged. In June of 1949, he married Lois Olsen in Mankato and later divorced. In June of 1961, he married Elaine Adams in Mankato and was later divorced.

Mr. Swanson taught industrial arts in the Trimont, St. James, Rapidan and Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial Schools. He previously coached and served as Athletic Director for Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial School and most recently had been substitute teaching.

Mr. Swanson was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Vernon Center. He was the current Post Commander of American Legion Post 294 in Lake Crystal where he had served on the membership committee. He was active in the Crystal Loon Lake Recreation Association, Garden City Rod and Gun Club and the Lake Crystal and Vernon Center Fast Pitch Softball Associations. Mr. Swanson was very active in the MSU Alumni Association and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988.

Ken “Swanee” died at his home on Sunday, November 25, 2001 at the age of 77.

Survivors include four sons and their wives, Ron and Linda Swanson of Mankato, Ross and Suzanne Swanson of New Prague, Brad and Jennifer Swanson of Lake City, Brian and Christine Swanson of Garden City; three daughters, Jeanne Anderson and husband Les of Cannon Falls, Karen Adam and husband John of Englewood, CO, Kenya Wroge of Burnsville; 14 grandchildren; one great-grandson; sister-in-law, Florence Swanson of Bloomington; brother-in-law, Lyle Erickson of Minnetonka; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Vernon Swanson and a sister Phyllis Erickson.

Memorials are preferred to MSU Men's Basketball Alumni Association or to an organization of the donor's choice.