Obituaries from the week of January 8, 2003

Cora Starken, 99

Funeral services were held Sat., Jan. 4, 2003 for Cora Starken at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy. Fr. Brian Mandel officiated. Special music by Cookie Cooreman.

Casket bearers were Sander Ludeman, Brian Ludeman, Cal Ludeman, Matt Rettmer, Glenn Hamilton, Michael Sanderson, Tim Starken and Tom Starken.

Cora Lee Starken was born February 20, 1903 in Gary, Minnesota to Halvor and Alma (Johnson) Lee. She was baptized March 29, 1903 and confirmed Nov. 12, 1916 at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Gary.

Cora was united in marriage to Mathew Starken on September 16, 1921 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She worked as a waitress in cafe's at Canby, Marshall and Tracy, before working at the Tracy Hospital. After they renovated and opened the Tracy Nursing Home, Cora stayed on and was chief cook, until she retired. She was very proud to be a member of the VFW Auxiliary. These women worked very hard to encourage the building of the Tracy Swimming Pool in the 1950's. Cora and Mathew's home was always open to friends and family. People from Africa, New Zealand, India, and Denmark have enjoyed her donuts and coffee. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary, a charter member of the Hospital Auxiliary, the Sunshine Society, St. Mary's Guild and the Wheels Across The Prairie Museum. She enjoyed bingo, playing cards, travel and family.

Cora Lee Starken died on December 30, 2002 at the Tracy Nursing home in Tracy, Minnesota at the age of 99 years, 10 months and 10 days.

She is survived by her children Jerome of Madison, Tennessee, Mary Lou (Sander) Ludeman of Tracy, George (Bernadine) of Rockhall, Maryland, Nancy Sanderson of Turtle Lake, Wisconsin and Sandra (Con) Rettmer of Tracy; one brother Owen of McVille, North Dakota; two sisters Inez Noto of Beloit, Wisconsin and Annebelle Kent of Moorhead; 17 grandchildren; 37 great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, six sisters, five brothers, one daughter, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law and two grandchildren.

Interment was in Calvary Cemetery, Tracy, MN with the Tracy Area Funeral Home handling arrangements.

Victor Gorres, 80

Victor Gorres, 80, of Redwood Falls died Sunday, December 29, 2002 at the Sunwood Good Samaritan Care Center in Redwood Falls. Mass of Christian Burial was held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003 from St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Redwood Falls with burial in St. Mathias Cemetery in Wanda. The Nelson-Martin Funeral Service handled the arrangements.

Victor Paul Gorres, the son of Henry and Josephine (Starken) Gorres was born August 5, 1922 on the family farm in Willow Lake Township, Redwood County. He resided with his family in Willow Lake Township and attended country school south of Wanda.

On February 10, 1948, Victor married Anna Schueller at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Wabasso. They resided on the family farm, farming grain and raising livestock until 1984 when they retired and moved into Redwood Falls. Victor was a former member of St. Mathias Catholic Church in Wanda and currently a member of St. Catherine's. His family and friends were very important to him. Victor enjoyed playing cards, going to parades, attending threshing bees and going to coffee.

Victor will be missed by his wife of 54 years, Anna of Redwood Falls; and children Bernice Marti of Rouses Point, NY, Steve Gorres and wife Joyce of Redwood Falls, and Phyllis Radke and husband Ron of Tracy. Also surviving are grandchildren Michael (Amy) Marti, Stacey Gorres, Stefanie Gorres, Andy Gorres, Dustin (Pam) Rue, Devon Radke and Derek Radke and one great-grandchild Kaylee Gorres. Also surviving is a sister Lea Zwach of Tracy and brother Clifford Gorres of Murdock.

Victor was preceded in death by a son David in infancy; brothers Leonard, Clarence and Milton; two sisters, Agnes Zollner and a twin sister in infancy, Victoria.

Virene Baack, 87

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, January 7, 2003 for Virene Baack at Tracy Lutheran Church, Tracy, MN. Rev. Stephen Olson and Rev. Gary Gabel officiated. Organist was Richard Stelter with LeeAnn Baker-Schack as soloist.

Casket bearers were Jeff Lau, Jack Lau, Roger Kleven, Jim Johnson, Marvin Kleven and Mark Johnson.

Virene Adeline (Pederson) Baack was born March 16, 1915 to Iver and Lena (Johnson) Pederson on a farm near Walnut Grove, Murray County, MN. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, attended country school and graduated from Walnut Grove High School in 1933.

Virene married Delbert Baack on November 5, 1945 in Walnut Grove and the couple made their home on a farm 3 miles east of Tracy, MN. In the fall of 1977 they moved into Tracy and in May of 2001 Virene entered the Prairie View Healthcare Center.

She was a member of Tracy Lutheran Church and its various Women's groups, she was also a member of the Friendly Hour Club and Flower Club. Among her hobbies were needlepoint, baking, sewing and flower gardening.

Virene died January 2, 2003 at the Tracy Area Medical Services at the age of 87.

She is survived by her husband, Delbert; two daughters, Janice Hudson of Bullhead City, AZ and Diane (Fred) Bartling of Hay Springs, NE; three grandchildren, Peggy, Michelle and Christopher; one brother, Gordon Pederson of Redwood Falls, MN; one sister, Bernice Wornson of Mankato, MN; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Virene was preceded in death by her parents, one infant son, Bruce; three brothers, Darold, Myron and Lester.

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

Leona Ingalls, 92

Funeral services were held on Fri., Jan. 3, 2003 at Tracy Area Funeral Home for Leona Ingalls. Rev. Homer Dobson officiated.

Casket bearers were Rick Ross, Tim Ross, David Ohman, Karl Erickson, Robert Ross and Amy Ross.

Leona Ohman Ingalls was born January 6, 1910, to Caroline Melos and Morris Ohman Sr. in Redfield, South Dakota. She graduated from Tracy High School in 1927. She attended Gustavus University for one year and then transferred to the University of Minnesota.

She married Laverne Ingalls and they moved back to Tracy, MN, where they started the Ohman Funeral Home in 1934. Leona also owned the Ohman Paint Store until her retirement in 1988.

On January 1, 2003, Leona Ohman Ingalls died at the TracyNursing Home at the age of 92 years, 11 months and 25 days.

She survived by sister-in-law, Pearl Ohman; three nieces, Elaine Ross, Jean Moon, Charlotte Erickson and one nephew, Morris Ohman Jr; five great nephews and one great niece.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Laverne in 1962, one sister, Lorene Sheets and one brother Donald Ohman.

Interment was in the Tracy City Cemetery with the Tracy Area Funeral Home handling arrangements.