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Obituaries from the week of January 22, 2003

Leo Baumgartner, 88

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 for Leo Baumgartner at St. Columba Church in Iona, MN with Monsignor Paul Evers officiating. Organist was Sharon Lais with song leader Jean Hentges.

Pallbearers were his grandsons, Chad Baumgartner, Brad Baumgartner, David Baumgartner, Roger Baumgartner, Steve Baumgartner, and Tony Baumgartner.

Leo Baumgartner was born on December 18, 1914 on a farm in Murray County, MN to Joseph and Mary Biren Baumgartner. The family moved to Andover, SD where he attended country school and farmed with his family. In 1934 he returned to the Slayton area to farm.

On April 12, 1944 he and Phyllis Like were married at St. Ann's Church in Slayton. Following their marriage they farmed in the Slayton area. In 1950 they moved to a farm near Lake Wilson, MN. In March of 1963 they moved to the Iona area to continue the family farming operation. In 1978 they retired and moved to Iona. They both became residents of the Slayton Manor in 1995. Phyllis passed away on July 28, 1996. Leo passed away at the Slayton Manor on January 17, 2003 at the age of 88.

He was a member of St. Columba Church in Iona, the Catholic Order of Foresters and on the Building Planning Board for the new Catholic Churches in Lake Wilson and Iona. Leo enjoyed attending many high school sporting events and stock car racing. Leo also enjoyed fishing, sales, auctions, caning furniture and family genealogy.

Survivors include five children and their spouses: Bill and Karla Baumgartner of Tracy, Jim and Paulette Baumgartner of Alexandria, MN, Jerry and Rosalie Baumgartner of Avoca, Linda and Dr. Lane Horn of Tracy, and Mary and Stephen Stritzel of Ames, IA; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one brother, Edward and his wife, Adeline Baumgartner of Fulda; two sisters, Lillian and her husband, Bob Mulcahey of Janesville, MN and Betty Jean Cole of St. Paul, MN.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis, daughter, JoAnn, sister, Agnes Fuchs and brother Andy Baumgartner.

Interment was in St. Columba Cemetery, Iona, MN with the Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton in charge of arrangements.

Lawrence Gengler, 82

Lawrence "Larry" L. Gengler, 82, of Windom, died Monday, Jan. 13, 2003, at his home. Services were held Friday, January 17, 2003 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Windom, with the Rev. Andrew Olsem officiating. Burial was in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery, Windom. Anderson-Schmidt-LaCanne Funeral Home, Windom, was in charge of the arrangements.

Born Aug. 26, 1920, in Nobles County, he was the son of John and Mary Theis Gengler. He married Elizabeth "Betty" Holinka at St. Gabriel's Church, Fulda. She died Dec. 9, 1997.

He grew up on farms near Iona, Wilmont and Avoca and attended country school. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After marriage, they lived in Slayton, Austin, Revere and Windom. From 1959 to 1968, they owned and operated the Riviera Club in Revere until moving to Windom. He was a janitor at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and at the U.S. Post office. He retired in 1985. They spent winters in Harlingen, Texas, until Betty's death. He then spent winters in California. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Windom, the Knights of Columbus and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Surviving are one son, Douglas (Jeanette) Gengler, Jackson; three daughters, Karen Craven, Cheyenne, Wyo., Roxanne (Galen) Fischer, St. James, and Marcia Gengler, Jackson; one brother, Joseph Gengler, Richmond, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.