Obituaries from the week of December 17, 2003

Stewart Baack, 93

Funeral services were held on Saturday, December 13, 2003 for Stewart W. Baack at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove, MN. Rev. Terri Skildum officiated. Lynn Swanson was organist with Errol Steffen as soloist.

Casket bearers were Merle Pachol, Lee Pendergrass, Lennis Larson, Don E. Johnson, Gregory Holmes, and Jay Pearson.

Stewart W. Baack was born on December 9, 1910 in Cannon City, Texas to Otto H. and Bertha (Barz) Baack. Shortly after, the family moved to New Ulm, MN and then to Tracy, where Stewart received his education.

He worked on Tracy area farms until starting a farm to farm produce pick-up business. After selling this business he was married to Florence Larson on November 24, 1938. Together they farmed north of Walnut Grove until Stewart began a tree stump removal business. He worked at this until his retirement in 1961. Stewart enjoyed hunting and fishing and took great delight in keeping his cars in tip-top condition. One of the highlights of his retirement years was when he and Florence were taken on a vacation to Central Mexico as guests of their daughter and son-in-law Becky and Greg.

Stewart passed away December 10, 2003 at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy, MN at the age of 93 years and one day.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Florence of Walnut Grove; three daughters (Bonnie (Lee) Pendergrass of Seattle, WA, Kathy (David) Henke of Rochester and Rebecca (Gregory) Holmes of Rochester; one brother Delbert of Tracy.

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

Iona Holden, 87

Iona Caryl (Johnson) Olson Holden, 87, passed away Saturday, November 22, 2003 at the Inver Grove Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Inver Grove Heights, MN. Memorial services are pending until Spring of 2004 with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy, MN handling the arrangements.

Iona Holden was born August 21, 1916 in Walnut Grove, MN to Clarence Oscar Johnson and Myrtle Irene (Greenman) Johnson. While still an infant, her parents divorced and she was adopted and raised by her father's sister, Caroline Marie Olson and her husband Olaf Christian Olson. She grew up on the family farm across the road from the Hoiland Lutheran Church until the family moved into a new home in Garvin during the 1920's.

She attended the Garvin Public School for eight years and graduated form the eighth grade in 1930. She attended high school at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato.

Iona married Raymond (Bud) Julius Holden on July 4, 1936. They farmed and resided in the Tracy/Garvin area. Iona remained in the Tracy area, after the death of her husband in 1972, until 1993 when she moved to Inver Grove Heights.

Iona remained in good health until a debilitating stroke on October 14, 2003. She had been a resident of Inver Grove Good Samaritan Nursing Home since 1993.

Iona is survived by her sons Leland James “Jim” Holden (Brenda) of Arden Hills, MN and Bradley Keith Holden, four granddaughters; nine great-grandchildren; several cousins, nieces and nephews and many friends.

Donna Thieren, 76

Mass of Christian Burial was held for Donna Thieren on Saturday, December 13, 2003 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy, MN. Father Brian Mandel officiated. Organist was Shannon Benson with Carla Vandewiele as cantor. Gift bearers were her grandchildren.

Casket bearers were Steve Buyck, Joe Buyck, P.J. Thieren, Shon Thieren, Jeff Suedbeck and Dan Nath.

Madonna Irene Thieren was born February 20, 1927 in Walnut Grove, Minnesota to Camiel and Augusta (Van Hecke) Buyck. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy.

Madonna was united in marriage to Henry Thieren on February 17, 1947 at St. Mary's Catholic Church. They lived in Amiret, Garvin and moved into Tracy in 1974. Madonna became a resident at the Elko Hospice Home in August of 2003. She was a waitress at the Red Rooster Cafe and also worked at the Tracy Greenhouse. She was very active in her church and belonged to St. Mary's CCW and the Mission group. She volunteered at the Tracy Nursing Home and enjoyed gardening, Bunko, playing cards and quilting.

Madonna Irene Thieren passed away December 9, 2003 at the Elko Hospice Home in Elko, Minnesota at the age of 76 years, 9 months and 19 days.

She is survived by her daughters Rose (Jack) Suedbeck of Lakeville and Dianna Lillard of Greeley, Colorado; sister Marie (Bob) Albertson of Lamberton and brothers Bud (Theresa) Buyck of Tracy and Jiggs Buyck of Garvin; eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren and sister-in-law Kathy (John) Stuntebeck of Marshall, Wisconsin.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Henry who died November 14, 1998, one son James who died in 1974 and one brother Melvin.

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