Obituaries from the week of June 29, 2005
Richard Gieser, 74
A Memorial service will be held on Friday, July 1, 2005 at 1:30 p.m. at the Garden of Memories Chapel in Worthington, MN for Richard L. “Dick” Gieser, 74. Pastor Robert Raedeke will officiate.
Richard L. “Dick” Gieser was born November 11, 1930 in Worthington, MN the son of the late John and Katherine (Olson) Gieser.
Mr. Gieser was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Ear. Richard worked as Chief Warrant Officer for the Minnesota National Guard where he was in charge of the maintenance shop in Tracy, MN. He retired in 1989 after completing 43 years of service with the guard. Dick was a member of the Round Lake, MN American Legion and a volunteer fireman in Worthington, MN for over 20 years. He was very active in Eternal Life Lutheran Church in Mesa, AZ where he held several church offices.
He met and married Vauna Kuehl on January 7, 1951. Richard was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Richard passed away Saturday, June 18, 2005 at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Scottsdale, AZ at the age of 74 years.
He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years Vauna, one son: Michael Gieser of Apache Junction, two daughters: Judy (David) Ford of Mesa and Pamela (Timothy) Nowak of Cheyenne, WY; two grandchildren: Matthew (Sherry) Ford of Goodyear, AZ and Katrina Nowak of Cheyenne, WY; four great-grandchildren: Ikeem, Alexander, Jessica and Vanessa; one sister: Marilyn (Darrell) Stofferahn of Windom, MN; and one brother Robert (Betty) Gieser of Worthington, MN; and his very best friend his dog “Bubba.”
The family is requesting memorial contributions in Richard’s name to Eternal Life Lutheran Church, 7025 E. Main Street, Mesa, AZ.
The Mariposa Gardens Funeral home of Mesa, AZ is handling the arrangements.
Charles “Vernon” LeClaire, 86
Charles “Vernon” Le Claire age 86 of Tracy passed away Friday, June 24, 2005 at his home. Memorial services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 28 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy. Interment will be in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
Charles Vernon Le Claire was born November 7, 1918 on the family farm south of Currie, Minnesota. He was the second oldest child of ten born to Alfred and Elizabeth (Harvey) Le Claire. He attended Catholic school in Currie. After his schooling, he worked on his father’s farm. He then went on to school at Lockheed Aircraft in Los Angeles, CA. Vernon then joined the US Navy in 1942 serving in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska during WWII. He received his honorable discharge in 1945. After the service, Vernon worked construction in Minneapolis for a time before returning to farm with his dad.
On July 17, 1954, Vernon was united in marriage to Mary Arkell in Iona, Minnesota. Together they farmed near Currie. After a back injury, Vernon attended Canby VoTech for Auto Parts before moving to Tracy in 1973 where he worked as a custodian at the schools. Due to his health, he was forced to retire in the early 1980’s.
Vernon was a member of the Tracy American Legion and VFW. He enjoyed gardening, birdwatching, fishing, and wood working, including building blue bird houses.
He is survived by his wife Mary of 51 years; five children: Mary Lynn (Jim) Kirkhart of Buffalo, OK, Dale Le Claire of Iowa Falls, IA, Craig (Stacy) Le Claire of Rogers, MN, Brian Le Claire of Decatur, NE, and Kristen (Bob) Atkinson of Savage, MN; eight grandchildren: Ashley Le Claire, Jacob, Caleb, Jared & Marissa Le Claire, and Brian, Kalley & Chloe Atkinson; sisters: Betty Kass, Virginia (Loren) Fetter and Rose Marie (Lorrell) Hanson; and a brother Donald (Darlene) Le Claire. He is also survived by many other relatives and friends.
The Tracy Area Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.