Obituaries from the week of November 2, 2005

Bernetta Holm, 79

Bernetta Holm, age 79, of Tracy passed away on Monday, October 31, 2005 at Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 4, 2005 at the Church of Christ in Tracy. Visitation will be 5 – 7 p.m. Thursday at the church and will continue one hour prior to services on Friday. Interment will be in the Tracy Cemetery. The Tracy Area Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Bernetta LaVerne Holm was born on September 26, 1926, at the family farm in Shetek Township, Murray County, Minnesota to Burton Woodard and Lillie May (Rea) Averill. Bernetta was the youngest of six children. She received her early education at District 16 Country School and attended Tracy High School. She was a 1949 graduate of the first LPN nurses class at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. On November 26, 1949 Bernetta was united in marriage to Eugene James Holm at the Tracy United Methodist Church. The couple made their home in Tracy. Her husband, Eugene passed away in 1976. Bernetta worked many years as a nurse, retiring in 1986.

Bernetta is survived by three children: Cynthia (Larry) Sabinske, of Marshall, Lauren (Lucinda) of Burnsville, MN and Annette of Marshall; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Also surviving are sisters: Florence McHugh, West Bend, WI, Maefern Christianson, Peoria, AZ and Beverly Knutson, Mesa, AZ. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Mort and sister Norenne Stencil and daughter Garnet of Vernon, TX.

Julia Schwaegert, 99

Julia Schwaegert, age 99 of Comfrey, died Saturday, October 29, 2005, at St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield. Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, November 3, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church in Comfrey, with burial at St. Paul Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday, November 3, from 9:00 a.m. until time of services at the church. Father Revocatus Mwakera officiating.

Julia Theresa Schwaegerl was born November 21, 1905, in St. Joe, Iowa, the daughter of Peter and Susan (Knott) Lenertz. She moved with her family as a young girl to Comfrey and was united in marriage to Henry Schwaegerl on April 17, 1928. Julia was a cook at St. Paul Catholic School in Comfrey for 35 years, serving both her children and her grandchildren. She lived in Comfrey until March of 1998 and became a resident of St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield in December of ‘98. She was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church, CCW, St. Theresa’s Circle and the Comfrey Senior Citizens. Julia enjoyed quilting and baking cookies for her grandchildren.

Julia Theresa Schwaegerl died Saturday, October 29, 2005, at St. John Lutheran Home at the age of 99 years.

Survivors include sons- Leon and wife Marge Schwaegerl of Comfrey, and James and wife Joyce Schwaegerl of Redwood Falls; daughter-in-law- Bernadine Schwaegerl of Spicer; 9 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; 1 great, great grandchild; sisters- Sally Lamfers of Amiret, and Virginia and husband Heye Lamfers of Tracy; brother- Peter and wife Helen Lenertz of Quensal, British Columbia; and sister-in-law- Alita Lenertz of Tracy. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Henry in 1981; son- Donald in 2004; brothers- Lawrence and Edward Lenertz; and sisters- Agnes Gegner, Millie Platcek and Mary Fischer.

Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home of Comfrey.

Condolences may be sent via e-mail to www.sturmfh.com.

Harley M. Kolp, 99

Funeral services were held on Monday, October 31, 2005 for Harley Kolp at the Church of Christ in Tracy, MN. Rev. Homer Dobson officiated. Organist was Eleanor Hewitt with a duet by Ruby White and Ruth Siefert and a solo by Wayne Siefert. Reader was Robert Siefert.

Honorary casket bearers and casket bearers were all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Harley Manford Kolp was born June 1, 1906 to Ralph and Ruth (Owens) Kolp in Glidden, Iowa. He attended country school and worked with his family on their farm as a young boy. The family moved to Waseca, MN for a short time and then to a farm in Redwood County, near Redwood Falls, MN.

On December 6, 1928 Harley married Geraldine Johnson at the Church of Christ in Redwood Falls, and made their home on a farm near Redwood Falls. In 1964, they moved to a farm in the Tracy, MN area where they farmed until their retirement in the early 1980s when they moved into Tracy.

Harley was a member of the Church of Christ in Tracy. He enjoyed the Minnesota Twins, watching the local crops in the field and most of all spending time with his family.

In 1995 Harley became a resident of Prairie View Healthcare Center where he died Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at the age of 99.

Harley is survived by five daughters, LaVonne (Norman) Kruse of Minneota, MN, Ruby White of Drain, OR, Joyce (Duane) Faulkner of Shelton, WA, Ruth (Robert) Siefert of Shakopee, MN and Betty Fernholz of Minneapolis, MN; one son, David (Aloris) Kolp of Seattle, WA; 19 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Geraldine Duscher and Margaret Okins both of Redwood Falls, MN, and Delores Wills of Hutchinson, MN; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

His parents, wife, Gerry, two grandsons, Mike and Harley, one brother and one sister preceded him in death.

Interment was in the Redwood Falls Cemetery, Redwood Falls, MN with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling the arrangments.

Esther Korlaski, 93

Funeral services for Esther Korlaski, age 93, of Sheldon, Iowa, who passed away at the Prairie View Retirement Home in Sanborn, Iowa on Thursday, October 27, 2005 were held on Monday, October 31, 2005 at the First Presbyterian Church in Ashton, Iowa, with the Rev. Dale Lint officiating.

Esther Mae Korlaski, the daughter of Charles B. and Maria E. (Morgan) Deal, was born August 31, 1912 in Tracy, Minnesota. She graduated from Tracy High School in Tracy, Minnesota in 1932. On April 26, 1939, she was united in marriage to Albert Korlaski in Ashton, Iowa. The young couple made their home in Ashton, where her husband worked for Hallett Construction Co. for 38 years. Esther was a cook for the Ashton Public School for 17 years and in the Verdoorn Nursing Home for 5 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert on September 29, 1965. Esther remained in her home until moving into Sheldon in 1979. She passed away on Thursday, October 27, 2005, at the Prairie View Home in Sanborn, Iowa reaching the age of 93 years, 1 month and 27 days.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Ashton, Iowa, for 56 years. She was also a member of the ladies aid, church circles and taught Sunday School. She enjoyed working in the kitchen and helping out where help was needed. She loved to play all kinds of card games, and enjoyed her T.V. and reading.

Esther leaves to cherish her memory, a nephew and his wife, Harold and Jackie Deal of Tracy, Minnesota; and four nieces, Rita Mae and her husband, Cliff Long of Algona, Iowa; Wilma and her husband, Norman Bosch of Montevideo, Minnesota; Joanne and her husband, Mel Biggin of Akeley, Minnesota; Donna Benedict of Phoenix, Arizona; and of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and two brothers, William and Roy Deal.

Burial will be in the Tracy City Cemetery in Tracy, Minnesota. The Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements.

Darlene Holmes, 71

Darlene Holmes, age 71 of Sioux Falls died suddenly of natural causes on Friday October 14, 2005 at her home. Funeral services were held on Wednesday October 19, 2005 at Word Of Life Pentecostal Church with burial at Hills Of Rest Memorial Park.

Darlene Ann Trembley, daughter of Arthur and Clara (Graf) Trembley, was born October 4, 1934 in Iona, MN. As a young girl she moved with her family to Sioux Falls, SD where she attended and graduated from Cathedral High School.

On September 20, 1952 she was united in marriage to Richard Holmes in Sioux Falls. The couple lived in several communities in Kansas and later Washington State for a short period of time. They later settled in Sioux Falls where Darlene was a seamstress for Normans Men’s Wear, Buels Cleaner’s, and from her home. For the last 13 years Darlene has also been a senior companion.

She was a member of Word Of Life Pentecostal Church and enjoyed sewing and crocheting.

Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Gail (Lonnie) Burton, Venezuela, Ruth (Dwain) Ailts, Sioux City, IA, Racine (Donald) Lynch, Charlestown, WV, Robert (Donna) Holmes, Randy (Cheryl) Holmes, Rev. Russell Holmes, all of Sioux Falls, her step-mother, Myrtle Trembley, Minneapolis, MN, sisters, Luella “Dollie” Ross and her husband Jerry, Wichita, KS, Stephanie (Steve) Malone, Minneapolis, 16 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Her parents, a brother Gerald, a sister, Theresa, and two sons, Roger and Richard preceded her in death

Doris Goettig, 80

Funeral services were held on Saturday, October 29, 2005 for Doris Goettig at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, MN. Fr. Brian Oestreich officiated.

Doris Catherine (Platz) Goettig died peacefully at home on October 26, 2005 at the age of 80 years.

Doris lived for her friends and family. Her friends were her daily support; her fond wish was for them to feel her support in return. Her family was her love. Doris was a member of St Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, Christian Mothers, the “Doris Club”, and Red Hat Society.

The first born of Joseph and Elizabeth (Schunk) Platz, she is survived by 10 siblings: sisters Marion (Leonard) Roiger, Rosalyn (Larry) Sell, Elizabeth (Cal) Bolinder, Marge (Leroy) Boklep and brothers Joseph (Janet), Kenneth(Joyce), James (Judy), Thomas (Jeri), Bernard, and Patrick (Deb).

She married Raymond J. Goettig on October 29, 1947. Mom’s ready laugh will be greatly missed by her daughters, Gwyn and husband James Ruddy, Mary Murphy, and Ruth and husband James Spencer, by her grandchildren Christopher and Mark, Melissa and husband Nick Mack and Matthew, and beloved dachshund, Johanna.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ray on October 13, 1993, her parents, and siblings Lenus and Joan.

Arrangements were handled by the Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye, MN.

E-mail condolences may be sent to the family via www.sturmfh.com