Obituaries from the week of February 2, 2005

Lilly Pagel, 95

Lilly Pagel Edwards, age 95 of Morris, formerly of Lyon County passed away on Saturday, January 22 in Morris, Minnesota. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 5, 2005 at the Tracy Area Funeral Home. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Bethel Cemetery, (Custer Township) Tracy, Minnesota. Funeral arrangements are with the Tracy Area Funeral Home.

Lilly Pagel was born August 18, 1909 in Sodus Township to Ben and Elizabeth (Dresow) Pagel. She was baptized into the Lutheran faith. Lilly attended school through the eighth grade at District 73 in Lyon County.

On March 30, 1927 Lilly was united in marriage to Edwin J. Edwards. To this union a son, James was born. Lilly lived her entire life in Sodus Township except for the 7 years she, Edwin and Jim lived in Ojibwa, Wisconsin. Lilly was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and birthday clubs. She enjoyed gardening, playing cards, dancing and journaling.

Lilly is survived by her grandson Mathew (Evonne) Remhof; two sisters-in-law: Annola Pagel and Barbara Strombold; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Edwin, son James, five brothers: Otto, Verner, Emil, William and Raymond; and one sister Ella Ross.

Harold Stage, 96

Harold Stage, age 96 of Tracy, formerly of Vesta area, died Saturday, January 29, 2005 in Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy. Services were at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 2, 2005 in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Seaforth with burial in the church cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the Seaforth Legion American Post 275.

Harold Stage was born Friday, March 6, 1908 in Granite Rock Township, Redwood County, Minnesota, the son of Daniel and Avina (Rohde) Stage. Harold was raised on the family farm in Granite Rock Township, Redwood County, Minnesota and attended District # 80 Country School through the 8th grade. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith in his youth at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Seaforth. In April of 1942 he entered the U. S. Army. After basic training in the States he was sent to the Pacific Islands and Australia as an Airplane Motor Machinist. While serving on the Island he came down with Malaria Fever. In October 1945 he received his discharge and returned home. Harold then worked as a meat cutter at the St. Paul Slaughter House for some time. Then he returned home to help his two brothers, Alvin and Lester farm. In the spring of 1983 Harold being in poor health entered the St. Cloud V. A. Hospital and was later transferred to Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Seaforth and belonged to the Seaforth American Legion Post 275 for 60 years.

Harold Stage died on Saturday, January 29, 2005 in Tracy at the age of 96 years, 10 months and 23 days.

He is survived by his brother Alvin Stage and wife Malinda, two nieces; Lynnette Engeswick and husband Jay of Mankato and Muriel Mazzone and husband Mark of Shasta, CA. a nephew Orlean Stage and wife Gail of Vesta, four great nephews; Lee Engeswick, Andrew Carlson, Austin Stage and Brandon Stage and three great nieces; Nichole Engeswick, Aleesa Stage and Shayla Stage and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Lester, an infant brother and infant sister and Jeff Carlson, the husband of niece Muriel.

Arrangements are being handled by the Sunset Funeral and Cremation Association of Echo and Wabasso.

Paul Zwach, 92

Paul F. Zwach, age 92 of Tracy, died Sunday, January 30, 2005 in the Tracy Area Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 2, 2005 in St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Milroy with burial in the St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery.

Paul Frank Zwach was born Wednesday, January 29, 1913 in Gales Township, Redwood County, Minnesota to Joseph & Barbara (Hammerschmidt) Zwach. He grew up on the family farm in Gales Township and attended public schools graduating from Milroy High School in 1933. Paul entered the U. S. Army in 1941 serving during W.W. II and was awarded the Bronze Star. After his discharge from the Army in 1945 he returned to the farm and was united in marriage to Bernice Beranek in Wanda on July 10, 1945. They settled on the Zwach family farm where he farmed until retiring in 1970. They continued to live on the farm in Gales Township. Paul was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Milroy and belonged to the Knights of Columbus, the Milroy American Legion, the V.F.W. in Tracy, the D.A.V and the Milroy Lions Club. He enjoyed sports, playing cards, spending time with family and friends, old time music, going for walks and visiting with everyone.

Paul F. Zwach died on Sunday, January 30, 2005 in the Tracy Hospital at the age of 92 years and one day. He is survived by his wife Bernice, three children; Merion Dean Zwach and wife Maggie of Coon Rapids, Karen Zwach of Richfield and Mary Boerboom and husband Curt of Marshall, and two grandchildren; Ryan Paul Boerboom and Jamie Lynn Boerboom. Also surviving are two sisters Emma VanKeulen and Carol Kesteloot and husband Vic and a brother Harry Zwach and wife Louise all of Marshall. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers; Joseph, John, Hank, Robert and Roman and two sisters; Elsie Schloegel and Rose Fischer.

The Sunset Funeral and Cremation Association of Echo and Wabasso is handling the arrangements.