Obituaries from the week of April 19, 2006
Donna Christensen, 80
Funeral services were held April 11, 2006 for Donna Christensen of Rochester, MN at Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester. She passed away April 8, 2006, after a lengthy illness with Parkinson’s disease.
Donna Elaine Templeton was born August 17, 1925 to Charles and Muriel (Johns) Templeton at Tracy, MN. She graduated from Tracy High School and received her RN degree from Kahler School of Nursing in Rochester, MN.
On November 1, 1947 Donna was united in marriage to Jay Christensen at First Presbyterian Church in Tracy.
Donna is survived by her husband, Jay, son Marty (Janet) of Deer River, MN; daughters Karla (John) Lester of Estherville, IA and Sue (Tom) Jamar of Hibbing, MN; six grandchildren; one sister, Mary Lou Anderson of Tracy and one brother, Dale (Doris) Templeton of Tracy.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Herbert (Herb) Hohler, 91
Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 15, 2006 for Herbert (Herb) Hohler at Tracy United Methodist Church, Tracy, MN. Rev. Kaye Brandt officiated with Allen Peirson as organist.
Casket bearers were his grandsons, Mike Hohler, Curt Hohler, Rob Hohler, Darren Hohler, Rick Hohler and Jim Hohler.
Honorary casket bearers were his granddaughters, Nancy Rons, Lori Bray, Cindy Ehret, Tammy Haecherl, Toni Townsend, Erin Breczinski, Heidi Hohler and Leah Bittner.
Herbert (Herb) Hohler was born July 15, 1914 to Anton and Martha (Herman) Hohler on a farm in Louriston Township, Chippewa County, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and attended country school. As a young man he worked on the family farm and he also attended and graduated from the West Central School of Agriculture in Morris, MN, after which he returned to the family farm.
On January 1, 1940 Herb married Marie Dilly and they made their home on a farm in the Granite Falls area where he grew up. He farmed until 1953 when he moved his family to Tracy, MN. Herb worked for the Holsum Bread Company as a delivery route driver for a short time and then began working as a construction foreman for the Thorson Bridge Construction Company, as well as, several other companies over the years until his retirement in 1976.
Herb was a member of the Tracy United Methodist Church, the Carpenters Union and the Tracy Eagles Club, where he served as President and was active in projects and activities. He enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening and also woodworking and metal crafting.
In November of 2003 Herb became a resident of the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy where he died Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at the age of 91.
Herb is survived by four sons, Gary (Diane) of Albert Lea, MN, Bob (Carrie) of Bellevue, NE, Tim (Kathy) and Randy (Sharon) both of Tracy, MN; one daughter, Linda (Kelvin) Pope of Tracy, MN; 16 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; one sister, Erna Teigen of Denver, CO; nieces and nephews.
His wife, Marie, two brothers, Anton and Fred and two sisters, Hildegard and Anna preceded him in death.
Interment was in the Tracy City Cemetery, Tracy, MN with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling the arrangements.
Ray Vandendriessche, 76
Mass of Christian Burial for Ray Vandendriessche, 76, of Marshall, was held on Monday, April 17, 2006, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall.
Raymond O. Vandendriessche was born on February 16, 1930, in Tracy, MN, to Alois and Clara (Vercruysse) Vandendriessche. He attended grade school in Milroy and graduated from Tracy High School. Ray served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
On December 27, 1952, Ray was united in marriage to Iona Bierl in Tracy. Farming was Ray’s pride and joy. He farmed in partnership with his brother Bob and later with his son Gary at the family farm south of Marshall. He also loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He and Iona enjoyed dancing and old time music.
Ray died on Thursday, April 13, 2006, at his residence in Marshall.
He is survived by his wife, Iona, of Marshall, son Michael (Kim) of Cedar Falls, IA, their children Jamie, Katie and Bryce, son Ron (Linda) of Marshall, their children Danica and Austin, son Gary (Mary Jo) of Marshall, their children Jena, Ryan and Eric, daughter Marlene (Alan) Verdoes of Marshall, their children Kevin, Kelsey and Kyle, and daughter Carrie of Marshall, one brother Robert (Dorothy) Vandendriessche of Marshall, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers George, Richard, Paul, Leon and infant brother Joseph.
Memorials are preferred to Prairie Home Hospice or Holy Redeemer Foundation.
Interment followed the service at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Marshall with the Rehkamp - Horvath Funeral Home in Marshall handling the arrangements.