Obituaries from the week of August 16, 2006

Esther Kazmar, 94

Esther Dorothy Dalke Kazmar, age 94, died at Cameron Glen Care Center in Reston, Virginia, on August 2, 2006, after suffering complications from a fall several weeks earlier. Mrs. Kazmar had been living with her daughter Sharon Mickus in Novato, CA, but was visiting her daughter Renee Sutter, of Centerville, VA, for part of the summer.

The Funeral Mass was held at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Clifton, Virginia. Burial was in Fairfax Memorial Park Cemetery, Fairfax, Virginia. Esther’s six grandchildren served as pallbearers.

Esther was born on July 1, 1912, one of seven children born to Peter and Catherine Dalke of Tracy, Minnesota. Esther graduated from Tracy High School in 1930 and from St. Mary of Nazareth School of Nursing in Chicago in 1933. Esther returned to Tracy and practiced private duty nursing at Tracy Hospital for two years. The Dalke house stood on the corner of east Morgan Street and 1st Street for over 80 years.

In 1935, Esther married William Kazmar. They made their home in Chicago until moving to Park Ridge, Illinois, in 1952. Esther and Bill had three daughters, Diane, Renee and Sharon. Esther was very close to her daughters, and she played a large role in raising all six of her grandchildren: Scott Anderson, Laura Garelli, Nicole Sutter, Aimee Aryal, Ben and John Mickus.

In addition to her six grandchildren, Mrs. Kazmar is survived by two daughters Renee Sutter and Sharon Mickus; one brother Clarence Dalke of Lombard, Illinois; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband William in 1967 and her oldest daughter Diane Anderson in 2003.

Kathryn (Kathy) Leversedge, 41

Kathryn Leversedge was born March 3, 1965 in Tracy, MN the last of eight children of Harold & Betty Ann Leversedge. She grew up in Currie, MN surrounded & hounded by her seven older brothers. She attended school in Currie for five years, she then attended Tracy Elementary and Tracy High School graduating in 1983. While attending high school, she worked as a nursing assistant at the Christian Manor in Tracy caring for, among others, her mother. After the death of her mother in 1983, Kathy moved to Minneapolis and took a job at Walker Methodist Nursing Home. She remained at Walker until her Huntington’s no longer allowed her to work.

For the last 2-1/2 years, Kathy was cared for at ACR Homes in Roseville. There, after saying goodbye to her brothers and friends, she passed away on July 28, 2006.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Betty, two brothers, Scott and Brian. She is survived by her father, Harold, of Currie. She is also survived by brothers, Lewis of Minneapolis, Bruce of Minneapolis, Philip of Two Harbors, Alan of Colorado Springs, and Loren of Eagle Lake.

A memorial service is scheduled for August 18, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at the Ft. Snelling Chapel. Memorials may be directed to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America.

Keith Slocomb, 63

Keith Slocomb age 63 of Tracy died Monday at the Sioux Valley Tracy Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 18, 2006 at the Tracy Area Funeral Home Visitation will be Thursday 5-8 p.m. at the Tracy Area Funeral Home and will continue on Friday, one hour prior to the service.

Keith R. Slocomb was born September 26, 1942 in Anaheim, California to George and Dorothy (Jensen) Slocomb. He was baptized and confirmed in the Presbyterian faith. Keith attended grade school in California. Following his father’s death he moved to Currie, Minnesota and graduated from Tracy High School in 1960.

Keith entered the US Navy on December 30, 1960, and was honorably discharged on November 27, 1966. He returned to Currie and farmed with his cousin, Wayne Jensen, north of Currie until 1978. He worked at the 7-Up bottling Company for several years until the plant closed. Keith then began driving truck, which he continued to do, most recently working for Floyd Wild Trucking out of Marshall.

Keith was active in sports in high school, including track, football and wrestling. These were activities that he greatly enjoyed and had fond memories of. He loved taking summer vacations with his family all across the United States, enjoyed going to the casino, traveling, sightseeing, and driving truck. He especially loved visiting, sharing stories, and spending time with family and friends.

Keith Robert Slocomb passed away Monday, August 14, 2006 at the Sioux Valley Tracy Medical Center in Tracy, Minnesota at the age of 63 years, 10 months and 18 days.

He is survived by his significant other and truck driving companion, Barbara Cooreman, of Tracy; his children Tammy (Jerry) Anderson of rural Springfield, Chrise (Mike) Pruszynski of rural Balaton, Jennie (Layne) Vanderwerf of rural Comfrey; grandchildren: Kourtney, Trever, Morgan, Mikayla, Brock, Chassidy, Kade and Brayden; his ex wife Sis Beierman of Tracy and many other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and sister Nancy Ekong.

Burial will be in the Tracy Cemetery, with Tracy Area Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.