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Obituaries from the week of September 26, 2007

Delores Dilly, 75

Delores was born January 28, 1932 in Tracy, MN and spent the last 40 years in San Diego County and was residing in Solana Beach, CA.  
Delores was married to Wallace Heden from 1955 to 1961.
Delores Dilly died September 11, 2007.  
Delores was preceded in death by her father, John Dilly and mother Nancy Visker Dilly, brothers Hank, Johnny, William and Harvey, sisters, Jenney Harjehausem, Louise Dammer, Grace Smith, Marie Hohler, Francis Martens and Nancy Schmidt.
She has one surviving brother, Jim Dilly who resides in Sacramento, CA.  She also had numerous nieces and nephews.

Ricky Williams, 49
Funeral services for Ricky Williams, 49, formerly of Marshall, were held  Saturday, September 22, 2007 at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Marshall.
He was born to Eddie Lee and Ida Mae (Everett) Williams on Nov. 15, 1957, in Cairo, Ill.
He died unexpectedly on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007, in Pipestone.
He is survived by his wife, Judy of Pipestone; his mother, Ida of Rockford, Ill.; five children, Jermeny, Anthony, Adea, Ricky Jr. and Marissa; three stepchildren, Julia and Christian Petersen and Alonda White; siblings, Barbara Terry of Bloomington, Ill., James Eason of Texas, Jimmy Eason of St. Louis, Mo., Gina Terry of Cincinnati, Ohio, Marlin Parkins of Rockford, Greg Eason of Calif., Mark Eason, Shannon Bentley, both of Beloit, Wis., and LaTonya Eason, Monique Eason and Rayshaun Eason, all of Rockford; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, two brothers, two nieces, parents-in-law and one brother-in-law.

Agnes Zwach, 92

Mass of Christian Burial for Agnes Zwach, 92, of Minneota, was held today Wednesday, September 26, 2007, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Milroy.  Interment followed at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery in Milroy.
Agnes Catherine (Zwach) Schueller was born on August 26, 1915, in Wabasso, to Matthias and Barbara (Dietz) Schueller.  She was baptized and confirmed at St. Anne’s Catholic Church and attended school at St. Anne’s Catholic School in Wabasso.  On June 3, 1940, Agnes was united in marriage to John Zwach.  The couple lived in Wabasso, Milroy, Lucan, Washington D.C., and their favorite place, the family farm by Walnut Grove.  Agnes was very active in the Altar Society at St. Michael’s Church in Milroy and was the choir director for many years.  She was also active in Lucan’s CCW and made many quilts for their missions.  Agnes campaigned along side and supported her husband during the 40 years of his political career. When they lived in Washington, DC, she spent many days as an office volunteer.  Her hobbies included crossword puzzles, making quilts and reading.  Agnes will be remembered for her quick wit and her kind and gentle spirit.
Agnes died on Saturday, September 22, 2007, at the Minneota Manor in Minneota.
She is survived by her daughters Barb (Robert) Sykora of Deephaven, Marie (Ken) Iverson of Mendota Heights, Anne (Glen) Soupir of Milroy, her sons John (Mary) Zwach Jr. and Dennis (Jean) Zwach of Walnut Grove, 19 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband, John, parents, son James, grandson Anthony and three sisters Malanea Schueller, Mary Bowen and Mathilda Egle.
The Rehkamp-Horvath Funeral home handled the arrangements.
Ernie Surprenant, 87
Mass of Christian Burial was held for Ernest P. Surprenant on Monday, September 24, 2007 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Tracy, MN.  Fr. Robert Mraz and Fr. Brian Mandel officiated. Organist was Ann Przybilla with Carol Cooreman as Cantor and Alita Lenertz lector.
Casket bearers were Jason Surprenant, Natasha Surprenant, Amy Norby, Paul Norby, Bailey Surprenant, Benjamin Surprenant and Presley Norby.
Ernest Paul Surprenant was born March 28, 1920 to Hector and Isabell (Jette) Surprenant in Tracy, MN, Lyon County.  He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith and attended Tracy Public Schools, graduating from Tracy High School in 1938.  As a young man Ernie worked for Krueger Grocery and the Vahle Sweet Shop in Tracy.
In April of 1942 Ernie entered into the U.S. Army and served in the European Theatre as a Staff Sergeant in the 3rd Army, 5th Corp. 117th Field Artillery.  He landed on Omaha Beach as part of the Normandy Invasion, was in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge and crossed the Rhineland in Czechoslovakia, where his unit first opened the gates of the prison camp at Buchenwald.  After his Honorable Discharge in October of 1945, Ernie returned to Tracy and went to work for his father at Surprenant Trucking Company.
On November 25, 1945 Ernest married Geneieve “Jennie” Lind at the St. Mary’s  Catholic Church in Tracy.  They made their home in Tracy and in 1948 Ernie took the position as manager of the Tracy Municipal Liquor Store for 35 years, until 1983 when he retired.  After which he worked for the Coast-to-Coast hardware in Tracy for four years and still found time to work the Liquor Store part time, for another 20 years.
Ernie may best be remembered for his unwavering dedication to his church and community, giving of himself and his time anyway he could.  That commitment ran the gamut from being a lifelong Tracy Kiwanis member, to preparing hundreds of eggs each year for the annual Easter egg hunt, to manning the Legion’s corn-on-the-cob boil for well over 40 years.  He was a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and over the years served as an alter boy, an officer in the Holy Name Society and serving on the financial board.  He also served as the President of the Tracy Area Development Authority, on both Board of Directors for the Lake Shetek Area Improvement Assn., and the lake Shetek Water Shed Improvement Board, and on the Board of Directors for the Tracy Municipal Liquor Store.  Ernie was a member of the Tracy American Legion, serving as Post Commander, Commander of the Honor Guard and as Chaplin.  Also, he was a member of the Tracy VFW, where he served as Vice-Commander and Chaplin.
He enjoyed fishing, gardening, working most every day, spending time with his friends and family at their cabin on Lake Shetek and walking.  Everyone in Tracy was used to seeing him walk down the street for many years, even walking 80 blocks on his 80th birthday.
Recently Ernie became a resident of the Prairie View Healthcare Care Center in Tracy.  He died on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at the Sanford Tracy Medical Center at the age of 87.
Ernie is survived by his two sons, Jerry and Judy of Maple Grove, MN and Tom and Weslie of Hovland, MN; two grandchildren, Amy (Paul) Norby and Jason (Natasha) Surprenant, both of Albertville, MN; three great-grandchildren, Presley, Bailey and Benjamin; one brother, Glenn (Virginia) Surprenant of Tracy, MN; four sisters, Liola Cornelius of Springfield, MN, Lenora “Honey” Hoffman of Sanibel Island, FL, Glenora “Fatt” Fick of Revere, MN and LaVonne “Butch” (Dave) Allan of Hanover, PA; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
His wife, Jennie, parents and four brothers-in-law, Bill Cornelius, Lewie Fick, Joe Hoffman and Bob McFarland preceded him in death.
Interment was at Calvary Cemetery, Tracy, MN with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling the arrangements.