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Obituaries from the week of Dec. 21, 2011

Regena Barrie, 86

Regena “Jean” Barrie, 86, of Rockford died Wednesday, December 14, 2011 in Medina Manor Retirement Center in Durand.

Born October 15, 1925, in Tracy, Minn., the daughter of August and Emma (Montmorency) Vandromme. Married Meddie J. Barrie November 20, 1945, in Milroy, Minn; he predeceased her in 1990. Graduate of Tracy High School. She was the co-owner of Brooke Road Greenhouse for ten years. She also was employed with Rockford Journal and the Buyers Guide for many years.

Jean enjoyed many years of craft shows at Rock Valley College, Harlem High School, and Ken-Rock Community Center.

She is survived by her children, Vance (Pat) Barrie of Machesney Park, Lee (Fran) Barrie and Lynn (Dave) Peterson, both of Rockford; grandchildren, Mike (Jenny) Barrie, Wendy (John) Hensley, Krista (Gary) Jardeen, Bradley Barrie, Jerome (Missy) Downey, and Renee Downey; and in-laws, Helen, Sally, Frances, Emery, and Butch Gregorie, and Rita Gisch, sister-in-law, Eileen VanDromme.

Predeceased by son and owner of Dower House Florist, Bruce P. Barrie in 1989; two brothers, Maurice and Camille; and two sisters, Jane Casper and Alice Verlinde.

Special thanks to the staff of Medina Manor for their loving care, especially Dawn and Barb.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 22, 2011 in Olson Funeral & Cremation Services, Ltd., North Main Chapel, 2811 N. Main Street, Rockford Ill. 61103. Entombment in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Machesney Park, Ill.. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 21, 2011 in North Main Chapel, and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday, prior to the service in the chapel. To send a condolence visit olsonfh.com

 

Mary Ellen Jette, 82

Mary Ellen Jette, née Ahern, died Monday, November 20, 2011. Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, Nov. 28, at Our Lady of Victory Chapel on the campus of St. Catherine University, St. Paul. Washburn- McReavy  handled the arrangements.

She was born September 29, 1929 in Albert Lea, Minnesota to Ed and Loretta (Moore) Ahern.

A 1947 graduate of Albert Lea High School, she majored in English, Speech and Education at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul. While teaching English and Speech at Tracy High School, she fell in love with a Tracy native, Beryl Jette. Their marriage produced four children.

From 1999, she lived at St. Therese Southwest in Hopkins. Having lost her beloved Beryl to Alzheimer’s in 1993, she ultimately developed the terrible disease herself, and spent the last several years in the memory care wing there.

She is survived by her four children, all Twin Cities residents: Maria (Lee Blaske), Dan (Ann Pfeffer), Annette Cummings (Tom) and Shawn; and three grandchildren: Logan, Declan and Audrey Cummings.

 

Raphael “Ray” Marks, 94

Raphael “Ray” Marks, age 94, of Milroy, passed away Thursday, December 15, 2011 at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy. Mass of Christian Burial was held 10:30 a.m. on Monday, December 19, 2011 from St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Milroy with burial in the church cemetery. Arrangements were handled by Sunset Funeral and Cremation Association of Echo and Wabasso.

Raphael “Ray” Arthur Marks was born on October 26, 1917 on a farm near Milroy in Westline Township, Redwood County Minnesota to Arthur and Hubertina “Tina” (Lennard) Marks. He was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, serving as an altar server. He attended country school District #43 and Milroy High School. Ray played football and graduated as Salutatorian of his class.  He farmed on the home place with his brother Donald for 2 years and then on his own.  

He married Evelyn Julia Zajic of Lucan on June 11, 1945. He and Evelyn created 8 sons and 2 daughters.  He enjoyed family gatherings, spending time with the grandchildren, writing poems, reading history, photography, and watching baseball and football.

Ray passed away on Thursday, December 15, 2011 at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy attaining the age of 94 years, 1 month and 19 days. He is survived by his wife Evelyn, children; Roger (Delores) of Brainerd, David of Marshall, Thomas of Milroy, Steven (Kathy) of Northfield, Leonard of New Ulm, Jerald (Bonnie) of Balaton, James of Tracy, Kenneth (Lynette) of Detroit Lakes, Mary (Robert) of Fairbanks, AK and Catherine (Nathan) of Osseo, 29 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sisters: Mary Rolland and Margaret Frost, 5 brothers: Reverend William, Donald, Jake, John, and Aloise. Blessed be his memory.

 

Nicholas Verdoes, 19

Nicholas “Nick” Verdoes age 19 of Redwood Falls, died Saturday, December 17, 2011 as a result of a hunting accident north of Danube, Minnesota.  Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 22, 2011 at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Redwood Falls.  Visitation will be 4:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday December 21 at the church, and will continue one hour prior to the service on Thursday.  Interment is in St. Catherine’s Catholic Cemetery.  Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com.  Stephens Funeral Service - Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Nicholas “Nick” Jacob Verdoes was born December 18, 1991 in Marshall, Minnesota to Bruce and Laure (Wyffels) Verdoes.  He was baptized in the Catholic faith in Marshall, and received his First Communion and was confirmed at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Redwood Falls.  He attended school at Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Marshall before moving with his family to Redwood Falls when Nick was in 2nd grade.  Nick graduated from Redwood Valley High School in 2010.  He was active in sports, playing football, hockey, baseball, and soccer.  After graduation, Nick attended Ridgewater College in Willmar for a degree in Sales and Marketing, and worked part-time at Wal-Mart in Willmar.  

Nick is survived by his parents Bruce and Laure; brothers Matthew and Christopher; foster sister Patty Schwartz all of Redwood Falls; grandmothers Maxine Wyffels and Minerva Verdoes; aunts and uncles: Kevin (Tammy) Wyffels, Allan (Kristie) Wyffels, Kathie (Kenton) Sonnenburg, Carolyn (Larry) Schultz, Alan (Marlene) Verdoes, Shirley (Joseph Jr.) VanOverbeke, and Brian Verdoes; his dogs Zeus, Rusty and Max; and many cousins and friends. 

He is preceded in death by his grandfathers Lawrence Wyffels and Matt Verdoes.