Ardys Drake, 80

Funeral services for Ardys Drake, age 80, of Tracy will be 2:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at the Tracy United Methodist Church   Interment is in the Tracy City Cemetery.  The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements.  Online condolences may be placed at www.almliefh.com

Ardys Ann Drake was born February 28, 1932 to Spencer and Eunice (Evans) Griffiths in Judson, MN, Nicollet County.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and graduated from Lake Crystal High School in 1950.  As a young woman she worked for Woolworth’s and Midco in Mankato, MN.

On August 13, 1955 Ardys married Marvin Drake and they made their home in Tracy, MN.  Over the years Ardys worked as a bartender in the Balaton American Legion, the Tracy Legion and the Tracy VFW, where she also served as manager for some time.  Ardys then became the Tracy Senior Center Coordinator, for 17 years, until her retirement. 

Ardys was very active in her church and community.  She was a member of the Tracy United Methodist Church, active in the Ladies groups and delivered bulletins to shut-ins for many years.  She was also a member of the Golden Age Club, Tracy VFW Auxiliary, Tracy Nursing Home Auxiliary, and delivered Meals on Wheels for many years.  She enjoyed playing cards, Bingo, puzzles, baking, and many crafts.  She will be missed by her whole family for her coordination of the family reunions on both sides of the family.

On Thursday, March 8, 2012 Ardys died at her home in Tracy at the age of 80.

Ardys is survived by her two daughters, Alice (Mike) Carr of Gardendale, AL and Cynthia Nybo of Tracy, MN; three sons, Myron (Becky) Drake of Slayton, MN, Timothy (Marie) Drake of Mankato, MN and Scott (Rhonda) Drake of Champlin, MN; son-in-law, Brent Miller of Clarkfield, MN; eighteen grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren;  one brother, Edwin (Ardella) Griffiths of Woodbury, MN; one sister, Eleanor (Louis) Osdaba of Mankato, MN; nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

Her husband, Marvin, daughter, Mary Miller, granddaughter, Amee Thiel, parents, and two brothers, Archie (Emma) Griffiths and Willmer (Lorraine) Griffiths preceded her in death.    

 

Roman Wieme, 41

Funeral services for Roman Wieme, 41, of Tracy were held today, Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at Sillerud Lutheran Church, rural Balaton.  Burial was in Opdahl Lutheran Cemetery, Florence.

He died Saturday, March 10 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home, Utoft-Johansen Chapel in Tyler.  On-line condolences at www.hartquistfuneral.com

Roman Richard Wieme was born January 15, 1971 to Richard “Dick” and Gloria (Erickson) Wieme in Windom, MN. He was baptized into the Lutheran Faith. In 1975 he moved with his parents to rural Balaton, MN for a short time before moving to rural Woodstock, MN where he was raised and attended elementary school in Ruthton, MN. After graduating from Russell-Tyler-Ruthton High School in Tyler in 1989, Roman furthered his education first by attending Southwest State University in Marshall, MN and then transferred to Jackson, MN for electrical studies. While in Jackson he worked at AgChem, building agricultural sprayers. He transferred to school at Mankato, MN to study auto body work.

On April 26, 2003, Roman married Nicole Engbarth in Sillerud Lutheran Church of Balaton. Their union was blessed with two children, Gabryelle “Gabby” and Andrew. The couple first resided in Ruthton and in 2007 moved to Tracy. He was employed first at Viking Glass in Marshall, MN, and for the past six years at Quality Glass in Marshall, MN.

On Monday, March 5, 2012, Roman sustained a cardiac arrest while at work and was transferred to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he died early Saturday morning, March 10, 2012 at the age of 41 years, 1 month, and 25 days.

Roman loved his children and was passionate about spending time with them.  He enjoyed playing pool and darts and was an avid poker player, winning a cruise in a poker tournament. He loved riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle and traveling on his “hog.” He was also an avid hunter and fisherman. One of Roman’s many talents and enjoyments was restoring older homes. Roman will be remembered by his family and friends for his smile, laugh, and very quick wit.

Roman is lovingly remembered by his two children, Gabryelle and Andrew of Balaton, MN; stepson, Riley Engbarth of Balaton, MN; his grandfather, Andrew Wieme of Marshall, MN; and many special aunts, uncles, cousins, special friend, Mary, as well as other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; maternal grandparents; and paternal grandmother.

Blessed be his memory.