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Category: Paid Obituary

Published on Leave a comment on Katherine Gohr

Katherine Elaine (Steinle) Gohr, age 83, of Mountain Lake, died on September 21, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Society in Mountain Lake.

A celebration of her life will be held at Sturm Funeral Home, Mountain Lake Chapel, on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 11:00 am with visitation one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The clergy will be Rev. Rick Bremseth. Interment will be at the Mountain Lake City Cemetery.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Mountain Lake. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Kay was born August 15, 1940 to David F. and Doris (Jacobson) Steinle in Mountain Lake. She was baptized March 30, 1947 and confirmed April 11, 1954 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mountain Lake. Kay attended public school in Mountain Lake. She was united in marriage to the love of her life, George A. Gohr, on May 18, 1956 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. Together, they lived a simple, yet rich, life while raising three children.

Kay was first a mom and a homemaker. She then worked at the Good Samaritan Society in Mountain Lake for many years where she made many wonderful lifetime friends. She was self-educated and would read anything she could check out of the library! She particularly liked archaeology, local history, and WWII history. Kay loved collecting knick-knacks and decorated her home each season and holiday with them. She had a very patriotic spirit and loved celebrating the 4th of July holiday. Most of all, Kay valued her family above everything else. She loved nothing more than to spend time visiting with family and friends while sharing a good laugh.

Kay is survived by her son, George F. Gohr of Mountain Lake; daughters, Eileen (Kent) Augustin of Comfrey and Karla Wendt of Mountain Lake; grandchildren, Jack Wendt and special friend, Carolina Baskette, Brady (Adelaide) Augustin, and Brooke Augustin; great-grandson, Dylan Augustin Coley; and cousin-sister, Glenna Steinle Joyce.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents David F. Steinle and Doris Steinle Berndt; husband, George A. Gohr; infant daughter, Laura Jean Gohr; brother, David A. Steinle; and son-in-law, Michael Wendt, and many other family and friends.

 

Published on Leave a comment on Melvin Jacob Loewen

Melvin Jacob Loewen was born in Steinbach Manitoba on December 9, 1925 to Jacob T. and Margaret (Friesen) Loewen. He grew up with an older brother, C. Wilbert, and a younger sister, Emmeline.

As a young man Mel accepted Jesus as his personal savior and enjoyed a life-long conversation with his Lord and Friend. At age 18 he became foreman of a crew in the family business of moving houses and grain elevators.

Prompted by his mother, who had grade three education, he enrolled in Goshen College in 1946. Two years later he met Elfrieda Regier, a student visiting from Wheaton College, at an ice-cream party. They were engaged while Elfrieda taught high-school chemistry and biology and Mel finished college. They were married in 1949.

During the next decade Mel completed a master’s degree in medieval history at the U of Minnesota, and taught high school. With their growing family he and Elfrieda did a first term in Africa under the Congo Inland Mission. On their first furlough at the University of Brussels, Mel completed his Ph.D. in political science.

In the mid ‘60s the Loewen family was held hostage for four months in Stanleyville, Congo, where Mel was dean and later president of the Congo Protestant University. The following two-and-a-half years in California were a pleasant interlude while Mel was academic dean at Fresno Pacific University.

In 1970 Mel joined the World Bank where he held a variety of operational positions, starting out in Cote d’Ivoire, ending in Rwanda, and in between in Washington, D.C. After retirement in 1990 Mel and Elfrieda traveled extensively with the Mennonite Christian Leadership Foundation to encourage lay men and women of the emerging churches of Africa and Asia.

Mel died September 8, 2023 in Goshen Indiana. He is survived by his children, Barbara, Margaret, John, James, and Lisa; by his children-in-law, Nancy, Bob, Wendy, and Joe; and by his sister, Emmeline. His wife, Elfrieda, his son Jacob Gerard, and his brother, Wilbert, predeceased him. In addition, he is survived by his eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Mel was buried September 20 in Steinbach, Manitoba, joining recently deceased Elfrieda. In keeping with Mel’s lifelong interest in Africa and in education, memorial contributions can be made at www.educationcongo.org. Please see the “Named Fund” option.

 

Published on Leave a comment on Marvin Rempel

July 5, 1941 - Sept. 17, 2023

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Marvin Rempel, 82, Frytown, Iowa, died Sunday, Sept. 17, in University of Iowa Hospital from natural causes.

A gathering of family and friends will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, at East Union Mennonite Church in Kalona, Iowa. Burial will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at the East Union Cemetery. A celebration of life will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at the church. The service will be livestreamed on Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home’s website. Memorials are preferred to Hillcrest Academy or the church.

Arrangements by Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home.

 

Published on Leave a comment on Marcia Niessen

June 10, 1937 - Sept. 14, 2023

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Marcia Niessen, 86, Mountain Lake, Minn., died Thursday, Sept. 14, in Sanford Medical Center.

Visitation will be from 9:30-11 a.m., followed by a service at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 22, at Mountain Lake Alliance Church. Ricardo Renteria will officiate. Interment will be in Mountain Lake City Cemetery.

Arrangements by Sturm Funeral Home in Mountain Lake.

 

Published on Leave a comment on Gail Dick

April 6, 1954 - July 7, 2023

HERON LAKE, Minn. - Gail Dick, 69, Heron Lake, Minn., died Friday, July 7, in home.

Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m., followed by a Celebration of life at 11 a.m., Monday, July 31, at First Baptist Church in Windom, Minn. Pastor Marlin Mohrman will officiate.

Arrangements by LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center.

 

Published on Leave a comment on Kathleen “Kathy” Sawatzky

April 19, 1943 - June 9, 2023

LAKEFIELD, Minn. - Kathleen “Kathy” Sawatzky, 80, Windom, Minn., died Friday, June 9, in Colonial Manor Nursing Home.

Visitation and a gathering will be from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, at LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center in Windom. Visitation will continue from 9-10 a.m., followed by a celebration of life at 10 a.m., June 15, at Jeffers (Minn.) Baptist Church. Pastor John Keck will officiate. Burial will be in Mountain Lake (Minn.) Cemetery.

Arrangements by LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center.

 

Published on Leave a comment on Florence Zinke

March 6, 1932 - May 12, 2023

HERON LAKE, Minn. - Florence Zinke, 91, Bingham Lake, Minn., died Friday, May 12, in Lakeview Assisted Living.

Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at Sturm Funeral Home - Mountain Lake (Minn.) Chapel. A luncheon will follow at Bingham Lake Community Center. A graveside service will be 1 p.m. Monday, May 22, at Mountain Lake City Cemetery. The Rev. Rick Bremseth will officiate.

Arrangements by Sturm Funeral Home.

 

Published on Leave a comment on Hayes Willis Melheim

Hayes Willis Melheim was born on a Saturday morning August 6th at Sanford Children’s hospital in Sioux Falls. He was beautiful. He had a full head of dark brown hair and brown eyes.

The next few days were full of unknown as Dan and Arica were unsure if Hayes would be diagnosed with the same disease his older brother Hendrix was diagnosed with at 2 months old two years prior. They knew they wanted to have another child, so they went through a series of genetic testing before Hayes, and everything was coming back negative. Until Hendrix’s Whole Exome Sequencing which came back a month after Hayes was born. When Hayes was born, and his heart echo showed similar results to his brother Hayes was admitted to the NICU at just 12 hours old. They then found out they had a 1/16 chance of having another child with the same diagnosis, Pulmonary Hypertension expected to be from a rare unnamed mitochondrial disease.

Hayes was diagnosed shortly after with Pulmonary Hypertension and eventually sent home to be with his family at 12 days old. It was late September; Hayes had just been home a little over a month. It was at this time Arica knew Hayes may need a little more support than he was currently receiving. That led to a family trip out to Aurora, Colorado where Hayes’ older brother, Hendrix had previously spent a majority of his younger years receiving care for Pulmonary Hypertension.

Hayes’ time in Colorado was nothing short of a strenuous battle. A large portion of the doctors that had treated and found a treatment plan for Hendrix were stumped looking at Hayes’ case on what the next steps may be. After two and a half months of many trials, Hayes was sent home on a g-tube feeding tube, triple therapy and numerous medications to maintain his Pulmonary Hypertension.

Hayes loved being at home, surrounded by his brother, mom and dad. Hendrix thought the world of Hayes at just 4 months old. He just wanted his brother to play with his cars, put together puzzles, play peek-a-boo and watch Mickey Mouse. During this time Hayes enjoyed his first Christmas at home. His trip home ended abruptly after Hayes had shown signs of a decline. He was very sensitive and had no immune system. With a growing toddler in the home and the middle of a Minnesota winter, sickness had overcome him. It was at this time Hayes was flown out to Aurora Children’s hospital in Colorado.

Hayes’ medical story was full of ups and downs. Throughout every test, poke, sedation, intubation, heart echos and many more, Hayes showed everyone he was a fighter. He was brave, strong and fought his fight head on, like a buffalo. Hayes’ medical diagnosis looks much smaller when you begin working with a Buffalo’s focus, on the good things right before you. His smile is what made each day a little easier. He would smile at the nurses that would come in to check on him and would try to get any glimpse he could to see what was going on outside of his room.

Hayes was eventually transferred to Wisconsin Childrens in Milwaukee, May of 2022 to be closer to family. He had shown no progression and other treatment options were being discussed. This was when Hayes showed us once again just how strong he was. Hayes began a huge turn around after just a few short weeks when he began crawling, sitting, and was acting like a 9-month-old baby, he was very vocal. Hayes’ beautiful personality shone in Wisconsin, and once again Hayes had found a place where he knew he had the nurses wrapped around his little finger again. Hayes was able to come home 3 days shy of his 1st birthday. Arica and Dan felt relieved to bring their baby home. They describe it as if it was a breath of fresh air and looked forward to having their family all under one roof. Dan and Arica loved watching Hayes and his brother together, Hayes mostly picked on Hendrix, but he did not mind. Hendrix just enjoyed having him around and referred to Hayes as “brother.” During his time at home Hayes would crawl around stringing his oxygen cord throughout the house, and pulling all of the toys out on the floor that he could find. There was no such thing as clean when he was around, Arica couldn’t help but smile at the mess Hayes would happily make as her boys were home and that’s all she and Dan ever wished for.

Hayes was admitted to the hospital in Wisconsin January of 2023, due to his ever-sensitive immune system getting the best of him once again. The fight that lies ahead was different, it was harder on his body. Hayes had been on a roller coaster. After 49 days of being intubated. He once again was ready to take on the world thriving and smiling at anyone that entered his room. Hayes began physical therapy to learn how to roll and sit all over again.

During this time Dan and Arica had to make tough decisions with Hayes at the front of their mind. What was best for him? A lung transplant was considered but, in the end, did not quite fit into Hayes’ story. Hayes’ specialist looked into a Potts Shunt. He just wasn’t strong enough to undergo extensive surgery. Dan and Arica decided it was best for them to allow Hayes to tell them what he wanted.

Hayes lost his fight on Sunday May 7th, 2023, to Pulmonary Hypertension and Severe Lung Disease. He was surrounded by mom, dad and brother as he passed peacefully in his mom’s arms. Hayes’ fight was nothing short of a miracle. With every hardship and obstacle, he had to overcome, everyone who loved him was amazed at just how strong he was. Hayes fought a long hard battle and outweighed any doctor’s predictions.

It was unknown what the days would look like for Hayes after his diagnosis of Pulmonary Hypertension. Arica and Dan made sure Hayes felt loved and never alone. He was a momma’s boy, and he loved to cuddle. He wanted to be the loudest one in the room making sure he was heard as he watched Bob Ross in the background.

Hayes is survived by his father, Dan Melheim; mother, Arica Svoboda; brother, Hendrix, grandparents, Chopper (Lisa) Melheim, Sandy (Spencer) Melheim; great grandparents, Deb (Joe) Hinders, Walt (Deb) Svoboda, Willis (Marlene) Krahn; aunts, Ariel Svoboda, Amber (Mindy) DeWall, Ashley Melheim; cousins, Baylie and Aubrielle Gordon, Augustus Rients, Aaliyah Sulflow, Case Spear, Bentleigh Melheim; great aunts, Brandy Hinders, Cindy Sandbo, Julie Krahn, Lynn Fischer, Ranae Beck; great uncles, Brian Hinders, Rick Sandbo, Neal Krahn, Clint Beck and great great uncle, Dave Klein.

He is preceded in death by Joesph Melheim, Ella Melheim, Carolyn Peterson, Jon Peterson, Jennifer Peterson, Richard Melheim, Marilyn Thompson, and Julie Svoboda.

Hayes will be ForeverOne in our heart.