Raymond Ceplecha passed away at home on Monday, September 9, 2024, surrounded by family. He was born in Wheatland Township on the family farm in 1935, to Joseph R. and Gertrude (Trcka) Ceplecha.

Toni Ellis was born January 21, 1935, and passed from this life on earth into her eternal life with Jesus on August 17, 2024. She was 89 years old.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, as the eldest of two children to Arthur and Madeline (Mary) Chenes. Toni grew up and lived most of her life in southern California followed by long stints in Minnesota and Colorado.

Otto Allan Johnson, 86, of Prior Lake, died peacefully and surrounded by his family on September 7, 2024.
A time of gathering will be held in his honor on Friday, September 13, from 4-7 p.m. at Ballard Sunder Funeral Home in Prior Lake (4565 Pleasant Ave). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Otto on Saturday, September 14 at St. Michael Catholic Church in Prior Lake (16400 Duluth Ave SE) beginning at 10 a.m. with an hour of visitation prior from 9-10 a.m. Father Tom Walker will be presiding over services. 

David Joseph Sticha, age 67, of New Prague, passed away surrounded by his family on Sunday, September 8, 2024, after fighting complications related to cancer. He was born July 27, 1957, in New Prague to Joseph and Lillian (Rezac) Sticha. Dave graduated from New Prague High School in 1975, followed by getting a degree at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. 
 Dave married his high school sweetheart, Jean Tuma on May 24, 1980. They shared 44 years together raising four children and building several successful businesses. 

Brandon Dennis Witt, age 50, of New Prague, passed away surrounded by his family on Friday, August 16, 2024, after a 5 year fight with colorectal cancer. He was born November 12, 1973, in St. Paul to Ken and Lana (Schmid) Witt. Brandon graduated from New Prague High School in 1992, and followed in his father's footsteps toward a lifelong construction and excavation career.

Rita Tobin passed away peacefully on August 31, 2024, at Seasons Hospice in Rochester, with her beloved nieces Michelle and Cheryl by her side. She had been in declining health for several months.
The youngest of Walter and Veronica Tobin’s five children, Rita was born on July 15, 1937, in New Prague, where she attended St. Wenceslaus grade school and New
Prague High School. 
After high school, Rita joined the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota. During her 20 years as a Benedictine sister, she graduated from St. Cloud

Harold "Hal" Josef Bass, passed away unexpectedly on August 31, 2024. His life was full of many adventures during his journey. Hal’s love of baseball as a child and into high school brought a scouting team and an offer to enter the baseball farm system. Also in high school, he placed second in the state wrestling tournament. But rather than pursue sports, in 1963 he enlisted in the Air Force. Hal proudly served his country while in Vietnam, trained in air rescue and later as a LRRP team combat medic. After the service, he was a medical equipment sales representative.

JoAnn R. Hughes, age 90, of New Prague, died unexpectedly at her home on Saturday, August 31, 2024. JoAnn was born in Minneapolis on June 23, 1934, to Roy and Inez (Lindberg)  Bartosh.  JoAnn graduated from Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, where she met the young man, who would become her husband.  She married Ronald J. Hughes on October 27, 1954, and they raised their family of four daughters in the Bloomington/Minneapolis area for most of their lives, moving to New Prague in 2000.

Mary Ruth Zweber, age 86, of New Prague, died peacefully at home on Friday, August 30, 2024, with her family at her side praying the rosary at almost the same time during the night that her husband had died just 8 days earlier! Mary was born on September 6, 1937, in New Prague, to Dr. Charles F. and Ruth M. (Nelson) Cervenka. She graduated from New Prague High School, where she was very involved in extracurriculars, chosen the first Snoball Queen, and graduated with honors.

John David Jung Guen Anderson, 47, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2024, at Hope Residence Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine, after an extended battle with liver disease and many lifelong challenges related to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
John David was born in Seoul, South Korea on July 9, 1977. In July of 1981, he was placed for adoption in the home of David and Kathleen Anderson of Webster, Minnesota. They remained his forever family. 

Peter C. Ploumen, age 83, of Shakopee, MN, entered eternal peace on Friday, August 23, 2024, at St Francis Regional Medical Center.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, August 30, 2024, at 11 a.m., with a gathering from 9:30-10:45 a.m., at The Parish of Saints Joachim and Anne (Church of St Mark) 350 Atwood Street, Shakopee, MN. Father Frankie Floeder will preside. Pete will be laid to rest at Shakopee Catholic Cemetery.

Capt. Lesley J. Fierst USN, Ret., age 53, of New Prague, died unexpectedly on Thursday, August 15, 2024, at his home.  Les was born on March 15, 1971, in New Prague, to Randolph and Nancy (Lapic) Fierst.  Les spent his youth like most kids.  He enjoyed hanging out with neighborhood friends playing sports, backyard pickup games, going to the pool, just being a typical small-town kid.  Les was the stereotypical 80’s kid, collecting sports cards, playing video games, scouts and growing up with that 80s music watching Friday night videos.

Richard J. “Dick” Zweber, age 85, of New Prague, died while praying a rosary with his daughter at his home on Thursday, August 22, 2024.  Dick was born on November 13, 1938, in St. Paul, to Vincent and Helen (McFadden) Zweber.   He grew up in St. Paul, attending St. Matthew’s, St. Joseph’s, and Cretin Schools, before moving as a sophomore, graduating from New Prague High School.  It was there that he met Mary Ruth Cervenka, the woman who would become his bride, on December 31, 1958, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.  

Eileen M. Wagner, age 91, of Prior Lake, MN, entered eternal life on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at New Perspective Senior Living. 
A visitation will be held on Friday, August 23, 2024, from 4-7 p.m., and on Saturday, August 24, 2024, from 9:30-10:45 a.m., with a Mass of Christian Burial, at 11 a.m., all at St. Michael Catholic Church, 16400 Duluth Avenue SE, Prior Lake. Father Tom Walker will preside. She will be laid to rest at St. Nicholas Catholic Cemetery, in Elko New Market, MN. 

David J. Solheid, age 78, of Union Hill, died peacefully on Friday, August 16, 2024, at a hospice in St. Paul.  Dave was born on April 24, 1946, in New Prague, to Michael and Mary (Pint) Solheid.  He graduated from New Prague High School and served in the US Army, where he received awards for his marksmanship.  He married Judy Fitzke on October 4, 1969, in New Prague.  Dave worked for Scott Equipment for over 30  years, retiring as a shop foreman.

Leona E. Weiers, age 95, of Montgomery, formerly of Union Hill, died peacefully in her sleep, on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at her home at Traditions of Montgomery.  Leona was born a twin on the family farm in Derrynane Township on February 7, 1929, to Mathias and Barbara (Klinkhammer) Giesen.  She grew up and spent her entire life in the Union Hill area and graduated from New Prague High School.  She married Edwin "Speed" Weiers on September 10, 1949, at St. John's Catholic Church in Union Hill and very successfully raised a beautiful family of 14 children.