Roger J. Novotny, age 82, of Veseli, died Monday, January 15, 2024, after an extended illness at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital Mankato. Roger was born on July 19, 1941, in New Prague to Joseph G. and Mary A. (Tupa) Novotny. He graduated from New Prague High School and started out his career at Lindsay Water Softener. The majority of his life was spent at Metropolitan Mosquito Control. Roger loved anything that had to do with nature and the outdoors. In his younger years, he enjoyed fishing and hunting. He loved nature walks and feeding wildlife and birds.
Wilfred Heine died peacefully at his home on January 14, 2024, at the age of 91 years.
Wil was born on May 24, 1932, in New Prague. His parents were William and Marie (Bohnsack) Heine.
Wil was baptized at Friedens Lutheran Church, New Prague, the church he attended his whole life. He attended New Prague Public Schools, graduating in 1950.
Mary Ellen Pass, age 85, of Shakopee, MN, entered eternal life on Monday, January 15, 2024, at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee.
Mary Ellen was born in New Prague, MN, on April 14, 1938, the daughter of Alfred and Veronica (Deutsch) Hartman, and raised in Saint Benedict.
Catherine Kes, 89, of Jordan, passed away on January 11, 2024. A time of gathering will be held at Ridges Golf Course in Jordan from 4-7 p.m. on January 18. At 7 p.m., there will be a Celebration of Life ceremony held at Ridges. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John the Baptist in Jordan (313 2nd Street East, Jordan) on Friday, January 19, starting at 11 a.m. Father Neil Bakker will be presiding. Lunch will follow at Ridges. Prior to the mass, there will be a time of visitation from 10-11 a.m. at St. Johns.
Randolph M. “Randy” Giesen, age 76, of Eagan, died peacefully in the early morning of Friday, January 5, at the VA Hospice in Minneapolis following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Arnold C. Sticha, age 80, of Webster, died unexpectedly following a brief illness, on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at Hennepin County Medical Center. Arnie was born on March 11, 1943, at the family farm to Charles E. and Angeline M.
Rosemary Tuma (Ruzicka), age 88 of Lonsdale, MN passed away peacefully with family at her side on January 9, 2024. Rosemary was born on April 16, 1935, on the family farm in Wheatland Township to Frank and Anna (Flicek) Ruzicka. Rosie grew up in Veseli, attending country school and graduating from New Prague High School. Rosie met her husband of 53 years at a dance at Herrmann’s Hall in Lonsdale, they were married on June 24, 1954, at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Veseli. She enjoyed playing cards, fishing, dancing, going to the casino and visiting northern Minnesota.
Virgil B. Schoenecker, age 96, of New Prague, died peacefully at his home at Praha Village on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Virgil was born on August 22, 1927, on the family farm in Belle Plaine Township, to Joseph and Celia (Ruhland) Schoenecker. He attended the district school in Union Hill.
Shirley Jean Lebo, age 97, of Chaska, MN, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 7, 2024.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour before at Hope Lutheran Church located at 201 Hope Ave. Jordan, MN. The inurnment will be at Spirit Hill Cemetery in Jordan.
Carol Anna Lambrecht, age 88, of Jordan, MN, passed peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, January 8, 2024, at St. Gertrudes Health and Rehabilitation Center in Shakopee, MN.
Yvonne Geraldine (Severson) Schaefer, peacefully passed away on January 1, 2024, at the age of 95 in Aitkin, Minnesota. She looked upon her children and smiled as she took her final breath. She was born on September 17, 1928, in Churchs Ferry, North Dakota, to Paul and Aagot (Nygaard) Severson.
Delores A. “Dee” Nelson, age 83, of New Prague, died peacefully at her home on Monday, January 8, 2024. Dee was born on August 25, 1940, in Brainerd, to William and Irma (Anderson) Lenzen. She proudly grew up on the Iron Range and graduated from Hibbing High School.
She married Charles A. “Rocky” Nelson on May 1, 1965, in Minneapolis and the couple began their life in Minneapolis and moved to New Prague in June 1974. Dee owned and operated, along with her husband, Helm Electric and Highlander Center, the laundromat in New Prague.
Eldon L. Davidson, age 79, of New Prague, died unexpectedly on Friday, December 29, 2023, shortly after his arrival for a long-anticipated winter stay in Naples, Florida. Eldon was born on March 28, 1944, in Keokuk, IA to Clarence and Dovie (McCune) Davidson. He served in the US Army during the Vietnam War and attained his Bachelor of Arts Degree later in life. Eldon married Jean C. Kunz on March 15, 1964, in Sutter, Illinois. They made their home near Quincy, IL, and in 1988, moved to Minnesota. His profession was a computer programmer/analyst/consultant.
Geraldine "Geri" Hope (Frye) Sandin, age 80, passed away on January 2, 2024, peacefully at home surrounded by family. Geri was born January 30, 1943, in Clayton, Iowa to John and Lucille (Beckett) Frye.
Clarence Gosewisch, age 99, of Bloomington passed away peacefully on Friday, November 10, 2023.
Clarence spent his final days at the N. C. Little Hospice House surrounded by family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Eleanor; his wife Donna and brothers, Howard and Don. He is survived by his sister Betty, sister-in-law Loretta, long time companion and dear friend Peggy as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Mary T. Bartusek, age 91 of Lonsdale passed away December 25, 2023. Mary was born October 13, 1932, to Thomas and Emma Voracek.
Mary was married on Sept. 16, 1952, to Charles Bartusek in Lonsdale and raised their family near New Prague. They moved to Shieldsville and owned Charlie's Supper Club, then retired in Faribault.
She enjoyed playing cards, reading, crossword puzzles, and quilting. Mary was a member of KC Ladies Auxiliary, regent of the Daughters of Isabelle, and sang as a member of Montgomery Czech singers.