OBITUARIES

Arnold Schafer

Arnold E. Schafer died Thursday, April 18 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Arnold was born August 9, 1933 in Worthington MN to Paul and Hannah Doeden Schafer. He graduated in 1951 from Worthington High School. He spent 17 yrs. In the U. S. Air Force Academy Band, and 3 yrs. In the NORAD BAND.

May 10, 2013

Jerusha Ann Lowe

Jerusha Ann (Solt) Lowe, age 40, of rural Worthington, passed away at her home on Tuesday, May 7, 2013. Jerusha was born on May 29, 1972, in Mankato, MN, the daughter of Dale and Kathleen (Kleinbeck) Solt. Her family moved to Worthington, MN in 1976 and then to Reading, MN in 1977. She attended Worthington School District, graduating from Worthington High School in 1990. Jerusha married Charles “Buster” Lowe on March 7, 1998, in Dewar, OK.

Jerusha was active in many organizations in school. She was past president and first female president of the Worthington FFA chapter; she also held offices in the regional and state FFA chapters. She participated in band, choir, volleyball, and track, as well as was a statistician for football, baseball, and wrestling.

May 10, 2013

Ellen Mae Voss

Ellen Mae Voss, the daughter of Hans and Frieda (Wunder) Jansen, was born September 17, 1926 in Lake Park, Iowa. She graduated from Lake Park High School and continued her education at a teacher's college.

On June 13, 1948, Ellen was united in marriage to Vernon Voss in Lake Park. They lived in Sioux Valley, Minnesota and wintered in Mission, Texas. The couple moved to Spirit Lake in 1986.

May 10, 2013

Janellen F. Graef

Oct. 10, 1946 - April 3, 2013

SAN DIMAS, Calif. - Janellen F. Graef, 66, San Dimas, died Wednesday.

May 09, 2013

Jerusha Ann Lowe

May 29, 1972 - May 7, 2013

WORTHINGTON, Minn. - Jerusha Ann Lowe, 40, Worthington, died Tuesday in her home.

May 09, 2013

Ellen Voss

Sept. 17, 1926 - May 7, 2013

SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa - Ellen Voss, 86, Spirit Lake, died Tuesday in Lakes Regional Healthcare.

May 09, 2013

Ardith "Ardy" Pederson

Oct. 20, 1931 - May 7, 2013

WORTHINGTON, Minn. - Ardith "Ardy" Pederson, 81, Storden, Minn., died Tuesday in Sunset Hospice Cottage.

May 09, 2013

Gertrude Ann Meyer

July 2, 1942 - May 8, 2013

WINDOM, Minn. - Gertrude Ann Meyer, 70, Windom, died Wednesday.

May 09, 2013

Louis "Gene" Kruse

April 28, 1950 - May 7, 2013

HARDWICK, Minn. - Louis "Gene" Kruse, 63, Hardwick, died Tuesday in his home.

May 09, 2013

Muriel Ann Cuffel

November 27, 1945 - May 7, 2013

Muriel Ann Cuffel, Ann to her friends and loved ones, died May 7, 2013 at her home in Greeley, CO. She was 67 years old.

May 09, 2013

Catherine Louise Scurr

Catherine Louise Scurr was born October 30, 1915 in Burlington, Iowa. Her parents were Robert Boniface Sutter and Henrietta Adams. She grew up in various railroad communities across Illinois and Iowa. She graduated from Galesburg HS, at the age of 16, in 1932, in Galesburg, Illinois. Catherine attended one year of college in Galesburg before moving to Creston, Iowa, where she worked at various positions at Spurgeon’s Department store for the next few years. She married Howard T. Scurr, Jr. on February 26, 1940, in Ottumwa, Iowa. Catherine had a passion for helping people and chose nursing as her profession. She attended nursing school at Passavant Hospital in Jacksonville, Illinois, while her husband served as a medical officer (dentist) in the European Theater of WW II. Soon after the end of the war, they began their family and raised four children, Robert, David, Le and Bonnie in Oskaloosa, Iowa, until 1964, when they moved back to Burlington, Iowa, where Howard continued practicing dentistry. In Burlington, Catherine began her nursing career in earnest, where she cared for newborn babies in the nursery on the OB/GYN floor at Mercy Hospital.

Catherine loved cooking for family, crocheting and knitting family gifts and socializing with friends and family. Catherine and Howard loved to travel (especially by train) and spent several vacations in Florida, Texas, and California. In 1997, she and Howard moved to The Meadows (a retirement community) in Worthington, MN. They enjoyed going out for meals with family and friends, spending time at the cabin with daughter, Le, and family and continued to travel to the Black Hills, Seattle and throughout Minnesota. A year after Howard’s death in 2004, Catherine moved to Lakeview Assisted Living in Heron Lake, MN. She loved the staff and residents of Lakeview and always told people, “I have so many good friends surrounding me.”

May 08, 2013

Judith Pomranke

JUDITH POMRANKE, age 74, of Worthington, died Sunday, May 5, 2013, at her home. She was born May 2, 1939, in Slayton, to Floyd and Ethel (Rogers) Rowley. She attended school in Reading before graduating from Worthington High School.

Judy married Wilbur Pomranke on August 4, 1956. After their marriage, the couple farmed south of Reading. They moved to Worthington in 1994. Judy had worked at Nobles County Family Services for several years; and Worthington Senior Dining. She enjoyed sewing, cooking & baking.

May 08, 2013

Donald M. Fest

Donald Matthew Fest was born at home on the farm in LaCrosse Township, Jackson County, Minnesota, the son of Arthur and Theresa (Disteldorf) Fest. Don was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heron Lake. He attended Heron Lake Schools graduating in 1949. Don married his high school sweetheart, Rita Bickner, on August 28, 1951 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Don and Rita moved to the farm he was born on shortly after their wedding and have lived there since. Don officially retired from farming but still helped his son, Mike farm. Don passed away on Friday, May 3, 2013 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 82 years, three months, and twenty-nine days.

Donald was a life-long member at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heron Lake. He was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters. Don and Rita enjoyed camping and traveling to see relatives. Don spent a lot of time at the hunting shack with his buddies, hunting deer and duck. He also enjoyed morning coffee at P.J’s Mini-Mart with his friends. One of Don’s favorite things was spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who fondly called him Grandpa Duck.

May 07, 2013

Mrs. Evelyn Gretchen Graybill

Mrs. Evelyn Gretchen Graybill, age 95 years, of Holts Summit, Mo., passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at Summit Villa Assisted Living.

Evelyn was born on March 10, 1918 in Heron Lake, Minn., the daughter of the late Albert and Leona (Johnson) Hecker. She was married on October 1, 1939 in Preston, Minn. to Perry B. Graybill, who preceded her in death on January 26, 2004.

May 07, 2013

Michael Dennis Koepsell

Michael “Mike” Dennis Koepsell, age 54, was born on February 16, 1959, in Worthington, MN, the son of Ralston “Rock” and Rhonna (Hower) Koepsell. He passed away peacefully on Friday, May 3, 2013, at his residence in Worthington.

His most recent employment was as a construction supervisor for City Wide Insulation in Omaha, NE. Previously he enjoyed his careers in trucking and construction.

May 07, 2013