ROCHESTER- Kenneth H. “Kenny” King

A private memorial service for Kenneth H. “Kenny” King will be 2:00pm Tuesday September 29 at Macken Funeral Home with Scott Jorgenson officiating.  Burial will be at Grandview Cemetery in Rochester.

Kenny died September 25, 2009 at Faribault Commons Nursing and Rehabilitation at the age of 81 from complications of Alzheimer’s and prostate cancer.  He was born January 10, 1928 in Oronoco.

On February 20, 1988 he married Sharon Colleran-King at Grace Lutheran Church in Oronoco.  Growing up he farmed with his father in Pine Island and worked at Pine Island Lumber Yard.  In 1948 he moved to Rochester and worked for Mac’s Standard and Mcgoon Cab Company.  In 1953 he began working for Peterson Bus Line as a driver and mechanic.  In 1960 he continued to work as a driver and mechanic for Birdsall & Serbin which later became Rochester School Bus Service.  In 2000 he retired from RSB Coaches. Mrs. King works in Vascular Interventional Radiology at the Mayo Clinic.

Survivors include his wife Sharon of Rochester.  Children Virginia (Ken) Dorn of Carmichael, CA, Regina (Lawrence) Scheidt of Rochester, Rosanne (Ken) Kuhn of Stewartville, Darlene (Russell) Meyer of Theilman, Gerald King of Rochester and Donna (Kevin) Rollie of Elgin;  Seventeen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.  Sisters Lauretta Klingsporn of Pine Island and Uneda King of Rochester.  He is preceded in death by his parents Wes and Ella King.

Memorials may be sent to Sister Generose Poverello Fund.  Online condolences may be signed at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.

Macken Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

The River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home is now completed.

The funeral service for the life of Wayne Whitcomb, age 67 of Rochester, will be held at Christ United Methodist Church in Rochester on Tuesday, September 22 at 11:30AM.  The Rev. Nancy Wheeler Handlon will officiate. 

 Wayne died after a long and courageous battle with a Clivas Chordoma brain tumor on September 18, 2009.  Wayne was born in Kasson on May 22, 1942 to David and Laura Whitcomb.  Wayne graduated from Pine Island High School in 1961, where he was a good athlete and lettered in basketball and football for three years. 

 One of Wayne’s first loves was farming.  He carried that passion through much of his life and over the years raised many things including chickens, hogs and grains on his small farm outside of Rochester.

 He was a very proud 39 year member of the Construction Laborers Union #405 where he thoroughly enjoyed his work of helping build and lending his hand in many of the buildings, tunnels and roads of downtown Rochester.  He was also a life-long member of the Pine Island Odd Fellows.

 Wayne was also the man behind the movies, “The projectionist” in nearly every movie theater in the Rochester area, including all of the outdoor theaters.  He loved making sure the movies ran smoothly and ensured that the popcorn was made just right by testing it frequently! 

 Mr. Whitcomb is survived by his wife, Patricia Whitcomb of Rochester; sons, Jay (Peggy) Whitcomb of Golden Valley, Jon (Ann) Whitcomb of Lakeland, Joel Whitcomb of Rochester, and his daughter, Jean (James) Tibbals of Mantorville.  He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Michael, Andrew, Katie, Xaiver, Adam, Rose, Jack, David and Nick; his mother, Laura Whitcomb of Chatfield; brothers, Charles (Sue) of Chatfield, Judd of St. Charles, Rolland (Sue) of Bloomington,  and Brian (Diana) of Rochester; along with many nieces, nephews and friends.  He was preceded in death by his father, David Whitcomb.

 Friends and relatives are invited to the visitation on Monday, September 21 from 5:00-8:00PM at Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at Christ United Methodist Church in Rochester.  Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens.

 Macken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

A memorial service for La Donna Marie Moen will be 10:30AM Saturday September 26, 2009 at Christ Lutheran Church in Byron with Rev. David Rossow officiating. Burial will be at South Zumbro Lutheran Cemetery in Rock Dell Township.

La Donna passed away peacefully at her home of Leukemia on August 31, 2009.

La Donna Marie Bacon was born July 9, 1936 in Byron Village to Harold and Marvel Bacon.  On June 6, 1953 she married Robert O. Moen at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri.  Robert died on May 15, 2009.

She was a homemaker and also worked at the Mayo Clinic in environmental services before retiring.  La Donna belonged to the Rochester Roamers Camper Club and was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Byron.  She was very active with her church volunteering her time to various committees and activities.  She enjoyed bowling, camping and spending time with family and friends.

La Donna is survived by her daughters Debra (Alton) Cordes of Byron and Lynn Moen of Coeur d’ Alene, ID.  Mother, Marvel Bacon of Byron.  Brothers, Darrel (Judy) Bacon of Rochester; Paul (LaVonne) Bacon of Oronoco.  Sisters, Janet (Eddie) Dostal of Balsum Lake, WI; Judy (Bill) Hanna of Stacy, MN; Marjorie Weatherly of Byron.  Grandchildren Tina Cordes, Lance (Jill) Cordes, Adam (Michelle) Cordes, Luke (Alyssa) Cordes, Nicole (Mike Priebe) Jereczek, Laura Jereczek, Matthew Jereczek.  Great Grandchildren Alyssa Cordes, Josilyn Cordes, Michael Jereczek-Priebe and Madilynn Jereczek-Priebe.  She was preceded in death by her father, husband, 1 son Michael Robert Moen.

Friends may call from 9:00AM – 10:30AM Saturday at Christ Lutheran Church in Byron.

Macken Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  Online condolences may be signed at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.

No obituary available.

The funeral Mass for Elizabeth Brage will be 10:00AM on Saturday, September 19, 2009 at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church in Rochester with the Rev. Msgr. Gerald A. Mahon officiating.  Burial will be in Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery in Kranzburg, South Dakota.

Miss Brage, 104, died Thursday (September 17, 2009) at Golden Living Center West in Rochester where she resided for 11 years.

She was born December 13, 1904 in Kranzburg, South Dakota to Joseph and Mary (Ruhr) Brage.

Miss Brage was employed at J.C. Penneys in Watertown, South Dakota.  In 1955 she came to Rochester and continued employment at the J.C. Penneys.  She worked for 35 years.  She was a member of St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church and Legion of Mary.

She is survived by close nieces, Marlene (Bill) Earl of Rochester, Minnesota and Annette (Buck) Haugen of Andover, Minnesota; also many other nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, seven sisters and two brothers.

Visitation will be one half hour before the service on Saturday (9:30-10:00AM) at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church.

Macken Funeral Home in Rochester is in charge of the arrangements.

Randy Vernon Johnson passed away on September 14, 2009 at St. Mary’s Hospital following a lengthy illness.

He was born to Robert J. Johnson and June A. Johnson, on June 19, 1947 in Owatonna, MN.  His family moved to Rochester when he was eight (1955).  He graduated from John Marshall High School where he was an accomplished football player. After high school, he enlisted in the US Army and served during the Vietnam War, playing football for the Army while in Europe.  Randy worked at Crenlo for more than 40 years retiring in June of 2008.

Upon returning to Rochester, he met and married his wife who survives: Sandy Johnson.  Also surviving are his children: Jennifer (Dustin) Livengood of Mascoutah, IL., Stefanie (Joe) Braun of Lake City, MN., Heather Johnson of Rochester., Bobbi Johnson of Rochester.  His grandchildren include Emmalee Johnson, Bailee Turner, Maren Turner, Randy Turner, Lola Livengood, Eleanor Livengood, and Carlee and CeCelia Braun.  Brothers; Steve (Linda) Johnson of Naples, FL. Ron (Betty) Johnson, of Burke, VA;  Sisters; Brenda (Steve) Easley of Rochester, Melissa Krier of Lake City, MN.  A Stepfather Fred Workman of Lake City, MN.  He is preceded in death by his parents and a grandson Carson Randy Braun.

Randy loved being at the family’s lake home in Lake City, MN and especially loved playing and swimming with his grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5PM to 8PM at Macken Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 15, 2009.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, September 16 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Rochester at 10:30AM with the Rev. Dr. Charles Ortloff officating.

Macken Funeral Home in Charge of Arrangements. www.mackenfuneralhome.com

Patricia Louise Endrizzi passed away with a terrific sense of peace and love to join the rest of God’s angels on September 11, 2009.  Pat was born to Mildred and Leslie Lance on 6/9/45, the second oldest of eight children.  She attended St. Francis grade school and Lourdes High School, graduating in 1963. While in High School she worked at Red Owl grocery store.  After  graduation,  she attended Minnesota School of Business in St. Paul, then returned to Rochester and worked at Mayo Clinic.

She married Joe Endrizzi on 7/11/64 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Rochester.  She left Mayo Clinic in 1965 to undertake the task of raising six wonderful children.  During the next 20 years, she was involved in a number of family, church and social activities while running a day care out of the family home.  She was a terrific ‘Mom’ to many more children than just her own.

After her children were in school, she returned to work at Mayo Clinic, where she truly loved her job and her co-workers.   She continued to work there until December of 2008 at which time she was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  Since then she had been having many more good days than bad,  thanks
to all of her neighbors, friends, co-workers and family.  She has  continued  to amaze everyone with her positive attitude and smile thru her treatments  and over these past few months.  She enjoyed a variety of activities with  her kids, grandkids and card groups.  She especially enjoyed being a  grandma and a friend to all.

To say that she was loved and will be missed by all is a terrific understatement.  She is survived by her husband Joe, six children – Joe, Mike, Tom, Jim, Angela, and Annie, their spouses and 13 grandchildren.  Also by her mother, Mildred Lance, and seven brothers and sisters – Mary Ann, Rita, Jeannie, Rose, Ned, Tom and Charlie and their spouses, and  several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, all of whom were very close and meant so much to her.

There is no way that we can thank all of the Mayo Clinic Staff and hospice people and all of our relatives, friends, neighbors, and co-workers, all  of whom have been so supportive and made these months so much more bearable  for our family.

Memorials for Pat should be directed to either Mayo Clinic Cancer Research or the Mayo Clinic Hospice program.

Arrangements are being handled by Macken Funeral Home.  The funeral mass will be held at Pax Christi Church on Monday, Sept. 14th @ 11:00 am. with  Rev. Joseph Keefe and Rev. Msgr. Gerald Mahon officiating.  Visitation is scheduled at Macken Funeral Home on Sunday, Sept. 13th from  4 – 7 pm  and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.   Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery.

A Memorial Mass for Bernard “Bernie” J. St. George will be Tuesday, September 15^th at 1:30pm at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with the Rev. Msgr. Gerald A. Mahon officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. The body has been cremated.

Mr. St. George passed away on Wednesday, September 9th at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.  He was born June 12, 1919 in Pleasant Grove, MN to Edward and Etta (Thomas) St. George.  He graduated from St. Johns High School and later married Judith Berg of Zumbrota on July 12, 1944 in San Diego. He then worked 2 years at the La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla, CA returning to Rochester. In Rochester he worked 41 years at the Kahler Hotel retiring in 1984.

As a young man, his hobbies included art, photography, & golf, beginning as a caddie at the Rochester Country Club at age 12.  Bernie was one of the few able to achieve a Hole-in-One on each of the city golf courses. He continued to golf through his late 80′s.

He was a member of St. Johns Catholic Church and past member of St. Francis Church, as well as the Fraternal Order of the Eagles.  Bernie will be remembered for his loving and caring nature and as “such a nice guy”.

He is survived by his children; Robert St. George, Thomas (Sue) St. George, Patricia Cureton (Ken Cocker), Donald (Susan) St. George, Marilyn Johnson (Butch Savage), and Joanne Monsen (Larry Fenske); four grandchildren: Jameson (Maja) Blanchard, Ryder Monsen, Molly (Ryan) McHenry, and Tully St. George.

Bernie was preceded in death by his wife Judith who died on June 3, 1978 and a brother Francis St. George of La Jolla, CA.  Friends may call Monday evening from 5:00PM to 8:00pm at the Macken Funeral Home and a ½ hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Macken Funeral Home www.mackenfuneralhome.com

Lucian “Dick” Kroska – ROCHESTER

Lucian “Dick” Kroska, 87, died Monday at St. Marys Hospital.  Dick was born August 17, 1922 in Duelm, Minnesota to Alma and Antone Kroska.  Early in his childhood he moved with his family to Faribault, Minnesota.  He graduated from Faribault High School in 1940.  As a young man he worked in his father’s grocery store as a meat cutter.  He later worked as a salesman for Wilson Meats and Interstate Meats of Albert Lea.

He married Angela Dudley on May 14, 1946 in Shieldsville, Minnesota at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.  The couple lived in Faribault, MN, Eau Claire and Wausau, Wisconsin during the first years of their marriage.   In 1958 they moved to Rochester where they resided until 1991.  For the next twelve years they made their home in Byron, MN until 2003 when they returned to Rochester.

In April 1943 Dick was inducted into the Army Air Corps.  He served in WW II as a radio operator on

B-17′s.   He was a member of the 379^th bombing crew of the 8^th Air Force.  He proudly and successfully completed 35 missions in the European Theater.  This was a great source of pride throughout his life.  He continued his love of service by travelling to Air Force reunions and maintaining lifelong friendships with his crew members.  In 2008 Dick was privileged to fly to Washington, D.C. on the Veterans Honor Flight.

In 1949 he enlisted in the National Guard where he was called to serve in the Korean War.  He was a member of the Korean War Veterans breakfast club in Rochester for many years.

He is survived by Angela, his wife of 63 years; daughters, Luanne (Larry) Koshire of Rochester; Shelly Kuhlmann of Oronoco; Amy (Rob Clark) Kroska of Norman, Oklahoma; son Nicholas Kroska of Rochester and foster daughter Sue (Jon) Birch of Faribault; grandchildren Christopher (Kristi) Koshire; Molly (Dan) Gossman; Andrew (Gretchen) Koshire; Emily (Jack) Fugalli; Nicholas (Marcela) Kuhlmann, Peter Kuhlmann, Aaron Kroska, Brett Kroska, Michael (Jennifer) Birch  and 9 great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by a brother and a sister; Rita Kroska and Kenneth Kroska, both of Tucson.

Dick was a devoted and beloved husband, father and grandfather.  He spent many years sharing his love of carpentry with family and friends through remodeling, building furniture, making birdhouses and wood crafts of every kind.  One of his other great joys was spending family time at his cabin on Cannon Lake in Faribault.  He was a hard worker, an honorable man and loved by many.

He was preceded in death by his brothers Ralph and Robert Kroska and son-in-law Michael Kuhlmann.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday September, 11^th at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Rochester at 1:30 p.m, with the Rev. Charlie Collins officiating.  Visitation will be held at St. Francis on Thursday September 10th from 5pm to 8pm; friends may also call on Friday one half hour prior to the service.  Graveside service will be following the funeral on Friday at 5pm, St. Lawrence cemetery, Faribault.

Memorials are suggested to the Lourdes Building Our Future campaign for the new high school.