Gerald V. Varsoke, 74, of Rochester, Minnesota died Thursday December 29, 2011 at Samaritan Bethany Heights nursing home where he had been a resident since Friday December 23, 2011.

Gerald was born November 14, 1937, in Amsterdam, NY, the son of William and Sophy (Karpaitis) Varsoke.  Following his graduation from Saint Lawrence University, Canton, N.Y in 1959, he served for 2 l/2 years as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps. On December 26, 1987, he married his wife, Jeannie Verant, and they made their home in Rochester, Minnesota.  He worked for Gulf Oil and then later enjoyed a long career with IBM working in software development.  He retired from IBM in 1995, but continued to work there until August 2008.  He enjoyed watching sports, fishing, gardening, traveling, dancing, cooking, trading e-mails with his former IBM co-workers, and most of all being with his family and friends.  In recent years due to his progressive struggles with M.S., he enjoyed quiet days and evenings along with his beloved wife, Jeannie.

He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Jeannie; two sons, Christopher Varsoke of Rochester, Mn, Brian Varsoke (Michelle) of Cambridge, Mn; five daughters, Michelle (Steve) Berres and Sharon Varsoke, both of Rochester, Mn, Wendi Schirvar of Stillwater, Mn, Jennifer (Tim) Jacobson of Brandon, SD, and Bridgette (Brian) Behling of Washington, D.C.; four step-daughters, Nicole (Travis) Stewart of East Bethel, Mn, Gina (Kurt) Eberspacher of Blaine, Mn, Cristina (Chad) McNallan of West Concord, Mn,  and Jaclyn Schellenberg of Olympia, WA ; 14 grandchildren and 3 step-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A Memorial Mass for Gerald will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 3, at Pax Christi Catholic Church with the Rev. Joseph Fogal officiating.  Visitation will be held for an hour prior to the mass starting at 10:00 a.m. at Pax Christi Catholic Church.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Minnesota Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The family would like to express their gratitude to all the Samaritan Bethany Heights Staff for their expression of kindness towards Gerry.

The funeral service for Mildred “Millie” Cunningham will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 31, 2011 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home, with the Pastor Linda Helberg officiating.  Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 30, 2011 at the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service.

Mildred “Millie” Cunningham, 95, passed away on Tuesday, December 27, 2011.

Millie was born to Valentine and Ella Smith on September 18, 1916.  On July 20, 1940, she married William “Bill” Cunningham.  They had 49 years together before he passed on November 11, 1989.

Survivors include two daughters; Nancy Welby and Shirley Strassburg; one son, Bill (Jo) Cunningham, 7 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren; two brothers, Vernon (Terry) Smith and Ken (Joyce) Smith; two sisters, Kathy (Ken) Jones and MaryLou Brown and many nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her two brothers and three sisters.

The funeral  service for Marian M.  Dubbels will be 11:00 a.m. Friday December 30, 2011 at River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home, with Rev. Harry Jewison officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Rochester. Visitation will be held one hour before the service at River Park Chapel on Friday.

Mrs. Dubbels , 97, of Rochester, died Tuesday December 27, 2011 at Golden Living Center East in Rochester.

Marian was born November 2, 1914 in Mankato, Minnesota to Mr. and Mrs. William P. McGuckin. Marian married John J. Dubbels and they later divorced.  John died in 1978.

Marian worked as a medical secretary for the Mayo Clinic and retired as Department Administrative Secretary in Neurology at the Mayo Clinic in 1978.

Marian was preceded in death by her only daughter Mary Marguerite Dubbles who died March 20, 2011

Macken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online Condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com

A memorial service for Arvid Otto Nietz will be at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, January 7, at the River Park Chapel Macken Funeral Home with the Rev. Linda Helberg officiating.  There will be a one hour visitation on Saturday, January 7, at the River Park Chapel Macken Funeral Home starting at 11:00 a.m.  Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens.

Arvid O. Nietz, also known as “Arv,” “Archie,” and “Babe,” 80 years of age from Rochester, died Saturday (December 24, 2011) at Seasons Hospice following a long term illness.

Arvid was born on May 25, 1931 in Finlayson, MN, the son of Otto and Minnie Nietz.

He married Violet M. Woodworth on October 4, 1953.  He worked as an electrician for Nietz Electric for 42 years and his wife worked for Michaels Restaurant.  Arvid was a Korean Veteran.

Arvid loved fishing, auctions, dancing at the VFW, shooting pool and helping others.

He is survived by three children, Kim Urbanek of LaCrosse, WI., Julie Nietz of Rochester and Jeff (Tammy) Nietz of Eagan, MN.; four grandchildren Luke, Jake, Nick and Elli Nietz.  He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and many lifelong friends.  He was preceded in death by his wife Violet, parents Otto and Minnie, two sisters, Elaine Luhmann and Darlene (Marlow) Boyum, two brothers, Darwin and Bud, and also infant twin sisters.

Arv was “One In A Million” and he will be missed.

Genevieve “Gen” Adelheidt Ashenmacher, 85, of Rochester, died Dec. 25, surrounded by her loving family, at Madonna Meadows of Rochester. The cause of death was complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

She was born May 20,1926 in Rubicon, WI, the daughter of Martin and Marie Scharpf. She attended school in Rubicon and in Hartford, WI.

She married George Ashenmacher on April 13,1946 in Hartford. The couple and their five children moved to Rochester in 1962.

Gen and George, with friends from IBM, were founding members of North Spot Lodge on Third Crow Wing Lake near Park Rapids, MN. They spent many happy days there with extended family and friends.

Gen enjoyed travel, flower gardening, music, fishing, home decoration and arts projects. She had a lively sense of fun and more than one friend described her as “a pistol”. Gen embraced new friends throughout her life. She and George were grateful to live in England for two years and in San Jose, CA, for a year.

She took pride in running a happy home for her family. She especially loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchild. Over the years she opened her home to friends in need.

She worked as a seamstress at J.C. Penney in Rochester for many years and was a longtime member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Rochester.

Gen was preceded in death by George, who died in 1998.

Survivors include her daughters Donna (Paul Minta) Ashenmacher of Waldport, OR, and Cheryl (Reynaldo) Saballa of Rochester; sons James (Jackie House) of Rochester, Thomas (Nancy) of Hudson, WI, and Robert (Pam) of Knife River, MN; eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; a sister, Cecelia Heinke of Fort Atkinson, WI; nieces, nephews and many friends.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 31, 2011 at the Madonna Meadows Chapel, with the Rev. James Russell officiating. Interment will follow at a later date in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, where her ashes will be buried with George. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the Madonna Meadows Chapel.

The family prefers donations to the Madonna Meadows Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com

Edward LaVerne Carney 77, of Rochester, died Saturday Dec 24 at Homestead Hospice of Owatonna, surrounded by his loving children.

Edward was born Aug. 6, 1934 to Agatha and Edward J. Carney at their home in Milton Township, Dodge County. He attended Rochester High School until he joined the Marines in 1952.  He was later employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone and later AT&T where he retired in 1990.

He Married Karen Marie Karau, Oct. 12, 1957 at St. Pius Church in Rochester.  They had 4 children, Colleen, Carrie, Shelley, and Brian; and they lived their entire lives in NW Rochester.

Ed loved his family, hunting with his buddies, and his weekends With Karen in Wabasha.

He is survived by his children Colleen(Fred)McCall of Mantorville, MN, Carrie(Jeff)Ellis of Byron, Shelley Crowson of Plainview MN and Brian(Shelly) of Lakeville MN.  He is also survived by his 6 grand children, Chad and Stefanie Crowson of Rochester, Westin Ellis of Byron, Taylor and Cameron McCall of Mantorville, and Baily Crowson of Eyota. And sister Marlene Johnson of Plainview.  He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Richard, and wife Karen.

Memorials are preferred to the Homestead Hospice Patient Care Fund; located at 2350 NW 26^th Street, Owatonna, MN 55060.

A memorial service will be at 11:00am Thursday, December 29, 2011 at River Park Chapel, Macken Funeral Home in Rochester with Rev. Paul Nelson officiating.  The visitation will be held from 10:00am – 11:00am on Thursday before the service.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com

A memorial service for Sigrid Caniff will be at 2:00 P.M. Friday, December 23, 2011 at the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Rev. Bruce Buller officiating.  Burial will follow in Elgin Cemetery.  A visitation will be held Thursday, December 22, 2011 from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home and one half hour prior to the service on Friday.

Sigrid C. Caniff, 71, passed peacefully from this life at her home in Elgin on December 19^th, after a courageous battle with cancer over the past year.

Sigrid Caroline Halverson was born on May 30, 1940 in Owatonna, MN, to Harvey and Nellie (Holbrook) Halverson.  Her family lived near West Concord and later moved to the Preston area in 1949. Sigrid graduated from Preston High School in 1958.

Sigrid was an accomplished drummer and while still in high school played in the Rochester Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Harold Cooke. She once even received a compliment from Meredith Willson.  For several years Sigrid was the choir director at the EUB Church in Preston. She played in several area dance bands while attending college, especially the Holtan Brothers Band.

Sigrid married Vernon Kraft in 1958 and they later divorced.  In 1973 she completed the Medical Secretary Program at Rochester Area VoTec and was employed in St. Petersburg, Florida for a number of years as office manager for a leading southeast area neurologist.  She later returned to Rochester and moved to Elgin in 2003.

An avid Rochester Honker’s fan since 1994, Sigrid also enjoyed baseball memorabilia, which adorned her home.

She is survived by a daughter, Sonja Kraft, of Canby, MN. Two grandchildren, Kristine (Nick) Schneider of Sioux Falls and Ryan Van Rooyen of Brookings, SD.  Three great-grandchildren, Brian, Evan and Peyton, the joys of her life.  Two brothers, Steve (Betty) Halverson of Preston and Sam (Karen) Halverson, of Preston.  Four  nephews, Brian (Karin) Halverson of Fountain, Mike (Larisa) Bestor of Mansfield, TX, Chris (Jen) Halverson of West St. Paul, and Ryan Halverson of Hoboken, NJ.

Sigrid is also survived by a special friend, Ron Krueger, of Elgin. And brother-in-law, Jack McTamney of Mesa, Arizona.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Marian Bestor McTamney, and a granddaughter, Joni Lingen.

Memorials are suggested for the Mayo Hospice Program.

Alice (O’Connell) Fuhrmeister, of Rochester died Monday, December 19^th at the age of 69 after complications from a lung transplant.

Alice was born to Francis and Phoebe O’Connell of Simpson MN and grew up on the family farm.  She is the 15^th child of a family of 16.  Alice is survived by sisters Elaine Stokes, Sr. Conal O’Connell, Theresa Helgerson, Rosella Jech, Phoebe Whistler, Marlene Towey and a brother Charles O’Connell.   She is preceded in death by parents Francis and Phoebe O’Connell, brothers; John, Clarence, Nicolas, Walter, Richard, Edward, and sisters; Catherine Fitzgerald and Mary Margaret Bishoff, and son Keith.

Alice married Lorenz Fuhrmeister of Rochester on June 10^th, 1961 at St. Bridget Church.  Lorenz and Alice recently celebrated 50 years of love, commitment, and family!  They lived in many locations throughout MN and Iowa and finally settled in Rochester MN.  Alice was a wonderful mom to eight children: Lee (Mary), Brian (Rocio), Keith, Brenda Johnson (Jeff), Valerie Miller (Scott), Jason (Rachel), Amy Sieler (Peter), and Joe (Jonele). Their many grandchildren (Ben, Lee, Kelly, Jessica, Jordan, Jazzmine, Jaydon, Melanie, Dylan, Joseph, Tristan, Ethan, Keith, Ronya, Jennifer, Isabelle, Cora, Jayce) and great grandchild (Preston) were blessed with such a fun loving Grandma.

Alice enjoyed life to the fullest.  She kept very busy having coffee with sisters, trips to Florida, watching all MN Sports teams on television and occasionally actually attending in person.  She loved family time, annual family camping trips, holidays, birthdays, church and most of all watching Grandchildren play sports – the more the better.  Alice believed in family and made every effort to attend every wedding, graduation, shower, family reunion, funeral or other event – and believe me there were many.   We all appreciated her care, kindness, guidance, stubbornness, Irish feistiness and determination.   Alice touched so many lives and will be missed greatly.

A Funeral Mass will be held 11:00am, Thursday at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Simpson.   Officiating will be the Rev’s. Matt Fasnacht and Paul Nelson.  Burial will be in St. Bridget’s cemetery.  A visitation will be at from 5pm – 8pm Wednesday in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and also Thursday morning from 9:30am – 10:15am prior to leaving for St. Bridget’s Church.

Memorials are suggested to the Alice Fuhrmeister Memorial Fund, in care of Associated Bank, 1155 16^th Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55902.

On-line condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.

Barbara “Barb” Wentink, age 66, of Rochester passed away December 17, 2011, at Madonna Towers Nursing Care Center.

Barbara Lawler was born November 3, 1945, in Rochester, MN to Robert and Patricia (Shandley) Lawler. Barb is the second of nine children: Patricia, William, Robert, Mary Lynn, John (Jack), Colleen, David, and Mark.

Barb graduated from Lourdes High School in 1963, completed her nursing degree from St. Marys School of Nursing in 1966, and worked as a Registered Nurse at St. Marys, Mount Sinai Hospital in Milwaukee, and Mayo Clinic upon her return from Milwaukee.

Although they met in second grade, Barb did not marry the love of her life, William (Bill) Stewart Wentink, until September 21, 1968, at St. Francis Church in Rochester. During their 43 wonderful years of marriage, Barb and Bill had four children, William (Bill), Robert (Bob), Amy, and Jean. Amy was diagnosed with leukemia and died at the age of 3, surrounded by the love of her parents and brothers.

In the years after Amy’s death, Barb and Bill co-founded Northland House, which opened its doors to ill children and their families in 1980. Northland House later became chartered as the Ronald McDonald House of Rochester. Barb served as the first Housekeeping Chairperson of the Northland House, served on the Ronald McDonald House Board of Trustees from 1988 to 1990, and was a member of the House’s Operations Committee.

Barb was involved in many school events, taught religious education, and was active in women’s groups at St. Pius Church and the Church of Pax Christi. She was also a Cub Scout Den Leader, teacher’s aide at St. Pius, and started her own business, Custom Knitting.

After raising her three children, Barb returned to school and graduated from Sister Rosalind Gefre’s School of Professional Massage in 1997 as a nationally certified massage therapist. She started her second business, Caring Touch Therapeutic Massage; worked with Jenson Chiropractic out of Stewartville; and was an instructor, student mentor, and massage therapist at her graduating school.

Barb’s true calling was as a mother to her four children, three foster children, and then as a grandmother to her four grandchildren: Riley, Lucy, and Will (Bill and Pam); and Mitchell (Bob and Jacqui). The time spent with her family is what she held most precious and was her favorite “job.”

Barb also made time for her many interests: painting, photography, needlework, woodcarving, knitting, basket- and soap-making, bird-watching, gardening, reading, and her favorite – traveling. Barb and Bill traveled the world over, often with family or with their close-knit group of friends, known as the Card Club, due to 30 plus years of playing monthly games of 500.  Barb and Bill enjoyed living in Rochester, Milwaukee, WI; Boulder, CO; and Ridgefield, CT. She most enjoyed her time at two favorite places: a cabin on Fish Trap Lake in MN and a condo owned by the Card Club in North Redington Beach, FL. These were visited often and generously shared with everyone. Barb derived a lot of pleasure from being with and providing for her family and friends.

Barb was preceded in death by her daughter, Amy; mother; and brothers, Bill and John.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 21, 2011, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with Father James Russell officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. A visitation will be held Tuesday, December 20, 2011, from 5:00pm to 8:00 p.m. at River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to services at the church.

Memorials are preferred to the Madonna Living Community Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House, or charity of choice. Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.

Norman Bernard Elpert, age 75 of Rochester, passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2011, at Golden Living Center West.

He was born in Rochester, MN on March 26, 1936, the eldest child of Irvin and Ann (Scholbrock) Elpert.  He graduated from Rochester High School in 1954.  Norm was united in marriage to Patricia A. Deyo on December 10, 1955, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rochester.

Norm was employed at Mike Kuhl Welding, Crenlo, Inc. and Midwest Specialized Transportation, Inc. prior to his retirement.

He is survived by his wife Pat and four children – Dawn (Jeffrey) Mickelson, Scott (Sue) Elpert, Monte (Lori) Elpert and Shane (fiancée Cindy Ronningen) Elpert all of Rochester, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  He is also survived by one brother Dwayn (MaryAnn) Elpert and three sisters Karen Zahradnik, Gayle Lowrie and Cheryl (Kevin) Kelly.  He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters – Janet Toogood and Vivian Greening, four brothers-in-law – Donald Toogood, John Greening, James Zahradnik and Tim Lowrie and his nieces Susan Greening and Rhonda Elpert.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing and spending time with his family.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00pm, Monday, December 19, 2011 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with the Rev. James Russell officiating.  Friends may call from 11:00am to 1:00pm prior to the service.   Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens.