NRHEG Star Eagle

137 Years Serving the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Area
Newspaper of Record for NRHEG School District
Newspaper of Record for Waseca County, MN
PO Box 248 • New Richland, MN 56072

507-463-8112
email: steagle@hickorytech.net
Published every Thursday
Yearly Subscription: Waseca, Steele, and Freeborn counties: $52
Minnesota $57 • Out of state $64

John Paul Stewart, age 63 of Hartland, died on Sunday, July 4, 2021, at his home.

Born on March 10, 1958 in Minneapolis, he was the son of John H. and Barbara J. (Farnsworth) Stewart.  He was baptized in the Baptist faith when he was 12 years old. John graduated from Richfield High School where he excelled playing soccer and hockey. He went on to attend Normandale Community College and graduated with his degree in Law Enforcement. 

John married Denise Dolney on August 6, 1983 at First Lutheran Church in Hector.  They made their home in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota before moving on to Austin, MN for a year where John worked the historic Hormel strike.  Then, on to   Albert Lea, MN for 6 years before their acreage west of Hartland, MN.  John and Denise adopted 2 children, and were later divorced.

Mary S. Nienow 59-year-old resident of Albert Lea, MN, passed away July 3, 2021 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa.  A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at the First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea, MN.  A visitation was from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday evening at the church, and also one hour prior to the service at the church.

Mary was born on January 10, 1962 in Fairmont, MN to Milan and Ardella Nagel. Her relationship with Jesus Christ was the foundation of her life. Mary was united in marriage to Rick Nienow on July 6, 2019 in Fairmont, MN. She worked at Southgate Elementary School in Austin, MN as a speech pathologist, where she enjoyed her work with children.  Mary loved life and being of service to others, especially her family and her Al-Anon family.   She will be remembered for her sense of humor and her belief in living one day at a time.

A gentle soul of the Ellendale community, Lowell H. Wichmann, age 81, has passed away on June 28, 2021.  Lowell was a loving husband, father, grandpa, brother, uncle and friend.  He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Julia (Smith); children, Barbara (Gary), Debra, Penny (Roger), Emily (Rashad) and Jamie (Jake). Beloved grandchildren, Mark, Chris, Nathan, Kara, Garrett, Rhyse, Rayven, Josef, Danika, Kaleb and Lukas. Siblings, Edward Wichmann, Carol (Ken) Killen, Linda Elstad, Sue (D.R Martin) Wichmann and Dawn Wichmann; as well as numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren and wonderful friends.  

Lowell was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota and resided in Conger and Wells, Minnesota before permanently settling in Ellendale, Minnesota.  Lowell left school at the age of 15, but went on to earn his GED.  He worked multiple jobs, which included farming, hauling milk and eggs, construction, until one day he was offered a position to be a law enforcement officer for Wells, Minnesota and that started 31 years of dedicated service as a Steele County deputy (7407), stationed out of Ellendale.     

Joseph “Joe” Allen Brookins, 72, of Ellendale, died Thursday, July 8, 2021 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.

He was born August 18, 1948 in Cresco, Iowa, the son of Robert and Isabelle (Drewelo) Brookins.  He grew up in Cresco and graduated from Cresco High School in 1966. 

Joe was a dairy farmer, worked for his brother, Roger, worked in maintenance at Jennie-O in Medford and part-time at Cabela’s in maintenance. 

Wilma L. Bindewald, age 90, of Shakopee, MN, passed away quietly and peacefully at home in Shakopee on Thursday, June 17, 2021.

Wilma was born on January 3, 1931 in Albert Lea, MN, the daughter of William "Willie" Olson and Bertina (Sibilrud) Olson. She graduated from Freeborn High School in 1949. Wilma married Harold "Roger" Bindewald on April 18, 1949 in Hartland, MN.

Wilma grew up on a farm, and learned how to work hard at an early age. She loved her family of five children, her grandchildren, and she adored her husband of 70 years, Roger. Wilma and Roger farmed in Milaca for 5 years, and moved to Shakopee in 1956. She found a way to raise a family, maintain a household, and work various jobs to help balance a family budget. Wilma worked 22 years at Deli Express.