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Mary Jane Kajewski, age 93 of Waseca, died on Sunday, September 6, 2020 at Lakeshore Inn in Waseca.
Born in Byron Township on April 16, 1927, Mary Jane was the daughter of Rudy and Ada (Schnoor) Kohnert. She attended school in Waldorf, graduating with the class of 1946. She was united in marriage to Andrew John Kajewski at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on January 9, 1951. Together they lived and farmed in Wilton Township for many years. Over the years Mary Jane worked at Ewert’s Store, the King Melody, Bird’s Eye Foods, Brown Printing, and at Walters-Winston Press. She was a long-time member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she enjoyed being involved in the Women’s Guild. Mary Jane spent many years sewing clothing for her family and loved music, flower gardening, birdwatching, and playing Bingo with her friends at Latham Place.
Mary Jane is survived by four children, Glen (Darby) Kajewski of Thief River Falls, Pam (Bob) Nyquist of Janesville, Gary (Irene) Kajewski of Bowlus, and JoAnn (Don) Schlaak of Waseca; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a brother, Lowell (Ardith) Kohnert of Waseca; sister-in-law, Bernita Kohnert of Waseca; and brother, Stan (Fay) Kohnert of LeCenter; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and one brother, Donald Kohnert.
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Constance “Connie” A. Holland went to walk with the angels on Aug. 26, 2020, at age 82. She passed peacefully at her home in Laguna Woods, California, while surrounded by her family.
Connie, a native of Minnesota, was born on Nov. 3, 1937, in Albert Lee to Chester and Adeline Herbst of New Richland, Minnesota.
Connie lived 35 years in Babbitt, Minnesota. She enjoyed raising her two children and the family’s miniature poodle named Jacque. The beloved organist loved playing the keyboard at her Evangelical Lutheran Church in Babbitt.
With her husband, Richard, she resided in Laguna Woods in south Orange County since 1997. Connie and Richard celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with family on Dec. 30 in 2019.
Connie was a woman of deep faith for our Lord and a pillar for her family. She enjoyed baking for her relatives and friends. Connie shared her homemade treats whenever she would visit people or with new members of her church. She would look forward to traveling to Florida to spend hours on the beach picking shells. She shared her musical talents by playing the church organ for services and volunteering to play the piano for the weekly Senior Day Out events. She also enjoyed telling stories about her family and friends, and was proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s accomplishments.
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Mary Ann (Tondl) Smith, age 103, formerly of Sycamore, IL, died peacefully July 22, 2020 at Oak Crest – DeKalb Area Retirement Center in DeKalb, IL.
Mary was born Marie Anna Tondl on July 8, 1917 to Joseph and Emilie (Docekal) Tondl in New Richland, Minnesota. She married Everell Adrian Smith Sept. 1, 1941 in New Richland, settling in Sycamore, Illinois to raise their family.
Mary’s father died in a farm accident before she was born. Her widowed mother, an immigrant, raised her children with strong values of education and work ethic. Her mother died of tuberculosis when Mary was a teenager. Despite these early tragedies and coming of age during the Great Depression, Mary had a happy upbringing. She delighted in sports, music and clubs: playing guard on the high school basketball team, clarinet in the school band and winning declamatory contests. She remained lifelong friends with girls from her hometown.
Mary graduated from New Richland High School in 1935 and entered Mankato State Teachers’ College in Mankato, Minnesota. As Mary delivered a speech “X Marks the Spot” for entry into the Newman Club, a northern farm boy seated in the back row turned to his friend and declared that this was the girl he would marry.
Mary taught school back in New Richland upon graduation in 1937. After marriage, the couple lived in St. Paul as Everell finished his master’s degree, and then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. Mary followed Everell from coast to coast as he completed military training and shipped out for combat duty in the WWII Pacific theater. Mary stayed in California and joined the war effort there, working at several military bases for the American Red Cross. Mary wrote to Everell every day. He was able to write back to her occasionally, requesting her to send essentials like batteries, rubber-soled shoes and cigars to keep the mosquitoes at bay – for which Mary hopped a bus to Tijuana, Mexico to obtain the requested items and send his way. Upon Everell’s return in 1945, the couple moved back to Minnesota briefly then settled in Sycamore, Illinois in 1947 to raise their family.
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A public visitation for Myrtle Peterson will be held from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2020 at the Bonnerup Funeral Chapel in Ellendale, MN. A graveside service will begin at 7 p.m. at Geneva Cemetery, with Rev. Lisa Vick officiating. Masks will be required, and social distancing guidelines will be enforced.
www.bonnerupfuneralservice.com.
Myrtle passed away on Monday, August 17, 2020 at the New Richland Care Center, at the age of 100.
Myrtle L. (Anderson) was born on January 27, 1920 on the farm in rural Bixby, MN to parents Christofer and Lena (Jacobson) Anderson. She attended country school near Aurora Township. On April 19, 1944, Myrtle was united in marriage to Richard W. Peterson in Geneva, MN. Together, Richard and Myrtle worked on the family dairy farm, all while raising three children. The couple had many wonderful years together until Richard’s death in 2009.
Myrtle was an active member at the Methodist Church in Geneva and later Ellendale. She was the Superintendent of Sunday School, and taught Sunday School for many years in Geneva. Her faith was very important to Myrtle. Myrtle enjoyed many things in life. She was a very talented seamstress, and would create numerous jean quilts for her grandchildren and later to donate to the Geneva Cancer Auction; being a two-time cancer survivor herself, this was very near and dear to her heart. Myrtle had a large vegetable garden that helped feed her family. She enjoyed going for family visits, and later in life, cherished the time spent with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
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Ok Sun “Lee” Nelson, 73, of Ellendale, MN peacefully passed away on July 24, 2020, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea on September 22, 1946. She married Marty Nelson on September 26, 1971 at the Army Chapel in Vint Hill Farms Station in Fauquier County, Virginia. Marty and Lee moved to Ellendale where they made their life-long home and raised their two daughters, Nancy and Heidi. Lee was a member of First Lutheran Church, where she was baptized on April 23, 1977.
Among Lee’s proudest achievements were her roles of mother and grandmother. She was the type of Nana who didn’t hesitate to get down on the floor to play with her granddaughters, Anna and Audrey. Whether they were coloring, playing with dolls, or tossing the ball back and forth, laughter could be heard from miles away. Anna and Audrey meant the world to Lee and she had a knack for making them feel special and loved.
Lee was a world traveler, but the simple pleasure of taking trips with her granddaughters was treasured most. Additionally, she was a Twins baseball enthusiast and never missed a game.
Lee’s spirit is carried on by her family, especially her beloved granddaughters. She will always be remembered for her loving and generous heart. She was kind, thoughtful, gracious and compassionate. She enjoyed helping others and volunteering her time selflessly. Lee taught us to forgive quickly, to give to others, and always to be of service. She also taught us to be courageous – to know we are all doing the best we can, to cultivate gratitude, and always to remember to have fun.