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

Gerald “Jerry” Lohberger, 79-year old-resident of Waldorf, died peacefully on Sunday morning, May 6, 2018 at the New Richland Care Center following an extended battle with ALS. 

Mass of Christian Burial is at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 11, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Waldorf with Fr. Michael Cronin as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Joseph Community Cemetery. Military honors performed by the Thomas L. Madden Post #428 of Waldorf.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at Starkson & Steffel Funeral & Cremation Service-Arnoldt Chapel of Janesville and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. 

Memorials are preferred to American Diabetes Association, ALS Association, Wounded Warrior Project, St. Joseph Catholic Church or to the donor’s choice in his memory. 

Gerald “Jerry” Lohberger was born on August 13, 1938 in Mankato to Cleo and Ruth (Hinz) Lohberger. He grew up in Mapleton for a short time before his parents moved their family to the farm in rural Waldorf. Jerry was a 1956 graduate of Waldorf High School. Following his education he enlisted into the United States Navy and proudly served his country until his honorable discharge in 1960. When Jerry returned home he began farming alongside his father and brother, Dale. In 1964, Jerry was united in marriage to Joan Anna Schwichtenberg at the Little Brown Church. They enjoyed attending many dances together, wintering in Alamo, Texas and spending time with their family in friends. Together they shared 53 years of marriage before Joan passed away on March 17, 2018. 

Naomi Farner, 89, of Albany, Oregon, passed away at home on April 29, 2018. She was surrounded by family as she left her earthly body for heaven.

Naomi was born in Eldora, Iowa to Abe and Florence Richards. She was the fourth of six children. After graduating from Iowa Falls High School in 1945, Naomi traveled to Caldwell, Idaho, where she met her husband Eldon. They married in 1948 in Winnemucca, Nevada, and were looking forward to celebrating their 70th anniversary later this summer.

Before settling in Albany, where they raised their four children, Eldon and Naomi lived in Owatonna, Minnesota, as well as in Prineville and Nyssa, Oregon. Naomi was first a wife, mother, and homemaker. As the children reached school ages, however, she began work at the Albany Chamber of Commerce for two years before taking a job in accounts payable at the Albany School District until retirement.

Naomi was involved in Cub Scouts, the Timber Carnival, Faculty Wives, Women’s Ministries, and Evergreen Hospice. She followed Eldon in his love for the Oregon State University Beavers. She and Eldon were members of Hope Church (formerly First Assembly of God) for 44 years. She loved to paint landscapes, needlepoint, work in the yard, crochet, sew, work crossword puzzles, and read. She had an especially great love of young children and babies.

Funeral services for Harold Byrne will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 8th, 2018 at All Saints Catholic Church, New Richland. Father Michael Cronin will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Waseca, MN.

Dr. Harold Byrne, long-time Portland, Oregon dentist passed away on April 24, 2018. He was 88 years old.

Harold was born on Friday, April 18, 1930 to Earl and Esther (Mortensen) Byrne in Waseca County. After his high school graduation from New Richland, MN Harold enlisted in the U.S. Air Force along with his brother Lyle. He served 4 years as Senior Medic Supervisor during the Korean War. After his Air Force career, he attended the University of Arizona. Following graduation, he was a Systems Analyst for the General Electric Computer Division in Phoenix, AZ. After a calling to change careers, he attended Phoenix College and the University of Oregon School of Dentistry in Portland, and graduated in 1970. 

He built a successful dentistry practice in Portland and along with a faithful and dedicated staff they practiced together until 2004. Many patients still remember him and will miss him and his stories dearly.

He was an avid traveler and golfer and golfed at Pebble Beach. He was a devoted Catholic from the time he was a young altar boy, with a zest for life and the stories and jokes to prove it.

He was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Esther, brothers Art, Earl, Richard, Robert and Lyle (Mary). 

Funeral services for Audrinne Marie Kormann of New Richland, MN, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 4, 2018 at St Peter’s Lutheran Church in New Richland. Pastor Scott Williams will officiate. Visitation will be held Thursday evening from 5 until 8 p.m. at the church and one hour prior to the service on Friday. Interment will be in St Peter Cemetery, New Richland, MN.

Audrinne passed away Monday, April 30, 2018 at the Beacon in New Richland. She was 82 years of age.

Audrinne was born September 2, 1935 in New Richland, MN, the daughter of Sidney and Elsie (Matthies) Johnson and was a graduate of New Richland High School in 1953. On August 13, 1955 she was united in marriage to Jerry Kormann at the LeSueur River Lutheran Church. She had been a resident of New Richland most of her life and was an active member of St Peter’s Lutheran Church. She was a part of the Church Choir and the Quilters Group. 

Audrinne was employed as a waitress/hostess for several area restaurants, sold Avon products and owned and operated with her husband, Jerry’s Inn for over 18 years.

Audrinne really enjoyed being around people. She would strike up a conversation with anyone.  Everyone was her friend. She also had a special passion for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  

In the summer, she loved to play golf in the ladies league and attend many tournaments; she even hit a hole-in-one! She was an avid sports fan! She was the all-time pitcher in the back yard for all of the neighborhood kids.

Funeral services for Harlan A. Schlaak were held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 20 at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland, Minnesota. Reverend Paul Andree officiated. Visitation was held from 4 until 8 p.m. Thursday, April 19 at church and again one hour prior to the service. Burial was at St. Olaf Cemetery.

Harlan Alfred Schlaak, age 76, died unexpectedly Monday evening, April 16 at his home near New Richland. Harlan was born on August 16, 1941 to parents Alfred and Luella (Tesch) Schlaak in Waseca, Minnesota. He was raised in New Richland and graduated from New Richland High School. He was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, being baptized and confirmed there.

In 1960, he married Carol Frisk and became a member at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. Together they raised their children on their farm near New Richland. He was a lifelong farmer, raising pigs and dairy cows, corn and soybean crops. He enjoyed tinkering with farm equipment and ‘Schlaak-erizing’ or improving modern machinery in his shop.

The Schlaak home has been a welcoming gathering place for friends and family for many years. Harlan loved spending time with his family and inviting people over for dinner. The highlight of every summer since 1996 was the Schlaak family camping trip to Yogi’s in Warrens, Wisconsin. He will be dearly missed.