William Leo Zilka, 80, of Sleepy Eye was called home by God on March 3, 2023.
Bill was born on February 1, 1943, in Little Falls, MN, the second of Dorothy and Simon Zilka’s 13 children. He grew up on a farm and in the woods north of Park Rapids, graduating in 1961. He attended NDSU in Fargo for 1.5 years as a physics major and member of the cross country and track teams before joining the Marine Corps in 1964, where he attained the rank of Sergeant. Bill met California native Janet Staveley at Disneyland when he blocked her view of a musical act. She asked him to please move; he obliged by sitting next to her. They married on April 8, 1967, and later moved to Minnesota, eventually settling in Sleepy Eye in February 1969.
A devout Catholic, Bill was a faith-filled member of St. Mary’s and the Knights of Columbus, and a devoted participant in the perpetual adoration of the Eucharist. A self-taught golfer who loved the game, he won eight club championships in Sleepy Eye and served as coach at St. Mary’s throughout the 1980s, helping his players love the game too. He liked trains and farms and trees and food. He enjoyed long conversations. He mugged for the camera. He mispronounced certain words on purpose, like “strawzleberry.” He’d take long drives on new and different routes. He counted down the days until spring. He sang loudly, sometimes with the beat. He sought to see the best in every person he met.
Bill was preceded in death by Jan Zilka, his wife of 55 years, who passed just 50 days earlier, and his brother Steve. He is survived and missed by his children Will (Julie) Zilka, Sandy Zilka, Scott (Karne) Zilka, and Jean (Brian) Yeager; grandchildren Ashley (Jamison) York, Zachary (Jessi) Zilka, Bryana Yeager, Daniel Zilka, and June Zilka; great-grandchildren Jace, Landon, Amaya, Aviyana, and Elliyana; 11 siblings; and countless other family members and friends, including you.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 9, from 9:30 to 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church-North Entrance in Sleepy Eye, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial with Father Mark Steffl officiating. The service will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/
In lieu of memorials, please take a long drive or play a round of golf with Bill in your mind.
Thomas Allyn Jensen, 72, of Mankato and formerly of Sleepy Eye, died March 1, 2023 at his home.
Memorial service will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, March 11, 2023 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 421 N 2nd St, in Mankato with visitation one hour prior to the service. Livestreaming will be available at www.mankatomortuary.com.
Tom enjoyed attending all three children’s sporting events. Those included football, volleyball, basketball, and softball. He ended those many years as Assistant Coach for Carly’s softball team.
Tom was an avid golfer. He rarely missed a Men’s Day in Springfield or New Ulm. He participated in many tournaments with his best friend Phil Runck. They enjoyed their days on various courses and had many stories to tell.
Tom loved his children. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for them. His schedule allowed for dog sitting afternoons, errand running, car fixing, painting, and many others too numerous to list. We all knew we could count on him for any request.
Tom had a quiet faith beginning with his baptism at St. John’s Lutheran of Sleepy Eye. He was confirmed at Grace Lutheran in Sleepy Eye. He served and volunteered on many committees and groups at St. John’s as his children were growing up. He was a current member of Immanuel Lutheran in Mankato where they moved to in May of 2020.
Tom is survived by his wife, Sue; children, Ryan (Rachel Cohen) Gehrke, Erica (Ralf) Swanson, Carly (Robert) Klabunde, and Chris (Jason) Sand; loving sister, Vickie (Larry) Holm; brother, Steven (Joleen) Jensen; sister-in-laws, Michelle (Bruce) Ahlness and Kristine Weilage; brother-in-law, Michael (Connie) Weilage; father and mother-in-law, Richard and Lynda Weilage; and many nieces and nephews. He especially loved and enjoyed his three nephews, Matthew, Willie, and Jacob Holm.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents and mother-in-law, G.G. (Ray) Rothmeier.
We thank all those who prayed for Tom and our family, for Phil and Vickie’s weekly visits, and anyone who sent kindness our way. Though we are heartbroken by his passing we know we will see him again.
The family would like to thank the staff at Mayo Hospice, Mankato for their kind care and support, especially Tom’s aide, Heather.
Blessed be his memory.
John C. Steffen, age 70 of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, died on February 18, 2023, at his home at Countryside Retirement Community in Sleepy Eye. A visitation will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023, from 12:00 to 1:00 PM at Zion Lutheran Church in Morton, MN.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023, at 1:00 PM with Pastor Darren Green officiating. Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel is assisting with arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.
John Carlyle Steffen was born December 31, 1952, in Redwood Falls, MN to Henry and Florence (Kropp) Steffen. John grew up in Morton, Minnesota where he attended school and finished his education by earning a GED. On January 29, 1970, John entered the US Marine Corp and was later honorably discharged.
Once John returned home from the US Marine Corp, he worked for Roller Rank and the campground in South Dakota. He later went to work for the railroad and eventually the mines in Nevada. When John returned home, he took care of his parents. He enjoyed abstract painting, and he took a painting class and started painting other types of paintings. He also enjoyed walking around the neighborhood.
John is survived by his sister, Faye Vanderlouw; brother, Richard Steffen; sister in-law, Pat Steffen; and several nieces and nephews and other loving relatives and friends.
John was preceded in death by his parents, father Henry Steffen in 1994 and mother, Florence (Kropp) Steffen in 2010; brothers, Larry Steffen and Orlo Steffen; sister in-law, Diane Steffen (wife of Richard Steffen); and several aunts and uncles.
Karen K. Yaeger, age 78 of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, died on February 14, 2023, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel is assisting with arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.
Karen Kay (Mathiowetz) Yaeger, the daughter of Alfred and Mary (Reiniger) Mathiowetz, was born December 4, 1944, in New Ulm, Minnesota. She grew up on a farm near Comfrey and following high school graduation, she attended Rasmussen Business College in Mankato, Minnesota.
In her early twenties, Karen married Richard Yaeger and they moved to Japan while he was stationed there in the military service. While there, their beloved daughter Tiffany was born. After the service, they moved to California where Karen was actively involved in the real estate business for many years. She then moved to Texas to be near her daughter and grandchildren. There, she worked as a mortgage underwriter until retirement. Not one to sit still, Karen’s outgoing personality and love of people were a perfect fit as an UBER driver in the Dallas area, a job she thoroughly enjoyed.
Having high standards, in addition to being a little particular and tenacious, is how Karen lived her life along with having great care and concern for her family and friends. Karen was a “California girl” at heart. She shared her love of fashion and beauty with Tiffany who was not only her daughter but also her best friend. They shared so much together and had the best time doing it. When Tiffany died, Karen was blessed to help raise her two grandchildren whom she loved and cherished dearly. Her greatest enjoyment was caring for Taylor and Tori and attending the many activities they were involved in. In September of 2021, Karen moved to Sleepy Eye and enjoyed playing Canasta and Pinochle with family.
Karen is survived by her grandchildren, Taylor Yaeger-Colbert of Dallas, TX and Victoria (Tori) Yaeger-Colbert of Allen, TX; sisters, Debbie (Duane) Distad of Sioux Falls, SD and Judy Kunkel of Sleepy Eye, MN; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Tiffany Yaeger; brother, Curtis Mathiowetz; sister, Arlyce Lee; and brothers-in-law, Robert Kunkel and Richard Ludewig.
Janet Lucille (Koewler) Rohlik, 82, of Redwood Falls passed away peacefully Monday, February 20, 2023, at home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 25, 2023, at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Redwood Falls. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, February 24 at Redwood Valley Funeral Home. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at church on Saturday. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Seaforth at a later date. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Janet Lucille (Koewler) Rohlik was born June 9, 1940, to Ambrose and Lucille (Pape) Koewler above the post office in Seaforth. She graduated from St. Anne’s High School in 1958 as valedictorian. On February 22, 1960, Janet was united in marriage to Bob Rohlik at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Seaforth. She had a deep faith and saw beauty in the world around her. Janet had an eye for finding and taking pictures of many of God’s beautiful flowers. She had a talent for making and decorating cakes and was especially known for her mock angel food. Janet fulfilled her vocation of motherhood with incredible grace, raising a Bohemian dozen of children, while prudently providing memorably delicious meals in quantity.
Janet is survived by her husband Bob; 11 children: Laura Rohlik of Redwood Falls, Joel (Molly) of Tucson, Ariz., Cindy (Jeff) Gunderson of Redwood Falls, Amy (Marty) Janning of Willmar, Beth (special friend Brian) Rohlik of Plymouth, Mark (Rachel) of Otsego, Jon of Casselton, N.D., Carrie Rohlik of Astoria, Ore., Becky (Jack) Delsing of Eagan, Tony of Redwood Falls and Rachel (Travis) Paulson of Rochester; 25 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren with two more on the way; three brothers: Jerry (Jean) Koewler of Redwood Falls, Jim (Vicki) Koewler of Clara City and Jeff (Delrose) Koewler of Sleepy Eye; and many other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ambrose and Lucille Koewler.
Jerry S. Adams, age 92, of Hudson, WI, passed away peacefully on February 18, 2023 with family by his side.
Jerry was preceded in death by his son-in-law Jerry Johnson; brother-in-law Ferdie Krenz and his parents Stuart and Lillian.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years Georgia; children Julie (Malcolm) Clegg, Nancy Johnson, Eric (Betty) Adams, and Paul (Patti) Adams; grandchildren Steven (Ola) Clegg, Jamie (Estera) Clegg, Rachel (Pavel) Zaprawa, Claudia Johnson, Robbie (Kait) Adams, Ericka (Justin) Gannon, Erin (Bryce) Hargrove, Cailin (Phil) Ashfield, Riley (Megan) Adams, Braden (Emma) Adams; 17 great grandchildren; sister Betty Krenz and AFS son(s )Stuart (Suzanne) Hamilton family and Uwe (Inga) Leuffert family.
Jerry was born on January 2, 1931 in Sleepy Eye, MN, to parents Stuart and Lillian (Schmidt) Adams. Jerry graduated from Sleepy Eye High School and went on to attend the University of Minnesota where he earned his degree in Agronomy. Upon graduation Jerry was offered a full-time position working for Del Monte in Sleepy Eye, where he met the love of his life, Georgia Grinager. They were married on June 7, 1953. Together they were blessed with four children.
Jerry, devoted first and foremost to his faith and to his family, was always there to support his kids and eventually his grandchildren. An outdoorsman at heart, he could identify nearly every kind of bird. He enjoyed hunting and watching sports especially baseball. But what Jerry may most be remembered as, was a storyteller. He told wonderfully imaginative stories with life lessons at their core.
A memorial service for Jerry will be held on Monday, February 27,2023 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Downtown, Hudson. Visitation will be from 10-11 am with a funeral service at 11am. Lunch will be provided.
Memorials may be made to Gillette Children’s Hospital or to Bethel Lutheran Church.
Lorraine M. Seifert, 81, of Clements, passed away on Friday, February 10, 2023 at her home in Clements, Minnesota. A Requiem Latin Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 16, 2023 from St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Morgan with a Rosary at 11:15 a.m., all at the church in Morgan. A luncheon will follow the Mass at the church before going to the burial in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Clements. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Morgan. Family prefers memorials to the St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Morgan or St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye.
The Nelson-Hillestad Funeral and Cremation Service of Morgan and Redwood Fall are in charge of the arrangements. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelson-hillestad.com.
She is survived by her husband, Lawrence Seifert of rural Clements; her son, Michael and wife Jean Seifert of Redwood Falls, and daughter, Denise and husband Larry Mahoney of Appleton, MN; two grandchildren, Andrew and Anna Mahoney; sister, Mary Jane and husband Everett Sellner of Sleepy Eye, MN; brothers, Leonard Hauser Jr. and special friend Joyce of Essig, MN, Lavern Hauser and special friend Teresa of Sleepy Eye, MN, John Hauser and wife Sharon of Sleepy Eye, MN. Lorraine was preceded in death by her son, Jerome Seifert; one brother, Anthony Hauser; one sister, LuAnn Aschenbrenner and brother-in-law, Mark Aschenbrenner; and a nephew, Leon Hauser.
Lenora H. Schumacher, age 89 of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, died Saturday, February 4, 2023, at her home at Countryside Apartments in Sleepy Eye.
Visitation will be held Monday, February 13, 2023, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel with Parish Prayers at 4:00 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church in the North Entrance.
Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at 10:30 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. The clergy will be Father Samuel Perez. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery at a later date.
Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel, is handling the arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.
Lenora Hildegard (Tauer) Schumacher was born on May 25, 1933, to Clarence and Ida (Stadick) Tauer in Mulligan Township and lived there until her marriage to Marvin Schumacher on May 22, 1956. She lived on the farm with her husband Marvin and their son Dean until Marvin’s death in 1988. Together, with her son Dean, she farmed and milked cows for many years. Lenora found joy in planting her vegetables and flowers each year, feeding the calves, mowing lawn, and anything outdoors. She also loved baking, canning, puzzles, going to ball games, and sitting on the front steps chatting with her grandkids. In later years, she enjoyed many trips with her brother-in-law, Sylvan Schumacher, sisters-in-law, Donna Schumacher and Carol Schumacher, and friends, Dorothy Lax and Fran Schumacher.
Lenora is survived by her son, Dean Schumacher (Kathy Olson); brother, Leon (Lorraine) Tauer; grandchildren, Kristy Schumacher (Stevie Content), Katie (John) Townsend, Kellie Schumacher, Kimberly (Micah) Bhatti, Kari Schumacher, Corey Schumacher, and Caleb Schumacher; and her eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Marvin Schumacher; and her parents, Clarence and Ida (Stadick) Tauer.
Beverly Jean (Madory) Simonsen, age 86, of Sleepy Eye, died on January 31, 2023, at Good Samaritan Society-Sioux Falls Village Nursing Home in Sioux Falls, SD.
Visitation will be on Thursday, February 9, 2023, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel with Parish Prayers at 4:00 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church in the North Entrance.
Mass of Christian burial will be on Friday, February 10, 2023, at 10:30 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. The clergy will be Father Mark Steffl. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. The service will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/stmarysleepyeye/live.
Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye is handling the arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Sleepy Eye Historical Society or St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Beverly was born July 15, 1936, to Cornelius and Lois (McDonald) Madory in New Ulm’s Loretto Hospital. Her childhood was spent in Sleepy Eye, Edgemont SD, Roy UT and Ogden, UT. She graduated from Sleepy Eye High School in 1954 and St. Cloud School of Nursing in 1957 as a Registered Nurse. She married Donald Simonsen on January 14, 1958, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and made their home on their registered Holstein dairy farm in Eden Township, northwest of Sleepy Eye. Beverly worked at the Sleepy Eye Municipal Hospital until early 1967, then stayed home to raise their five children. She helped on the farm by driving tractor, doing the bookkeeping, cow records, and running for parts. When Don retired from the dairy and farming operation in 1990, they did some traveling and camping. Beverly renewed her nursing license and worked at the Fairfax Community Home, then later became Home Health Director at Countryview Estates in Fairfax, retiring in 2007 at the age of 70. Following Don’s death in 1997, she moved to her condo in Sleepy Eye, and son Dean moved onto the home farm.
Beverly enjoyed sewing, knitting, quilting, and playing cards, especially Bridge with her longtime Bridge Club for 60 years. She was an active volunteer while the kids were in school, 4-H and FFA. She managed the Brown County Fair 4-H Foodstand for many years. She and Don were charter members of the Sleepy Eye Community Band and later played with the New Ulm Municipal Band. She traveled with the New Ulm Band to Germany in 2000 and continued playing her flute at concerts through 2021. She also sang in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church choir years ago. For many years she enjoyed summer vacations and fishing with her family at the lake. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Sleepy Eye Women’s Club, Sleepy Eye Historical Society, and president of Steinhaus Condo Association.
She is survived by five children: Kaye (Dean) Compart of Nicollet, Anita Johnson of Sleepy Eye, Philip Simonsen of Springfield, VA, Dean (Rebecca) Simonsen of Sleepy Eye, and Leah (James) Grothe of Sioux Falls, SD; 15 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; step-sister Pearl Schroepfer of Sleepy Eye, and half-brother Doug (Marlys) Grindall of International Falls. She was preceded in death by her husband Donald; parents Cornelius Madory and Lois Grindall; step-father Francis Grindall; and step-mother Verena Bruckbauer.
Karolyn “Curly” Delores (Frederickson) Marks was born February 20,1951, in Sleepy Eye, MN, to Annette and Arden Frederickson, one month after her father Arden was killed in a plane crash. She attended school and graduated from St Mary’s High School with the class of 1969. She began her work career with 3M in New Ulm, being there for around 30 years. She later worked for Schutz Family Foods and Family Dollar. No matter where she worked, her co-workers became lifelong friends. Curly loved her friends and classmates like they were family and getting the chance to visit with any of them were highlights of her days.
Curly was married to Leon (Half-Pint) Marks, and though they later divorced, they remained friends. To this marriage two children were born, Brian and Kathy. She also gained a daughter by marriage, Amy. Family was everything to Curly, and she kept her doors open and welcomed everyone for all events and holidays. Curly and her sisters were not only sisters but also the Best of Friends. Before she had children, Curly was the best auntie to her nieces and nephews. They all loved spending time with her and were excited when she got to babysit. She used to say she had the best nephews because they gave the best bear hugs. Curly’s greatest treasures in her life were her two youngest grandsons, Hayden and Kane, and she enjoyed doting on them. She was the most devoted grandma to them and never missed a moment to cuddle them and tell them how much she loved them. Curly was also her daughter Kathy’s best friend. They loved to do jigsaw puzzles together, try to win big on scratch offs, and just sit together and enjoy one another’s presence. In her free time, Curly enjoyed reading. Her greatest love in life, above all, was her family.
Curly died on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis at the age of 71.
Curly is survived by daughter, Kathy Marks; stepdaughter, Amy (George) Grosam; son, Brian (Katie) Marks; grandchildren, Hayden Bennett and Kane Marks, Gabriella, Juliette, Phillip and Sebastian Marks, Matt and Mark Hillesheim and Justin and Matt Grosam; sisters, Brenda (Mike) Walden and Karen (Ken) Schaefer; sister-in-law, Patricia Frederickson; former sister-in-law, Julie Marks; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Arden and Annette Frederickson; stepdad, Neil Johnson; three brothers, Jon, Jim and Bruce Frederickson; sister-in-law, Linda¬ Frederickson; and former parents-in-law, Ellsworth “Pete” and LaMae Marks in addition to her grandparents.
