Obituaries

Dec 29, 2021

Thomas Edward Phelps, age 52, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at his home. He was born on August 16, 1969, in Portsmouth, Virginia to Robert Phelps and Brenda (Warren) Kampman. He attended Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, Virginia and graduated from Indian River High School in Chesapeake, Virginia in...

Dec 29, 2021

Weston Gene Thompson beloved husband, father, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend passed away on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Saint Mary's Campus surrounded by family. Wes was born on June 20, 1952, in Austin, Minnesota, to George and Jean (Bisbee) Thompson. He grew up in Austin and attended the...

Dec 29, 2021

Mary M. Draayer, age 75, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away after an extended illness on December 29, 2021 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems -Austin. Mary Margaret Helgesen was born October 1, 1946, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Paul and Hermoine (Kolstad) Helgesen. She graduated in 1964 from Bloomington High School in Bloomington, MN. Early in life...

Dec 27, 2021

Cheryl A. Qualey, age 73, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, December 27, 2021, at her home in Austin surrounded by her family. Cheryl Allene Anderson was born April 16, 1948, in Austin, Minnesota to Harry and Lois (Sukow) Anderson. She graduated with the class of 1966 from Austin High School. Following high school,...

Dec 27, 2021

Steven Allen Rohde, age 54, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, December 27, 2021, at Mayo Clinic Health System Austin, Minnesota. Steven was born in Osage, Iowa, to Raymond and Marjorie (Hacker) Rohde on February 10, 1967. He graduated from St. Ansgar High School. Steven loved the outdoors, riding motorcycles, ATVs, and bike riding....

Dec 27, 2021

Monica Joy Eastburn-Waltz, age 70, of Austin, Minnesota, formerly of Owatonna, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, December 27, 2021, at her residence – Our House Memory Care in Austin. Monica was born on January 10, 1951, in Austin, Minnesota, to Russell Eastburn and Vickie (Borgesen) Eastburn. Monica attended Austin High School and Austin Vo-Tech Institute....

Dec 25, 2021

MaryAnn Grunklee , age 89, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away Saturday, December 25, 2021, at her home in Blooming Prairie. MaryAnn Pagel was born on December 24, 1932, in Faribault, Minnesota, to Luverne and Helen (Graham) Pagel. She graduated from Faribault High School in 1950 and was employed as a secretary at Carleton College. On December...

Dec 24, 2021

Sharon Kay Marsolek, age 82, of Austin, loving mother, sister, and grandmother, passed away Friday, December 24, 2021, after a battle with dementia.

Sharon was born May 15, 1939 in Austin to Sylvester and Marjorie (LaValley) Heimer.  She grew up in Austin and attended Pacelli High School, Class of 1957.  She married John J. Marsolek Jr. at...

Dec 23, 2021

Bryan Patrick Bierne, age 42, of Apple Valley and formerly of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Thursday, December 23, 2021, at his home in Apple Valley. Bryan was born on November 3, 1979, in Austin, Minnesota, to David and Sandra (Brua) Bierne. He graduated from Hayfield High School in 1998. Following graduation he attended the University of...

Dec 20, 2021

Agnes T. Capp, age 102, of Austin, died Monday, December 20, 2021 at Sacred Heart Care Center.

Agnes was born July 6, 1919 in Freeborn, Minnesota to Mathew and Gertrude (Chicos) Paczkowski.  She began her education at St. Theodore’s Catholic School and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1936.  After graduation, Agnes worked in the office...

Dec 20, 2021

Jeanne A. Lueders, age 73, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, December 20, 2021, at St. Mark’s Living in Austin.

Jeanne is survived by her father, Leonard Lueders; sister, Kathleen Hines; brother, Ronald (Mary Ann) Lueders; sister-in-law, Linda Lueders; nieces, Nicole (Matthew) Peterson and their children, Rowen, Ethan, and Levi Peterson, Allison (Dustin) Ward...

Dec 20, 2021

Soe Min Myat, age 53, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, December 20, 2021 at OSF – St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, Illinois. Soe was born on September 25, 1968, in Mawlamyine, Burma, to Than Sein and Tin Aye. He immigrated to the United States 25 years ago and made his home in...

Dec 18, 2021

Terry Allen Unverzagt, age 65, of Austin, Minnesota, formerly of Dexter, Minnesota passed away on Saturday, December 18, 2021, at Mayo Clinic Health System Austin. Terry was born October 2, 1956, in Austin, Minnesota, to Roland and Beverly (Andrews) Unverzagt. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in rural Dexter, Minnesota. Terry graduated...

Dec 18, 2021

Dean Richard Lerud, age 76, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, December 18, 2021, at his home in Austin. Dean was born January 30, 1945, in Austin, Minnesota to Harlan and Agnes (Lysne) Lerud. He graduated in 1963 from Austin High School and went on to attend Austin Junior College. In 1965, Dean was...

Dec 17, 2021

Patricia Ann “Pat” Reinartz, age 90 of Austin passed away Friday, December 17, 2021 at her residence.  Pat was born October 17, 1931 at St. Olaf Hospital, Austin, MN, the only child of Louis P. and Loretta E. (Lamping) Reinartz.

She grew up in Rose Creek, MN and attended St. Peter’s Catholic elementary school and...

Dec 17, 2021

Jett Jaxs Pater, passed away on December 17, 2021 at Mayo Clinic Health - St. Mary's Campus. Jett was born October 1, 2021 to Jocelyn Pater and Jacob Gardner in Rochester.

A memorial gathering will be held from 1-3:30 pm, with at brief prayer service at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at Worlein Funeral Home, Austin.

Dec 15, 2021

Bob McAlister, age 82, of Austin, died Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at Sacred Heart Care Center.

Bob was born May 5, 1939 on the east side of Austin to Bill and Josephine McAlister.  He spent his childhood enjoying fishing and ice hockey; hobbies that would live on for him throughout his long life.

Bob proudly...

Dec 15, 2021

Michael Lynn Lerud, age 66, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at Mayo Clinic Health System Austin. Michael was born January 16, 1955, in Austin, Minnesota to Harlan and Agnes (Lysne) Lerud. Michael worked for several years at Cedar Valley Services, Inc. in the Top Flight Program. His hobbies consisted of...

Dec 14, 2021

Elizabeth Ann Ashoff, passed peacefully into her eternal home on December 14, 2021, at her home in Ukiah, California, with her loving oldest son, Gilbert Ashoff, at her side. She was just six days shy of her 99th birthday. “Betty” as she was known from childhood, was born in Columbus, Nebraska, on December 20, 1922, to Walter and Martha (Kipple)...

Dec 14, 2021

Mable Joyce Hjelmen, passed away Tuesday, December 14, 2021. Mable was born December 1, 1931, she graduated from Austin High School in 1950. Mable worked at Hormel foods for 30 plus years while putting herself through Nursing school. Retiring from Hormel in 1986 she began a career as a nurse, working the next 20 plus years at...