Obituaries published in the Sunday, April 4, 1999, edition of The Daily Herald:.

Sunday, April 4, 1999

Obituaries published in the Sunday, April 4, 1999, edition of The Daily Herald:

Edward Boettcher

Edward Gustaf Boettcher, 91, 700 N.W. 1st Dr. Austin, died Wednesday, March 31, 1999, at Burr Oak Manor in Austin.

He was born April 18, 1907 in Delmont, S.D. to Christian and Christina (Kraft) Boettcher. He married Madelyn Paulson in January, 1940. He worked at Geo. A. Hormel & Co. for 41 years.

He was a member of the Eagles and a bowling league and St. Olaf Lutheran Church. He enjoyed fishing, gardening and spending time with his family.

Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Harlan and Eileen Lysne, Austin, John Lysne, Austin, Brian and LaDonna Boettcher, Mankato, Gary and Donna Boettcher, Bullhead City, Ariz., Michael Boettcher, Austin; daughter and son-in-law, Kristi and Richard Tracy, Austin; 15 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; brother John Boettcher; sister, Martha Boettcher, both of Pierre, S.D.; nieces, nephew and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife Madelyn; four brothers; one sister; one grandson; and one stepson.

Casket bearers will be Brett Boettcher, Brian Boettcher, Gary Boettcher, Mike Boettcher, Harlan Lysne and John Lysne.

Service: 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 6, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with the Rev. James I. Mikkelson officiating.

Interment: Oakwood Cemetery

Visitation: Friends may call at Worlein Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m. Monday and one hour before the service on Tuesday.

Caroline Durben

Caroline Durben, 87, a resident of St. Mark’s Lutheran Home, died Wednesday, March 31, 1999 at the Austin Medical Center.

She was born Sept. 24, 1911 at home in Johnsburg in Adams Township to Anton and Kate (Adams) Mullenbach.

She enjoyed growing up on a farm.

As a young adult Caroline was a housekeeper for Mr. and Mrs. Nicolson of Austin.

She and Stanley Durben were married August 31, 1943 at St. Augustine Catholic Church.

As a young couple they enjoyed dancing at the Oasis and dining out with friends.

Fifty years ago, Stan and Caroline built a two car garage with an apartment above, south on Highway 105, and started an auto repair and gas station business.

The business grew and developed into over-the-road truck repair and sales.

There they raised three sons and a daughter. She enjoyed holidays by preparing all the traditional foods for family and friends.

She was a member of St. Beatrice/St. Patrick Unit and Rosary Council. Party line Club and Girls’ birthdays gave her opportunities to play 500, which was a passion she enjoyed up to the time of her death.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law Donna (David) Schieck, Waltham; three sons: Silvan Durben, Austin; LaVern Durben, Minneapolis; Donald Durben, Austin; a sister Malinda (Tong) Schultz, Thorp, Wis.; two sisters-in-law, Christina Mullenback, Adams and Rose Mullenbach, Osage, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by Stanley P. Durben on Feb. 19, 1999; three sisters, Hilda Mullenbach, Clara Wehner and Celesta Juenger; three brothers, Vincent Mullenbach, Clemens Mullenbach and Ernest Mullenbach.

Casket bearers will be Todd Alger, Jay Alger, Dan Braaten, Teresa Bratsch, Frances DeBoer, Mark Durben.

Honorary casket bearers will be Lucille Braaten and Gene Wehner.

Service: A funeral mass will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 5, 1999 at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father Paul Nelson officiating.

Interment: Calvary Cemetery

Visitation: There will be a 4 p.m. CCW Rosary and a 7 p.m. wake service today (Sunday) at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4-8 p.m. and also from 9-10 a.m. on Monday.

Theodore (Ted) Earl Colescott

Theodore E. Colescott, 96, Austin, died April 1, 1999 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.

Born on a farm east of Kokomo, Ind. on March 5, 1903, to Wesley and Rebecca Crabtree Colescott, Ted was the youngest of 10 children. He attended Kokomo High School and graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Animal Husbandry in 1925. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

He moved to Chicago to work for Wilson Meat Packing Company and met his future wife Inez Recker there. The couple were married on Aug. 12, 1929. They were married for 67 years.

As an employee of Wilson’s, they first lived in Kansas City, then Cedar Rapids, before coming to Austin to work for Hormel. Children Ted and Gwen were born in 1935 and 1938, respectively.

During WWII Ted ran a Baker’s and Cook’s school at Jefferson Barracks in Mo. and, while stationed in Seattle, he was a Captain in the Quartermaster’s Corps buying beef for the army. After the war the family moved back to Austin where Ted sold beef and was the head of the beef, veal and lamb division for a number of years. He retired from Hormel in 1966.

In retirement, Ted served on the Boards of the Salvation Army, the Austin Symphony and the Oaks Condiminiums. He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club, and, for many years, the Austin Male Chorus. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Austin and served on its board of trustees.

He enjoyed overseeing his farm and traveling in the U.S. and abroad and visiting his grandchildren.

He is survived by son and daughter-in-law Ted G. and Kathryn N. Colescott, Rochester; daughter and son-in-law Gwen C. and John E. Mullen, Alexandria, Va.; four grandchildren; sister, Sydney Colescott, Kokomo, Ind.; many nieces and nephews.

Casket bearers will be Briana Colescott, David Colescott, Patricia Colescott, Rebecca Mullen Bidwell, Charles Bidwell and Edward Mullen.

Service: 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 5th at First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Patricia M. Toschak and Rev. Becky Jo Thilges officiating.

Interment: Oakwood Cemetery

Visitation: Friends may call at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary today (Sunday) from 4-7 p.m. and Monday one hour before the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers family prefers memorials to the Ted and Inez Memorial Scholarship Fund or The First United Methodist Church.

Mable Srsen

Mable M. Srsen, 88, of Route 1, Blooming Prairie, died Wednesday afternoon, March 31, at St. Olaf Hospital in Austin.

She was born May 1, 1910, to Frank and Barbara (Svoboda) Pavek in Summit Township, Minn. Mable attended a country school in Steele County through eighth grade. She married Frank Srsen May 6, 1931, at Holy Trinity Church in Litomysl. She was a homemaker, raising five children. She and Frank farmed together north of Blooming Prairie. She enjoyed being a homemaker, gardening, quilting, playing cards and, in later years, her grandchildren. A member of Holy Trinity Church at Litomysl, she was a member of the Wesleyan Fraternal Guild Life Association.

Survivors include sons: Richard Srsen, Owatonna; David Srsen, rural Blooming Prairie; daughters and sons-in-law, Delores and Victor Wanous, Owatonna; Marlys and Sylvester Wencl, Owatonna; Barbara and Jim Klecker, Owatonna; ten grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Frank in 1977; infant daughter Vera; two brothers, one sister and daughter-in-law Libbie.

Casket bearers will be David Wencl, Kenneth Wencl, Gary Wencl, David Klecker, Michael Klecker, LaVonne Wangen and Charlotte Hansen.

Service: 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 6, 1999 at Holy Trinity Catholic church at Litomysl with Father Michael Ruthenberg officiating.

Interment: National Bohemian Cemetery of Blooming Prairie.

Visitation: Friends may call at Blooming Prairie Funeral Home from 3-8 p.m. on Monday, April 5, 1999 and at the church one hour before the service. There will be a wake service at 7 p.m. on Monday.

Elsie Schulz

Elsie H. Schulz, of Austin, died Wednesday, March 31, 1999 at Bear Creek Rehab Center in Rochester.

She was born August 19, 1906 to Carl and Augusta Schieck. She was baptized August 26, 1906 at Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church by a Pastor Hitzman near Lewiston. When she was eight months old, her parents immigrated to Almont, N.D., where they took up a homestead. She went to instruction at an Evangelical Lutheran Church near Judson, N.D. and was confirmed Nov. 20, 1921, by The Rev. Ralph Schwicht. In 1927 she moved back to the Waltham area where she became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She was married to Ernest Schulz Sept. 26, 1928. She became a member of the Ladies Aid soon after marriage and remained a member throughout her life. She sang in the choir for 25 years, taught Sunday School for many years as well as Vacation Bible School.

Survivors include daughters: Lorraine (Mrs. Lowell) Fahrman, Rochester; Helen (Mrs. John) Wassel, Miami, Fla.; Arlene (Mrs. E.R.) Greenthaner, Tucson, Ariz.; daughter-in-law Irene Schultz; 13 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren; three sisters: Gertrude Ahrens, Indianapolis, Ind.; Adelaide Dorn, Lewiston; Pauline Holle, New Salem, N.D.; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son, a son-in-law, three brothers, one sister, and one grandchild.

Casket bearers are Mike Schulz, Tom Schulz, Duane Schieck, John Schieck, Michael Quakenbush, Brandon Plantage and Lawrence Schulz.

Services: 11 a.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church of Waltham with The Rev John F. Perling officiating.

Interment: At the church cemetery

Visitation: Friends may call at Worlein Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m. Sunday and at the church one hour before the service.

Donald Learn

Donald E. Learn, 77, of rural Lyle died Friday, April 2, 1999, at the Austin Medical Center.

He was born June 22, 1921 in Mower County to Harry and Jesse Learn. He graduated from Austin High School in 1939. He married Phyllis Cook on Sept. 22, 1944, at the United Brethren Church Parsonage in Austin. He farmed most of his life and he worked for Kings (Queens) Sealy Thermos in Albert Lea from 1968 until 1984 when he retired. His hobbies were camping and fishing.

He is survived by wife, Phyllis, Lyle; daughters and son-in-law: Grace and Robert Wagner, Stacyville, Iowa; Ruth Smalley, Kasson; sons and daughters-in-law: Wayne and Jean Learn, Red Wing; Frank and Faye Learn, Hayward; Leo and Julie Learn, Myrtle; Cecil and Elaine Learn, Albert Lea; 18 grandchildren; 1 great-granddaughter; sisters and brother-in-law: Darlene and Dale Schmidt, Appleton, Mildred Lonergan, Austin; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandson Jeremy Learn, two brothers and two sisters.

The organist will be Neal Erickson.

Casket bearers will be Richard Wagner, Brian Wagner, Philip Wagner, Jonathan Learn, Kevin Learn, Matthew Learn, Brandon Learn and Ryan Learn.

Service: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Clasen-Jordan Mortuary Chapel with Reverand Kristin K. Wee officiating.

Interment: London Cemetery, London, Minn.

·Visitation: 5-8 p.m. Monday at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary and Tuesday one hour before service.

Raymond Wagner

Raymond P. Wagner, 92, of 200 1st Ave. NE, Austin, died Friday evening, April 2, 1999, at Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar, Iowa.

Survivors include a step-son and daughter-in-law, Thomas (Phyllis) Nelson, Austin; 10 step-grandchildren; 20 step-great-grandchildren.

Service: 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Fathers Paul Nelson and Frank Enright officiating.

Interment: Sacred Heart Cemetery in Meyer, Iowa.

Visitation: Friends may call at Mayer Funeral Home from 5-8 p.m. Monday and also from 8:30-9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Anton Wellik

Anton F. Wellik, 89, of Austin, formerly of the Elkton and Grand Meadow area, died Tuesday, March 30, 1999, in Santa Paula, Calif.

He was born Nov. 23, 1909 in Clutier, Iowa to Louis and Emma (Urich) Wellik. He attended country schools and later Grand Meadow High School, graduating in 1926. He married Lorraine Kettner in Cresco, Iowa, on Nov. 22, 1931. He was a retired farmer.

He was an active member of Grange for many years, holding several positions. He attended state conventions as a delegate and also served as Master for nine years.

He served on the board of Marshall Township for 10 years and as clerk for five years.

He served on the Elkton School Board for nine years, two terms as president. During his leadership the new gym and class addition were planned and built.

He served on the Methodist Church Board at Dexter and on the Elkton City Council and was mayor for six years.

His leadership led to the creation of Elkton’s sanitary sewer system and during his term the Elkton Community Building became a reality.

Anton enjoyed fishing, cribbage, woodworking and spending time around his family. He had a tremendous sense of humor and an enthusiastic love of life.

He is survived by daughters Bette (Joe) Paine, Lake Elsinore, Calif. and Janet Shephard, Santa Paula, Calif.; son Gerald A. (Peggy) Wellik of Minneapolis; 14 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Lorraine in 1993, his parents, four brothers, one infant sister and one grandson.

Casket bearers will be Philip, Jamie, Daniel, Wayne, Edward and Dale Wellik and Mark Shepherd.

Honorary Casket bearers are Bob and Sue Roberts, Kenny and Mavis Wermager, Roy and Carol Hamilton, Max and Bev Benson, Robert and Marlene Hanson, Herman Klaehn, Donnette Shepherd and Nancy Roberts.

Service: 1 p.m. Tuesday at the United Methodist Church in Dexter, Rev. Rob Gamble officiating.

Interment: Grand Meadow Cemetery

Visitation: 4-8 p.m. Monday at the Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Grand Meadow.

Amreta M. Joel

Amreta Mary (Trembley) Joel, 79, of 1803 5th Ave. S.W., died Tuesday, March 30, 1999, at her home.

She was born Sept. 24, 1919, in Delavan to Ira and Marie (Willette) Trembley.

On Feb. 20, 1939, she married Noble Fred Joel at Delavan and the couple moved to Austin in 1943.

Survivors include her husband, Noble Fred Joel, Sr., Austin; sons and daughters-in-law: Noble Fred Jr. and Ann Joel, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Maurice and Pat Joel, Mankato; Edward and Sue Joel, North Platte, Neb.; David and Debra Joel, Austin; daughters and sons-in-law: Jane and Larry Clark, Austin; Sharon and Bob Bednar, Austin; Suzanne and Bruce Vaith, Manchester; Renae and Mark Raimann, Austin; 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; sisters: Frances Dunn, Fairmont; Doris Pahl, Blue Earth; Sister M. Rochelle, Mankato; brothers: Paul Trembley, Austin; step-mother, Rose Trembley; three half-sisters, a half-brother and a step-brother.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, a sister, Jeanette, and a grandson, Daniel Joe.

Service: 1 p.m. Monday, April 5, 1999, funeral Mass at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Austin, with the Rev. Paul Nelson officiating. Casket bearers will be grandsons, Robert Rice, Jr., Bret Joel, Thomas Bednar, Craig Joel, Tony Bednar, Jeremy Joel and Joshua Joel.

Visitation: 4-8 p.m. today (Sunday) at Mayer Funeral Home and 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday at the church prior to services. A 6:30 p.m. wake service will also be held at Mayer Funeral Home today.

Interment: Calvary Cemetery.

Irene Bernice Remker

Irene Bernice Remker, 91, of 200 1st Ave. NE, Austin, died Saturday morning April 3, 1999, at Prairie Manor in Blooming Prairie.

Survivors include sons: John H. Remker of Spring Valley, Robert P. Remker of Blooming Prairie; 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

· Service: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Father Paul Nelson officiating.

· Interment: Calvary Cemetery, Austin

· Visitation: 5:30-7:30 Tuesday with wake prayers at 7 p.m. at Worlein Funeral Home and from 9-10 a.m. Wednesday at Worlein Funeral.