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Orlin M. ‘Bill’ Johnson | Frances M. Smikrud | John Noeska | Josef Alois ‘Wisi’ Bragger | Irene Emma Sackreiter | David Scott Barnes
Orlin M. ‘Bill’ Johnson
WABASHA, Minn. — Orlin M. “Bill” Johnson, 85, of Wabasha died Monday, March 3, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center, Wabasha.
Arrangements are pending with Abbott Funeral Home, Wabasha.
Frances M. Smikrud
ETTRICK, Wis. — Frances M. Smikrud, 94, of Blair, formerly of rural Ettrick died on Monday, March 3, 2008, in the Grand View Care Center in Blair.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Saint Bridget’s Catholic Church, with burial in the church cemetery, both in Ettrick. A parish rosary will be at 9:15 a.m.
Friends may call from 9 a.m. until the time of service.
The Jack Funeral Home in Blair is assisting the family with arrangements.
John Noeska
John Noeska, 74, of Winona died on Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at Community Memorial Hospital.
Arrangements are pending with Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home.
Josef Alois ‘Wisi’ Bragger
INDEPENDENCE, Wis. — Josef Alois “Wisi” Bragger, 76, passed away at his rural Independence home on Monday, March 3, 2008, after a battle with heart disease. He was born at home on April 9, 1931, the sixth child of Albert and Regina Bragger (Wohlgensinger), in Dreien, St. Gallen, Switzerland. He was a citizen of Kirchberg.
He grew up on a 9-acre farm in Switzerland, where they raised a few cows, rabbits and bees. During World War II the only available transportation was walking or riding a bicycle. He remembered planes flying overhead during the war. His teacher was in the military, so on some days, his classes only lasted for a few hours.
When he was 14 his father died, so he went to work on a bigger farm. He was a member of the Swiss Army and cared for his unit’s horses. He then worked for his brother-in-law as a carpenter. He spent his 21st birthday in Bolivia, while touring South America and working for missionaries until he returned to Switzerland. At the age of 25, he left his homeland to work for Hans Stolz, a Swiss farmer in Waumandee, Wis. He then went to work for LaVerne “Gabby” and Marlet Baecker.
Wisi married Cheryl Marie Halvorson at Montana-Salem United Methodist Church on October 10, 1964. After a brief stay in Whitehall, Wis., they moved to a farm, Little Toggenburg, in Traverse Valley, rural Independence, where he lived out the rest of his life.
Wisi was from a large family of 15 children, and was very proud of all of his five children, Melinda (Dale) Channing of New Auburn, Wis., Heidi (friend Michael Kadinger) Bragger and Mary (George) Gierok, both of Independence, Katrina (Jerry) Roeckers of New Amsterdam, Wis., and Johann (Shannon) Bragger of Independence. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, Darryl (Leah) Fox, Lynnie (Michael Lombardo) Fox, Aaron, Jorgiann, Mason and Owen Gierok, and Gavin and Andrew Bragger. His great-granddaughters, Grace Marie Fox and Evelyn Rose Lombardo, were his dolls.
He is survived by his wife; children; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and siblings, Regina, Emmi, Guido and Margirit; and his Godchildren, Sonja Grimaldi, Ericka Fankhauser and Craig Halvorson Jr. Survivors also include his special American family, mother Marlet Baecker and Kay, Bob, Bernie, Bruce and Brenda Baecker, along with their spouses and children.
He was preceded in death by his parents; special American father, LaVerne Baecker; grandson, Samuel James Gierok; siblings, Albert, Rosalie, Mary, Hans, Anne, Josef Fridolin and Bernadette; and three infant siblings.
He donated time to the Independence Lutheran Church as a member and president of the church council. He volunteered at the school to give talks on Switzerland, because he always remembered his homeland, even though he loved America. Another joy for him was being involved with the Special Olympics and playing bocce ball with the athletes.
His other interests included forestry, working with wood and cement, planting fruit trees (especially pears), making wine, experimenting with cheese, telling a good story, visiting with friends and playing cards. He was known for his meat-cutting and butchering skills, which he learned while employed by Whitehall Packing where he was known as “Speedy.”
He loved his farm and cows and was so very proud of his land and the successful dairy farm that he carved from the hills of Buffalo and Trempealeau County. The hills rang with music from cowbells, many of which he hand-crafted.
In 1961 he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. The day after he returned home from the hospital, he insisted on stopping to vote on the way back through Independence.
Wisi will be cremated and his ashes will be saved until Cheryl joins him, at which time their ashes will be joined and returned to the land they loved.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at Edison Funeral Home, Independence, with Pastor Terry Lorenz officiating.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and one hour prior to services on Saturday at the funeral home.
Irene Emma Sackreiter
LEWISTON, Minn. — Irene Emma Sackreiter, 96, of Lewiston died Monday, March 3, 2008, at Lewiston Villa.
Irene was born Sept. 27, 1911, in Racine, Minn., to John and Emma (Kath) Beilke. She moved with her family to the Lewiston area in 1918 and attended schools in Lewiston and Rochester. Irene and Marvin Sackreiter were married on Nov. 15, 1931, in Lewiston. After their marriage, the couple farmed in rural Lewiston until later moving into town. Irene worked for the Lewiston Board and Care Home for 15 years. She and Marvin purchased the Board and Care Home and operated it for the next 10 years. She was a licensed nursing home administrator. Marvin died Oct. 10, 1994.
Irene was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lewiston and belonged to the Ladies Aid and Lewiston Flower Society. She served on the State Nursing Home Board for eight years and as 4-H leader for 10 years.
Survivors include three daughters, Lorraine (Merle) Matzke of Minnesota City, Minn., Elaine (Henry) Jacobs of Lewiston and Geraldine (Cecil) Mulholland of Albert Lea, Minn.; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; three sisters, Elsie, Amanda and Verna; three brothers, Elmer, Carl and Gerhardt; and one great-grandson, Bradley Hill.
Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lewiston, with the Rev. David A. Fischer officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lewiston and one hour before services Friday.
Hoff Funeral Home of Lewiston is assisting the family with arrangements. Share a memory of Irene at her online guest book at www.hofffuneral.com.
David Scott Barnes
David Scott Barnes, 53, of Winona died March 3, 2008, comfortably at his home in Winona from cancer. He was born Oct. 10, 1954, in Fort Madison, Iowa.
Survivors include former spouse and dear friend, Patty (Paul) Gardner; mother, Pat Barnes of Plainview, Minn.; daughter, Stephanie “Stevie” Barnes of Plymouth, Minn.; two brothers, Jeff (Traci) Barnes of Elgin, Minn., Dennis Barnes of Lombard, Ill; and a sister, Judy Dummermuth of Claremont, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his father and one brother.
David graduated from Plainview High School in 1972. For the past several years, he had been employed by Miller Felpax Corp. in Winona, as an industrial mold tech. He was an avid golfer and an accomplished artist. He was a professional musician where he played drums for several bands with his good friend, Paul Gardner. He loved fishing in Canada with his best friend, Rick Brink.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Plainview, with the Rev. David Frederickson officiating. The cremains interred at Greenwood Cemetery, Plainview.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Schad and Zabel Funeral Home, Plainview, and one hour prior to the service at the church.
