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Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com

Published - Sunday, March 09, 2008

Obituaries for Sunday, March 9, 2008

By the Daily News staff

Stephen Elmer Gottschalk

Oct. 9, 1947 — March 6, 2008

Stephen Elmer Gottschalk beloved son, husband, father and grandfather, died March 6, 2008.

Born Oct. 9, 1947, in Rochester, Minn., he lived with integrity and humility.

Survived by parents, Ruth and Elmer, siblings, Gary, Bruce, Nancy; loving wife, Lori; four children; five grandchildren.

Throughout his life, Steve was loving and faithful to his Lord and family and enjoyed his career as a lawyer.

Memorials preferred to St. John’s Episcopal Church-Haiti Project (www.stjohns-mpls.org/haiti) or Valparaiso University.

Memorial service at 2 p.m. March 17, St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Minneapolis.

Marjorie C. Lange

Feb. 28, 1915 — March 7, 2008

Marjorie C. Lange, 93, of Winona died Friday, March 7, 2008, at Saint Anne Extended Healthcare, Winona.

She was born Feb. 28, 1915 in Bricelyn, Minn., to Fred and Gladys (Graham) Lange.

She never married. Marjorie began her career as a beautician in St. Cloud, Minn., from 1940 to 1943. She then moved to Albert Lea, Minn., and operated her own shop from 1946 to 1965. After selling her shop, she continued to work as a beautician until retiring in 1980, at which time she moved to Winona.

While in Albert Lea, she was a member of the Beautician’s Association, the Professional and Business Women’s Club and the Wesleyan Service Guild of the Methodist church. In Winona she was a faithful member of Central United Methodist Church and its Morning Circle. Marjorie enjoyed reading and needlework.

She is survived by nine nieces and nephews, including Barbara (Wayne) Christenson, Rochester, Minn., Donald Lange, Pepin, Wis., Marsha (Dan) Harbin, La Crosse, Wis., Ken (Shelley) Lange, Altura, Minn., LuAnn (Kevin) Lafky, Owatonna, Minn., Nancy (Jerry) Richter, Chatfield, Minn., Bud (Judy) Lange, White Bear Lake, Minn., Rolland Lange, Wabasha, Minn., and Ronald (Donna Mae) Lange, Lake City, Minn. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Mary Lange of Wabasha.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Howard and B.G. “Bud” Lange.

Memorial services to celebrate her life will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home, with the Rev. David McBride of Central United Methodist Church officiating.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Central United Methodist Church, 114 W. Broadway, Winona, MN 55987.

Services entrusted to Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home and Cremation services of Winona. Words of sympathy and remembrance may be left at www.fawcett-junkerfuneralhome.com.

James G. Ahrens Sr.

Sept. 29, 1932 — March 6, 2008

James G. Ahrens Sr., 75, died Thursday, March 6, 2008, at Winona Community Memorial Hospital.

Jim was born Sept. 29, 1932, in Winona to Ben and Carrie Ahrens. Jim served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He married Patricia Giemza on Nov. 12, 1955, in Winona. Jim drove for Winona Excavating for many years and most recently had been a driver for Williamson and Music. Jim had a passion for building and racing stock cars locally. His number was 22. Jim was an avid sports fan and especially liked to follow NASCAR.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia; five children, Jeffrey of Winona, Jayne Ahrens of Burnsville, Minn., Catherine Rose of Mounds View, Minn., Jim Jr. (Shauna) of Byron, Minn., and Tricia (Mark) Bushman of Neillsville, Wis.; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Robert Ahrens and Roland (Joann) Ahrens, both of Winona; and two sisters, Jane (Robert) Harders of Greenbush, Minn., and Dorothy (Jack) Bittner of Montevideo, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Richard, and sister, Donna.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service Hansen Goodview Chapel, with the Rev. Richard Colletti officiating. Burial will take place in Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. and also one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Tuesday.

Military honors will be conducted by the American Legion of Winona immediately following the service outside the funeral home.

Family and friends are invited to a reception following the services at the funeral home.

Please share a memory of Jim with the family, sign the online guest book or view his video tribute at: www.hofffuneral.com

F. Harold ‘Harry’ Torgeson

March 2, 1942 — March 7, 2008

MINNESOTA CITY, Minn. — F. Harold “Harry” Torgeson, 66, died Friday, March 7, 2008, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

Harry was born March 2, 1942, in Carimona, Minn., to Floyd S. and Eleanor E. (Kottke) Torgeson. He married Ardel Albrecht and they were later divorced. Harry married Cindy Frauenkron on Sept. 1, 1979, in Winona.

Harry began his working career with Fibrite in Winona, but for the past 36 years he has been a maintenance man for Winona Housing and Redevelopment. He was a member of Central Lutheran Church.

Harry was a jack of all trades and could fix just about anything. He helped out many family and friends with maintenance jobs around their houses. Harry enjoyed his Sunday car rides, fishing and just sitting and watching people.

Survivors include his wife, Cindy; four children, Tammy (Bob) Bigelow Winona, Lisa (Joe) Jacobson of Winona, Tina (Brian) Hjelmeland of Stockton, Minn., and John (Nicole Bruntmyer) Torgeson of Winona; 12 grandchildren; three brothers, Richard (Marilyn) Torgeson of Houston, Minn., David Torgeson of Van Nuys, Calif., and Roger (Suk) Torgeson of Seoul, Korea; and four sisters, Mary Ellen (Jack) Hruby of Lakeland, Fla., Nancy Wheeler of Goodview, Minn., Ada (Tom) Schmidt of Stockton, Minn., and Linda (Ronald) Kammerer of Winona.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandson, Joseph Michael Jacobson Jr., and two sisters, Carolyn and Gloriann.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Central Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Jeff Franko officiating. Spring burial will take place in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Tuesday.

Please share a memory of Harry with the family or sign the online guest book at: www.hofffuneral.com

Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service Hansen Goodview Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Arvilla M. Hund

Dec. 29, 1923 — March 7, 2008

FOUNTAIN CITY, Wis. — Arvilla M. Hund, 84, of Fountain City died Friday, March 7, 2008, at St. Michael Lutheran Home in Fountain City.

She was born in Buffalo County, Wis., on Dec. 29, 1923, the daughter of Alfred and Louise (Feuling) Wolfe.

Arvilla is a lifelong resident of Fountain City. On March 2, 1943, she was united in marriage to Bernard F. Hund at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fountain City. He preceded her in death on June 13, 1985.

She was a homemaker and housewife who enjoyed gardening, sewing, quilting and cooking; but even more, she enjoyed her grandchildren. Arvilla is a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and its Altar Society.

She is survived by her five children, two sons, Dennis (Patricia) of Buffalo City, Wis., and Duane (Marie) of Fountain City, and three daughters, Charlotte (Ronald) Haney, Myra Blank and Marilyn (Dennis) Schutz, all of Fountain City. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. Three sisters, Evelyn Peterson, Austin, Minn., Theresa Kurzhal, Owatonna, Minn. and Marge Herold, Fountain City; and one sister-in-law, Jean Wolfe, Onalaska, Wis.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one brother and two sisters.

A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Arvilla’s life will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with the Rev. Rick Roberts officiating. Spring interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Fountain City. Friends may call at the church Monday from 4 to 7 p.m., where there will be a prayer service at 7 p.m. lead by the Rev. Roberts. Friends may also call on Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church. Casket bearers will be Thomas and Timothy Hund, Peter Blank and Richard Rippley.

Services entrusted to Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Fountain City. Words of sympathy and remembrance may be left at www.fawcett-junkerfuneralhome.com.

Jerome ‘Jerry’ Wozney

Sept. 3, 1929 — March 7, 2008

INDEPENDENCE, Wis. — Jerome “Jerry” Wozney, 78, of Independence died Friday, March 7, 2008, at Grand View Care Center in Blair.

He was born Sept. 3, 1929, in Arcadia Township, Trempealeau County, to Frank and Mary (Przybylla) Wozney.

Jerry married Marian Halama on Aug. 18, 1956, in Independence. The couple farmed in Arcadia Township on the farm where Jerry was raised. He was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and Catholic Order of Foresters. Jerry served on the Arcadia Creamery Board.

Survivors include his wife, Marian of Independence; a brother, Jim (Betty) Wozney of Arcadia; four sisters, Michaelene Reedy of West Salem, Dolores Higie and Joanne Ford, both of Las Vegas, and Kathy Ford of Morganfield, Ky.; special nephew, Jim (Marilyn) Reedy of Trempealeau; and great-nephews, Prentice and Tyler Reedy.

Jerry was preceded in death by an infant twin sister.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Independence, with the Very Rev. Douglas C. Robertson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Edison Funeral Home, Independence, where there will be a prayer service at 7 p.m. followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary.

Visitation will also be one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.

Nellie Benora Summers

Jan. 22, 1915 — March 6, 2008

HOUSTON, Minn. — Nellie Benora Summers, 93, of Houston died on Thursday, March 6, 2008, at Valley View Nursing Home, where she resided the past 13 years.

Nellie was born Jan. 22, 1915, to Nels and Bell Flatten in Yucatan, Minn. She attended school in Yucatan and Houston High. On Feb. 22, 1933, she married Miles “Pete” Summers of Money Creek, where they lived for years before moving to Houston. Besides being a homemaker, Nellie worked at the hardware store they owned in Houston, and later as a hostess at the Valley High Country Club which they owned and managed for some time. She also started the first laundromat in Houston. Nellie was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and of Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Houston. She enjoyed cooking, baking, shopping and activities with her family and friends.

Survivors include two daughters, Gloria (Earl) Patterson of La Crosse, Wis., and Bonnie (Carell) Foss of Fargo, N.D.; one son, Jon (Eileen) Summers of Islamabad, Pakistan; eight grandchildren, Jenelle (Tom) Lee of La Crescent, Minn., Kris (Susan) Patterson of Mindoro, Wis., Craig (Jill) Foss of Rathdrum, Idaho, Scott (Debra) Foss of Garrison, N.D., Tim (Andrea) Foss of Evans, Colo., Kimberly Rhoads of Surprise, Ariz., Elizabeth (Chris Buhr) Summers of Grand Forks, N.D., Sarah Summers of Wellesley, Mass.; 12 great-grandchildren; plus many nieces and nephews.

Nellie was preceded in death by her husband; two sisters, Julia (Melvin) Summers and Leone (Henry) Hahn; one brother, Arnold (Anna) Flatten; one grandson, four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Houston, with the Rev. Lane Zaffke officiating. Visitation will be at Hoff Funeral Homes, Houston Chapel, from 5 to 7 p.m. and one hour before the service on Tuesday at the church. There will be private graveside services for the family.

Hoff Funeral Home of Houston is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share a memory of Nellie or view the video tribute at www.hofffuneral.com.

Merton T. Sather

HOUSTON, Minn. — Merton T. Sather, 95, of Houston died Friday, March 7, 2008 at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis., from complications of the flu.

The memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Looney Valley Lutheran Church in rural Houston. Burial will be in Sun City, Ariz., at a later date. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the church.

Marilyn Auer

BUFFALO CITY, Wis. — Marilyn Auer, 84, of Buffalo City died March 7, 2008.

Arrangements pending with Talbot Family Funeral Home.