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

Published - Saturday, May 10, 2008

Obituaries for Saturday, May 10, 2008

By Daily News staff

Amber Fern Brady

EL PASO, TEXAS — Amber Fern Brady, 80, of El Paso and formerly of the Winona area died Sunday, May 4, 2008, at the Monte Vista at Coronado, El Paso.

A memorial service will be held July 4 in Silt, Colo.

Arra Agnes Brenengen

TREMPEALEAU, Wis. — Arra Agnes Brenengen, 92, of Trempealeau died Thursday, May 8, 2008, at Marinuka Manor, Galesville, Wis.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Trempealeau. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Centerville, Wis.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the church and from noon until the time of service Tuesday at the church.

Zwickey Funeral Homes, Galesville Chapel assisted the family.

Shirley A. Bremer

PLAINVIEW, Minn. — Shirley A. Bremer, 67, of Plainview died Thursday, May 8, 2008, at St. Isidore Health Center of Greenwood Prairie in Plainview.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plainview. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.

Visitation 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Schleicher Funeral Homes, Plainview Chapel, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.

Patricia (Trish) A. Vickman

Patricia (Trish) A. Vickman, 56, of Winona died suddenly at home on Wednesday, May 7, 2008.

Her family will dearly miss a beloved wife, mother and friend. Trish was a devoted woman who connected family and the larger community in her pursuits for learning, stewardship and faith.

Trish was born on Nov. 3, 1951, in Green Bay, Wis. She married Patrick Vickman on Oct. 20, 1972, and they had two children, Sarah and John, who both live married lives and serve their community as engineering and medical professionals, respectively.

She graduated from UW-Green Bay with a teaching degree. Trish also received her master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas.

She taught preschool in Winona at Cathedral and the WACS System. She supported the Reading Center of Rochester and was an adjunct professor at Winona State University.

Trish served her community as a teacher, home tutor, an advocate for reading and for those with learning disabilities. She was a member of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart where she sang in the choir and was also a cantor.

She is survived by her husband, Patrick; daughter, Sarah (Kevin) Vickman-Johnson; son, John (Jenn) Vickman; mother, Hyacinth Van Laanen; sister, Anne (Tony) Proite; niece, Rachel Proite; mother-in-law, Lois Vickman; brothers-in-law, Peter, Paul and Philip Vickman; sister-in-law, Julie Vickman; and numerous cousins.

Trish was preceded in death by her father, O. A. Van Laanen; and her father-in-law, Richard P. Vickman.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Monday at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, with the Rev. Richard Colletti officiating. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Monday at the Cathedral.

A Mass of Christian Burial will also be offered at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the Bay Settlement Church in Green Bay. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday at the church.

The family respectfully requests that memorials be directed to the Reading Center, 847 NW 5th St., Rochester, MN 55901. www.thereadingcenter.org

Online condolences or memories may be left for Trish’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.

Entrusted to our care-Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home.

Elmer J. ‘Mort’ Prigge

DAKOTA, Minn. — Elmer J. “Mort” Prigge, 78, of Dakota died Wednesday, May 7, 2008, at the Golden Living Care Center in La Crescent, Minn., with his family by his side.

Mort was born Feb. 17, 1930, in Winona, the son of Philip and Amanda (Ellinghuysen) Prigge. He married Lois L. Davis on May 1, 1954.

He honorably served his country in the United States Navy from 1948 to 1952, and especially enjoyed his time in the Mediterranean Sea.

Mort worked on the railroad and retired from the Ironworker’s Union No. 512. He was a member of St. Martin’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and the VFW Club.

In his younger years, Mort was an avid fisherman and loved to hunt. His family was very important to him, and he always enjoyed family gatherings, especially the picnics at Merrick State Park.

Mort is survived by his former wife, Lois Prigge; children, Kathi (Bob) Blank, Debbie (Dave) Raudebush, Bonnie (Carl) Ask, JoAnn (Jeff) Demorest, Melinda (Vince Ristow) Prigge, Paul Prigge, and Pamela (Ricky) Phillips; 14 grandkids; 10 great-grandkids; sisters, Mildred Palubicki, Elna Goodman, Edna Koria and Lillian Cada; as well as many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Anthony Prigge; sisters, Norma Fratzke, Elvera Allred, Bernie Brand and an infant sister Doris; and brothers, Ray Prigge and Pete Prigge.

According to Mort’s wishes, he has been cremated.

A gathering to greet and support Mort’s family will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. today at the Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home, where a time to share memories will be held at 12:30 p.m.

The American Legion Leon J. Wetzel Post No. 9 of Winona will provide full military honors at the funeral home today. Immediately following, there will be a luncheon held at the Eagle’s Club, 210 E. Fourth St., Winona.

A private family burial will be held at a later date.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Mort’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.

Entrusted to our care-Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home.

James ‘Ted’ Theodore Biesanz Sr.

May 7, 1921 — April 5, 2008

James “Ted” Theodore Biesanz Sr., 86, of Indian Wells, Calif., and Winona, died at his home in Indian Wells on April 5, 2008, after a six-month bout with cancer.

Ted was born May 7, 1921, in Minneapolis to Fred and Marion Kimball Biesanz. After graduating from Washburn High School in Minneapolis, he attended Augsburg College before joining the Navy in 1940 where he served as a Seabee in World War II, attaining the rank of chief petty officer.

On March 2, 1946, he married Helen Jacobson of Minneapolis, who preceded him in death in 2002. He is survived by his wife, Dottie Biesanz; sons and daughters-in-laws, Steven and Kathy, Scott and Jane, Jeff and Francie, Ted Jr. and Patti; grandchildren, Jake (Kristin) Biesanz, Matt (Liz) Biesanz, Chris Biesanz, Jill (Mike) Monroe, Jenny Biesanz, Nick (Megan) Biesanz, Samantha (Ben) Zinth, Taylor Snider, Trip, Rory and Molly Biesanz; great-grandchildren, Izzie and Drew Biesanz; a brother, Bob (Frieda) Biesanz; and two stepchildren, Robert (Holly) Lembkey and Terry (Pete) Wollison.

As part of the “greatest generation,” Ted fought in World War II, came home to raise his family and begin his business career which led him to Winona as general manager of Lake Center Switch, now TRW. Always looking for new business opportunities, he was instrumental in developing Wincraft and Winona Lighting.

As a community member, Ted willingly and successfully served the YMCA, Winona Chamber of Commerce, AA, Watkins Home, Central Methodist Church and the Winona Country Club. Ted truly cared for people and mentored so many people from all walks of life. He represented courage, leadership, intelligence, determination and compassion. His many friends, associates and loved ones will treasure his memory.

His sons have fond memories of annual trips to the Minnesota State High School basketball tournaments, vacations at Camp Olson and Northern Minnesota as well as days spent together golfing and boating.

In 2004, Ted married Dottie Hubbard, and they enjoyed a wonderful life in Indian Wells and Winona.

A celebration of Ted’s life will be held at 2 p.m. today at First Congregational Church in Winona. A private interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery. Join family and friends from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Signatures Restaurant in Winona.

Memorials can be made to the Winona YMCA.