Obituaries

Margaret "Peggy" Phenicie

Margaret "Peggy" Phenicie

Oct 16, 2025

Margaret "Peggy" Dora Phenicie, age 79, of Cottage Grove, passed away on Thursday, October 16, 2025. She was born to the late Floyd JR and Dora (Sloan) Stephenson on October 15, 1946, in Natrona Heights, PA.

A funeral service will be 11:30 am, Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 80th Street S., Cottage Grove. Family will greet friends...

Todd E. Gauster

Todd E. Gauster

Oct 15, 2025

Todd Edward Gauster passed away surrounded by loved ones on October 15th, 2025, at the age of 67 in Lake Elmo, MN. He was born in St. Paul, MN on May 6, 1958, to Gerald and Lorraine Gauster.

A memorial service will be held at 2pm on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at All Saints Lutheran Church. Family will greet friends for...

Phillis Lucille De Both

Phillis Lucille De Both

Oct 14, 2025

Phillis Lucille De Both, age 80, of Cottage Grove, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. 

Preceded in death by parents, John and Clara; siblings, Judy Mudd, Nancy Selley, Genevieve Vejcik, Sylvester John Selley, Ron Selley, George Selley, and Russell Selley; and granddaughter, Krysia Brady. Survived by beloved husband of 44 years, Dale; children, Terrance (Faith) Huiskens and Heidi (Peter)...

Gilbert Zamora Jr.

Gilbert Zamora Jr.

Oct 13, 2025

The world gained another eye in the sky on Monday, October 13, 2025, when Gilbert Zamora, Jr., age 68, of Cottage Grove, unexpectedly passed away at home in his sleep.

Gil will be laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.

Better known as Gil, the "Flyin' Hawaiian" or in recent years, "Baba", he was born to the...

Harold "Harry" James Taylor Sr.

Harold "Harry" James Taylor Sr.

Oct 10, 2025

Harold "Harry" James Taylor Sr., passed away peacefully on Friday, October 10, 2025 while surrounded by his loving family.

Memorial Service will be 1:00 PM, Thursday, October 23, 2025 at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 80th St. S., Cottage Grove with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Cottage Grove Cemetery.

Harry was born January 28, 1933, in...

Mitchell Earl Wichser Jr.

Mitchell Earl Wichser Jr.

Oct 8, 2025

Mitchell Earl Wichser Jr., age 41, of Cottage Grove, passed away on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 while surrounded by loving family.

Mitch was the kind of person who could walk into a room and instantly change its energy. He didn’t fake smiles or play along with anyone’s expectations. He was just himself, and somehow that was always enough.

He was funny in...

Thomas "Tom" Jaso

Thomas "Tom" Jaso

Oct 7, 2025

Thomas Jaso

Date of Birth: August 11, 1953- Date of Death: October 7, 2025

Tom was born in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. He is preceded in death by wife, Kristin Kelly Jaso, father Segundo Jaso, and brother Roger Alexander Jaso. He is survived by daughter Nicole Jaso; four grandchildren, Abbagalle Arndt, Jonathan Thomas Bruce and Alexander and Joann Gregg. Stepdaughter Stephanie Jungwirth...

Jose "Lito" Manalo Jr.

Jose "Lito" Manalo Jr.

Oct 5, 2025

With deep love and heavy hearts, we share the passing of Jose "Lito" Manalo, Jr., who departed peacefully on October 5, 2025, in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, at the age of 87.

Born on September 23, 1938, in Silang, Cavite, Philippines, Lito lived a life rooted in dedication, quiet strength, and unwavering love for his family. He was a lifelong sports enthusiast,...

Donovan "Don" Halbakken

Donovan "Don" Halbakken

Oct 5, 2025

Donovan "Don" Halbakken, age 79 of Hastings, formerly of Cottage Grove, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2025 at his home.

Don was born in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota to Lloyd and Norma Halbakken on December 11, 1945. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968 and upon returning home, he began his career with GE. Don was a proud...

Gale "Tom" Lesher Jr.

Gale "Tom" Lesher Jr.

Oct 4, 2025

Gale "Tom" Thomas Lesher Jr., age 80, of Woodbury, Minnesota passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 4, 2025 after battling Alzheimer's for almost 9 years. He was surrounded by family for two days prior as they reflected on his life, sharing stories of precious memories and events.

Tom was born on May 19, 1945 in Langdon, North Dakota to Gale and...

Roxanne Marie Herme

Roxanne Marie Herme

Oct 1, 2025

Roxanne Marie (Rieger) Herme, age 67, of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 1st, 2025.

Roxanne is dearly loved by her husband, Michael Herme, of forty-eight years; her children Nicole (Adam) Rongitsch and Kyle (Olivia) Crooks Herme; her brother John (Jill) Rieger and her sister Cynthia Horazdovsky. Roxanne was a loving grandmother to her granddaughter, Caitlin...

Paul Stephen Beard

Paul Stephen Beard

Sep 30, 2025

Paul Beard, age 79, of Cottage Grove, Minnesota passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

Paul is lovingly remembered by his wife, Mary Flesner Beard; his children Brian of Norristown, PA, Sean (Mariah) of Salem, MA, and Jennifer (Adam) Ferst of Norristown, PA; his sisters Lynne (Graham) Burke of Orangeville, ON, and Janice Cannizzo of Fort Worth,...

Richard "Dick" J. Barott

Richard "Dick" J. Barott

Sep 29, 2025

Richard "Dick" J. Barott, age 78, of Oakdale, formerly of Cottage Grove, went to be with the Lord on Monday, September 29, 2025 after a battle with cancer. Dick was a businessman and worked until retirement for 3M company. His hobbies were golf and fishing, which he much enjoyed with friends. 

Preceded in death by parents, Howard and Selina (nee Chalifoux);...

Rose May Poole

Rose May Poole

Sep 24, 2025

Rose May (Kupec) Poole, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home on September 24, 2025 with loving family by her side. Born on May 1, 1942, in Lakewood, Ohio, to Michael and Anna (Gavura) Kupec. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Poole, her parents, and her infant sister Mary Ann.

Rose's life was a...

Maria Resendez

Maria Resendez

Sep 24, 2025

Maria de Luz was born in Durango, Mexico, and spent most of her life in Nuevo Laredo. A strong and tenacious woman, she overcame the challenges of being widowed at 44 by raising her eight children on her own. Her delicious cooking not only supported her family but also nurtured her children into healthy adults. In her later years, she...

Sue Ellen Curry

Sue Ellen Curry

Sep 23, 2025

Sue Ellen Curry, 84, formerly of Hastings, MN, passed away peacefully on September 23, 2025, after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on September 2, 1941, to David Newton and Esther Viola (Nelson) Curry. Sue Ellen grew up in St. Paul, MN, and graduated from Harding High School in 1959.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her...

Russell Harold Bestler

Russell Harold Bestler

Sep 22, 2025

Russell “Russ” Bestler age 70 of Cottage Grove, MN entered Heaven peacefully on September 22, 2025 surrounded by loved ones.

He leaves behind an enduring legacy of love, strength, and courage – the mark of a man who faced life, and even its greatest challenges, with unwavering determination. A courageous soul, he fought a long and valiant battle with cancer, inspiring...

Elizabeth "Liz" Ann Young

Elizabeth "Liz" Ann Young

Sep 21, 2025

Elizabeth Ann Homan Young, 58, of Moncks Corner, SC, loving wife of Kenneth Young, passed away Sunday, September 21, 2025.

A Funeral Service was held on Friday, October 10, 2025 at 12 o'clock noon at Parks Funeral Home, 130 West 1st North Street, Summerville, SC 29483. The family received friends for a visitation an hour before the service. Final resting place...

Eugene Osland

Eugene Osland

Sep 21, 2025

Eugene “Gene” Osland, age 83 of Woodbury, MN passed away surrounded by family on September 21, 2025, after a courageous two-year battle with Glioblastoma.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 am, Friday, October 10, 2025 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 920 Holley Ave., St. Paul Park, MN with visitation beginning at 10 am. Interment will be in the St....

Cheryl Tukua

Cheryl Tukua

Sep 20, 2025

Cheryl Tukua, age 66, of Stillwater, Minnesota passed away on Saturday, September 20, 2025, with family by her side.

Cheryl was born on December 8, 1958 to Dale and Sharon Tukua in Albert Lea, Minnesota. She grew up in "old" Cottage Grove, Minnesota, graduating from Woodbury Senior High School in 1977. In her younger years she enjoyed playing softball, being involved...