Obituaries

Kevin Olzenak

Aug 10, 2019

Kevin Olzenak, age 53 of Cottage Grove, passed away August 10, 2019 surrounded by his loving family.

Memorial service will be 1 pm Thursday, August 15, 2019 at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 – 80th Street S., Cottage Grove with visitation starting at 10 am until the time of service.  Interment will be at Oakland Cemetery, St. Paul. ...

Robert "Bob" Kamrath

Aug 8, 2019

Robert “Bob” Kamrath, age 82, of St. Paul, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 8, 2019.

Survived by loving wife of 59 years, Beth; children, Barb Culbertson, Mark (Jill), Pat (Debbie), and Kelly (Jolynn); grandchildren, Jesse (Holly), Jamie, Jason, Kristin, Austin, Brittany (Jake), Alyssa, and Tyler; great-grandchildren, Nole, Bella, Jon, and Maverick; and brother, George (Judy); and...

Richard VanHalanger Jr.

Aug 7, 2019

Richard L. VanHalanger Jr., age 69, of Cottage Grove, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 after a long battle with Myleofibrosis.

Preceded in death by parents, Richard and Eleanor; aunt, Josephine Pagani; and uncle, Neil Pagani. Survived by loving wife, Marilyne; sons, Justin (Meagen) and Brandon (Kristina); grandchildren, Evan, Cameron, and Aria; sister, Valerie (Doug)...

James "Jim" Janssen

Aug 5, 2019

James H. Janssen, age 90, of Cottage Grove, passed away August 5, 2019.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Shirley and grandson, Joe Toney Sandersen.

Jim is survived by his wife, Eileen; children, David, Ruth, Mary and Albert; step-children, Jeanne, Marilyn, Kathleen and Mark; grandchildren, Lee, Tristan, Rachael, Albert, Jesse and Samantha;...

Howard Babcock

Aug 4, 2019

Howard L. Babcock

1940 - 2019

Howard L. Babcock hated Japanese beetles, but he loved just about everything else about gardening — especially watering his yard and sharing raspberries and tomatoes.  For over 50 years in Cottage Grove, MN, he never lost his roots as a farmer.  He loved being outside both in his large...

Steven Ditzler

Jul 30, 2019

Steve Ditzler, age 46, of Cottage Grove died unexpectedly on July 30, 2019.

Memorial gathering will be 4-7 pm, Sunday, August 4, 2019 at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 – 80th Street S., Cottage Grove.  Interment will be 10 am, Monday, August 5, 2019 at Resurrection Cemetery, 2101 Lexington Ave. S., Mendota Heights.

Steven Joseph Ditzler...

Øyvind Iversen

Jul 28, 2019

Øyvind H. Iversen, age 77 of Cottage Grove, passed away July 28, 2019.

Celebration of life service will be 11 am, Thursday, August 8, 2019 at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 80th Street S, Cottage Grove, with visitation starting at 9 am until the time of service.

Øyvind H. Iversen was born March 18, 1942 in...

Michaela "Micka" Andersen

Jul 26, 2019

Michaela “Micka” Kelley Andersen, age 49 of Newport passed away unexpectedly on July 26, 2019.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 am, Friday, August 2, 2019 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 920 Holley Ave., St. Paul Park with visitation starting at 9 am until the time of service.  A luncheon will be served following.  Burial...

Robin Gustafson

Jul 26, 2019

Robin Dale Gustafson, age 63, of St. Paul Park, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 26, 2019.

Son of Robert and Janet (Elton) Gustafson was born on December 22, 1955, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up in South Minneapolis attending the same elementary school as his father. Briefly, Rob lived in Brainerd and then settled in Cottage...

Robert Thill

Jul 25, 2019

Robert L. Thill, age 86, of Cottage Grove, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on July 25, 2019.

Preceded in death by loving wife, Dorothy; parents, Lawrence and Helen; and son-in-law, David Penas. Survived by children, Larry (Susan), Gary (Cathy), Karen Penas, Kathy (Mike) Dunlap, Diane (Craig) Morris, Debbie (Andy) McLean, and Ken (Julie); grandchildren, Jodi Thill,...

Jerome Feesl

Jul 23, 2019

Jerome “Jerry” Albert Feesl, age 92 of Cottage Grove, passed away July 23, 2019.

Memorial service 11 am, Friday., Aug. 16, 2019 at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 – 80th Street S., Cottage Grove with visitation one hour prior.  Burial will take place at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.

Jerry was born March 29, 1927 in West...

Bert Arneson

Jul 22, 2019

Bert O. Arneson, age 93 of Cottage Grove, passed away July 22, 2019.

Private family services were held.

Penelope "Penny" Quinn

Jul 20, 2019

Penelope “Penny” J. Quinn, age 78, of Cottage Grove, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on July 20, 2019.

She was born June 1, 1941. She graduated from Huron High School, Huron SD.  Her hobbies then were playing violin in the school orchestra and playing with her cat, Suzie. She graduated with a Bachelor of...

Jon Heille

Jul 18, 2019

Jon A. Heille, age 71, of Cottage Grove, passed away surrounded by his loving family on July 18, 2019.

Jon was born February 1st,1948 in Fargo, ND and raised in Comstock,MN. He attended Barnesville High School. He joined the Navy at the age of 17, where he served for three and a half years during the Vietnam...

Mary Alice Schmidt

Jul 10, 2019

Mary Alice Schmidt (Friel)

April 9, 1932 – July 10, 2019

Loving Wife, Amazing Mom, Devoted Grandma, Great Grandma, Great-Great Grandma and Cherished Friend.

Age 87 of St. Paul Park, MN.  Mary Alice passed away peacefully with her family by her side.

Survived by husband of 68 years, Arnold Herman Schmidt...

Howard Handeland

Jul 7, 2019

Howard W. Handeland, age 93 of Cottage Grove, passed away July 7, 2019.

Visitation will be held from 9-11 am, Monday, July 15, 2019 at Zion Lutheran Church, 8500 Hillside Trail, Cottage Grove with the service at 11 am and luncheon following.

Howard William Handeland was born July 23, 1925 in Brainerd, Minnesota to William...

Lynda Eriksen

Jul 6, 2019

Lynda M. Eriksen, age 70 of Cottage Grove, passed away at her home surrounded by family on July 6, 2019.

Preceded in death by her husband Richard Eriksen, and sister Kay Foster.

Lynda is survived by her children; daughter Jill (Mark) Bremseth; grandkids Josh, Katie and Luke; son David (Rose Fohrman); daughter Jody (Mike) Frisinger;...

Lorena Kime

Jul 6, 2019

Lorena J. Kime, age 92 of Cottage Grove, passed away July 6, 2019.

Memorial visitation will be Thursday, July 18, 2019 from 4-7 pm at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 80th Street S., Cottage Grove.  Interment will be 2:05 pm on Friday, July 19, 2019 at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.

Lorena was born in Grasston, Minnesota...

Beverly Carpenter-Otis

Jul 5, 2019

Beverly  May Carpenter-Otis (nee Hajek), age 89, formally from St. Paul Park passed away on July 5, 2019 at Glenview Assisted Living, Shell Lake, Wisconsin.

Beverly retired in Wisconsin (Turtle Lake, Clear Lake, and Cumberland) and spent many winters in Mission, Texas.

She was known for her spunk and how much she loved to go...

Marcelline Luhrs

Jul 4, 2019

Marcelline M. (Marcie) Luhrs, age 90 of Cottage Grove, MN died on Thursday morning, July 4, 2019 at St. Clare Living Community in Mora, MN.

Marcie was born May 26, 1929 in North Branch, MN, the daughter of Walfred and Myrtle (Dahl) Swenson. Marcie talked many times about being born at her grandparent’s farm and being placed...