Obituaries
Most Recent Northfield Deaths—July 22, 2013
Here are the most recent people to pass away in Northfield or who had ties to Northfield.
Here are the most recent people to pass away in Northfield or who had ties to Northfield:
Joann Welinski, 85
Joann Wicklund Welinski was born July 31, 1927, in Pine River, Minnesota, to J. Waldemar and Eldora (Robideau) Wicklund. She was baptized at First Lutheran Church in August 1927. The family moved to Walker in 1932 where her father supervised schools in Cass County. At that time he acquired an island on Hand Lake where the family cabin was built in 1941. In 1943, the family moved to Edmonton, Alberta, where Joann graduated from McDougall High School as valedictorian. She worked her way through college – two years at Augsburg and two at the University of Minnesota. She graduated with a degree in Music Education in 1950 and was a classical pianist and piano teacher for most of her life. After three years of teaching music at Glencoe and Little Falls, she married Bernard (Spud) Welinski on June 27, 1953, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Hopkins. They lived in Minneapolis and Hopkins and in 1958 moved to Northfield, where they raised three children: Claire Louise, Mark Bernard and James Joseph.
Joann was an active member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. She volunteered for several community organizations include AAUW, Hospital Auxiliary, Help Line and women’s church groups. She directed choirs for several years including the Jubilee Bells. She and sister Liz took many ski trips together and traveled to London in 1992. After their retirement, Joann and Spud traveled to Arizona and western canyon lands, West Virginia, Alaska, Hawaii and flew to Vancouver to take the Great Northern Train to Edmonton, Alberta. They arrived home on September 10, 2001.
One of Joann’s biggest joys was her eight grandchildren – attending their concerts, athletic events and other happenings. The family spent many weekends together at the Welinski cabin on the west shore of Hand Lake. Her life reflected her love of family, service to others, and the love of her church. Her devoted husband Spud and her loving family were close in the years of her life.
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Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Spud; her children: Claire Welinski Hill and husband Steve of Glenwood, Mark and wife Julie of Duluth, James and wife Barbara of Duluth; her grandchildren: Michael, Benjamin (Megan) and Isaac Hill, Megan, Andrew, Joel, Thomas and Natalie Welinski; her sister, Ann Elizabeth Wicklund of Bloomington; her brother Gene Paul (Karen) Wicklund of Minneapolis; her aunt, Dorothy Akerson of Worthington; nieces, nephews, several cousins, other relatives and many friends.
Joann passed away with her family by her side on Friday evening, July 19, 2013, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, at the age of 85.
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Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Tuesday, July 23, 2013, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Northfield with Rev. Janet White officiating. Music will be provided by Donna Paulsen, Joel Welinski and Rev. Janet White. Interment will be Wednesday in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at Little Falls. Casket bearers will be her 8 grandchildren. Visitation will be 4-7PM on Monday, July 22, 2013, at the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home in Northfield. Visitation will continue at the church on Tuesday one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to music fund at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church , UNICEF or the Northfield Senior Center.
Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home. www.northfieldfuneral.com
Levern Wille, 88Levern Robert Wille was born August 19, 1924, on the family farm in Randolph, Minnesota, to August and Pearl (Phare) Wille. He was raised in Randolph, baptized and confirmed at Christ United Methodist Church and was valedictorian of Randolph High School class of 1942. After attending Winona State College for one year he moved to California where he worked until returning to Minnesota in 1945. Levern then enlisted in the US Navy. Upon receiving his honorable discharge in 1947, he enrolled in the University of Minnesota. He received his degree in Chemical Engineering in 1950. Following his education Levern began working for US Gypsum Company in St. Paul. During that time he met his future wife Ione Gunderson of Rochester. They married on November 12, 1955, at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester. After marriage they resided in St. Paul until 1959 when Levern accepted a transfer to US Gypsum headquarters in Chicago. They lived in Arlington Heights, Illinois, until January 1971, when they moved to Stillwater. Levern continued to work for US Gypsum as plant manager until retiring in 1987. They made their home in Stillwater for 41 years until moving to Northfield in May 2012.
Levern was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater, St. Paul East Side Lions Club and Washington County Guardian Ad Litem. He enjoyed playing Bridge with his wife and friends, spending time with his grandchildren, watching sporting events, doing crossword puzzles, and following current events. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather.Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Ione; 3 children and their spouses: Brad and Veronica Wille of Northfield, Pamela and Kent Carlson of Alexandria, Jeff and Faith Wille of Lafayette, Colorado; 7 grandchildren: Rachel and David Wille, Maxine, Samuel and Joseph Carlson, Carson and Jocelyn Wille; his sister-in-law, Virginia Wille of Cannon Falls; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers James and Howard, and an infant sister Mary.
Levern passed away peacefully Friday, July 19th surrounded by his family.
Funeral services will be held Wed, July 24th, at 4:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater with Rev. Candace Moser, officiating. Visitation will be at the church at 3:00 pm, prior to the funeral service. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, rural Hampton, Minnesota. Pall bearers will be his grandchildren.
Memorials are preferred to 5M Lions Vision Foundation – University of Minnesota.
Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.
Edward Foster Sr., 75
Edward Gene Foster, Sr. was born November 20, 1937, in Nebraska to George and Mildred Foster. As a boy he moved with his parents to Hopkins and graduated from Hopkins High School in 1955. He lived in Bloomington for many years and retired in 2003 for Century Link (Qwest) after 32 years of service.
He is survived by his wife Kathy Seaborn. He was preceded in death by his son Edward Jr. and his parents.
Ed passed away Saturday morning, July 20, 2013, at Three Links Care Center in Northfield, at the age of 75.
Services will be held at Three Links Care Center Chapel at a future date. Interment will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.
Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home. www.northfieldfuneral.com
Eleanor Ele Hansen, 92Eleanor “Ele” Hansen, age 92 of Northfield, passed away Saturday, July 20, 2013 at the Reflection Care Suites of the Three Links Care Center in Northfield.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Thursday, July 25th at The Church of St. Dominic in Northfield with burial at the Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to Services at the Church.
Ele Hansen is survived by her life partner Pat Lamb; nieces Jeanne (David) Ellis, Kathy (Leo Ellis) Watson; and nephew Jim (Judy) Ross.
A complete Obituary will follow.
Arrangements by the Bierman Funeral Home of Northfield.
Philip Mazzio, 53Philip Joseph Mazzio was born on September 28, 1959, in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from St. John Vianney High School in 1977, attended St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, and graduated from the University of Texas in Austin. He worked for Continental Can in Houston following graduation. He began working in various capacities for Malt-o-Meal (now MOM) in 1991, most recently as a director. Phil earned his MBA from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.
While on vacation in Mexico in 1989, Phil met Ellie Fucci and they were married on October 20, 1990 at the Church of the Redeemer in Morristown, New Jersey. The couple moved to Minnesota in 1990, living first in Burnsville and Eagan before settling in Northfield in 1997. They welcomed their son Jake in 1992, followed by daughter Jessie (affectionately dubbed “Smeeg” by her dad) in 1994.
Phil was a generous family man, kind and caring to his wife, children, and his siblings, asking for nothing in return. He was a hard-working handyman who could make or fix anything. He loved to sing (although he couldn’t) and he loved to have fun. He will be deeply missed.
Survivors include his wife of 22 years Ellie, son Jake, daughter Jessie; two brothers, Tony, Jim (Dee), and sister Jeanna (Robert), all of St. Louis; in-laws Toni Fucci (Michael) of Florida, Joe (Angela) Fucci, Vincent Fucci, and Ed Fucci, all of Pennsylvania, many nieces, nephews, and other family. He was preceded in death by his mother Betty Mazzio.
Phil passed away unexpectedly at home on Saturday, July 20, 2013, at the age of 53.
A celebration of Phil’s life will be at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 26, 2013, at First United Church of Christ in Northfield. Visitation will be 3-7PM on Thursday, July 25, 2013, at the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home in Northfield and will continue at the church one hour prior to the service.
Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home. www.northfieldfuneral.com
Eloise Severson, 92Eloise Severson, age 92 of Northfield, passed away Monday, July 15, 2013 at the Northfield Care Center. Funeral Services will be 1:00 pm Wednesday, July 24th at the Chapel of the Northfield Care Center with a reception following the Service.
Eloise Robinson Severson was born June 18, 1921 in Stanton, MN, daughter of John and Maybelle (Flom) Robinson. She attended Cannon Falls High School and then obtained her teaching certificate from Mankato State Teachers College. She then taught elementary school for 2 years before her marriage to Lyle Severson at First English Lutheran Church in Cannon Falls on July 26, 1941.
They first lived in California during WWII and returned to Northfield in 1944. She was a homemaker for the next part of her life, raising their four children. She was active in the school PTA, girl scouts, Hospital Auxiliary, Red Cross, Eastern Star, and at St. John’s Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school and was active in the youth groups. She loved spending time at their cabin on Crane Lake in the summer. In 1963 she be
gan Nurses Training School at Glenwood Hills Hospital and practiced nursing from 1966-1970 at the Northfield Hospital. In 1970 Eloise and Lyle moved to Arizona and she became a nurse at Desert Samaritan Hospital. From 1978-1982 she taught at Central Arizona College Sacaton Nursing School for Indians and then returned to work at Desert Samaritan Hospital until retirement in 1989.
She and Lyle then moved back to Northfield in 1989 to be closer to their family. Eloise enjoyed sports such as swimming, bowling, golfing, downhill skiing, fishing and water skiing and loved to spend time in their yard caring for her flowers. Memorials to the Northfield Care Center or St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Eloise Severson is survived by daughters Kay (Gil) Mracek of Grand Rapids, Pam Juvland of Hinkley; sons Larry (Helene) Severson of Northfield, Mike (Renee) Severson of Rush City; close companion and best friend Joseph Gambucci of Northfield; 8 grandchildren, Jacqui Juvland, Kelly (Leon) Slater, Corey (Dave) Schultze, Joshua, Justin and Tyler Severson, Adam (Christina) Severson, J.P. Severson; and 11 great grandchildren, Forest, Elizabeth, and Ariana Juvland, Koby and Jake Slater, Zach, Abbi, and Caleb Schultze, Dominic, Ayana and Lydia Severson. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Lyle and brothers Chevy, Irving, and Merlyn.
Arrangements by the Bierman Funeral Home of Northfield.
Lynette Rae Polzin, 58Lynette Rae (Ayotte) Polzin was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on July 17, 2013. The Heavens are resounding with sounds of praise. She is standing in the presence of god our Father. “Welcome Home I love you! Well done, good and faithful servant!”
There will be a visitation at the Bierman Funeral Home on Friday, July 19th from 3-7:00 pm. The Funeral Service will be held at Emmaus Baptist Church on Saturday, July 20th at 11:00 am with visitation 1 hour prior to Services.
Lynette was born October 22, 1954 in Willmar, MN to Gaylon and Marlys (Wickstrand) Ayotte. Her family moved to Northfield in 1958 and Lynette graduated from Northfield High School in 1973. Lynette’s first job was at the Quarterback Club where she met her future husband, Gary Polzin. They were married February 23, 1974 and during their 39 years of marriage they were blessed with 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
Lynette’s greatest joy was serving where she felt God called her. Whether it be teaching Sunday school, ladies bible studies, children’s ministries of hosting people in her home. Her life was about giving to those around her, as she felt God leading her.
Some of the things Lynette loved to do were gardening, stitching, quilting, baking and reading. She also loved going on adventures on the motorcycle with Gary. Family was Lynette’s top priority after her relationship with the Lord; she loved hosting holidays and special events. Friends were always welcomed as family. Because Christmas was her favorite time of the year, memorials are preferred to Samaritans Purse, Operation Christmas Child.
Lynette Polzin is survived by her husband Gary; son Jason (Christy) Polzin of New Market; daughters Jessica (Chris) Miller of Northfield, Kelly (Bill) Radtke of Northfield; mother Marlys Ayotte of Northfield; mother-in-law Elaine Polzin of Springfield; brother Danny (Lea Ann) Ayotte of Northfield; sisters Renae (Reverend Daryl) Jacobson of Verndale, Cheryl (Keith) Johnson of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, and grandchildren Noah, Sam, and Ava Miller, Laney, Brett, and Isabelle Radtke. She was preceded in death by her father Gaylon; nephew Jay Ayotte; and father-in-law Leonard Polzin.