Obituaries 02/01/24
Robert Fieldseth, 87
Robert “Bob” Fieldseth, age 87, of Monticello, died Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at the Annandale Care Center.
Funeral Services were held 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Buffalo with Rev. Chris Ryan officiating. Burial followed at Lakeview Cemetery, Silver Creek Township. Visitation was held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Monday at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel, Annandale and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.
Robert Willard Fieldseth was born on September 17, 1936, in Kingston Township, Meeker County to Willard and Lucille (Koch) Fieldseth. He grew up in Fairhaven on the family farm and was a 1955 graduate of Kimball High School. On June 29, 1957, Bob was united in marriage to Gloria Klemz at Concordia Lutheran Church in Fairhaven. They made their home in Coon Rapids, prior to moving to their Silver Creek Township home in 1971.
Robert’s career as a truck driver led him down various paths. He drove for Midwest Motor Express, Country Hearth, as well as numerous other entities until retiring in 1998. However, Bob continued to drive for Hoglund Bus Company as a bus driver for Elk River Schools, as well as senior transport. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local #638.
Bob was an active member of his church, where he was a volunteer and found solace in his faith, and his passion for gospel music. His joyful heart led him to also volunteer at the food shelf, as well as at Bethesda, now AbleLight.
Bob loved immersing himself in the beauty of nature. He enjoyed moose hunting, relishing the serenity and adventure that the hunts provided. As no surprise to anyone, he found joy in simply cruising around town and the countryside, basking in the simple pleasures of life.
Bob is survived by his sons, Randy and Rob (Dede), both of Monticello; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sister, Betty Manke; and other dear family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Lucille; wife, Gloria; daughter, Delite Hickman; grandson, Brandon Niemon; and sister-in-law, Doris Mason.
Arrangements entrusted to Dingmann Funeral Care Burial and Cremation Services of Annandale.
Obituary, Guestbook, Video Tribute, and Funeral Webcast online at www.dingmannfuneral.com
Susan Fuller Ward, 73
Susan Lee Fuller Ward, age 73, of Buffalo, passed away on Thursday, January 25, 2024, in Teacapan, Mexico.
A Memorial Service for Susan Lee Fuller Ward is pending.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolence may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Karen Jans, 82
Karen D. Jans, age 82, of Buffalo, MN, fell asleep in Jesus on January 23, 2024. She was born on November 28, 1941, the oldest child of Kenneth C. and Anita C. (nee Giese) Dixon.
She was baptized on November 30, 1941, at the old Buffalo Hospital. She was confirmed in her Lutheran Christian faith at Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rockford, MN, on April 3, 1955. Her confirmation verse was John 3:16.
She attended the one-room rural country school, just across the road from the family farm near Rockford, through 8th grade and graduated from Buffalo High School in 1959. She met her future husband while still in grade school during accordion music lessons with the Griffins. She participated in her local 4-H club. After graduation, she worked at Marquette Bank in Minneapolis and later served as a live-in nanny to three children in Minneapolis.
On September 23, 1961, Karen D. Dixon and Dale F. Jans were united in marriage at Cross Lutheran Church in Rockford, MN. The Rev. Wilbert E. Neuman officiated. The young couple lived and labored as the third generation on their dairy farm in the southwest corner of Section 33 in Chatham Township for nearly fifty years. They were blessed with four sons. Karen was a wonderful cook and an avid baker. She always had large and productive gardens, and her canning of fruits and vegetables helped ensure the family ate well throughout the year. She kept 200 chickens and sold eggs to the neighbors. As a full partner in the farming life, she helped in caring for cows, pigs, and chickens. The farm was recognized as a Century Farm in 2011.
Karen faithfully served as the family chronicler. On annual Oakley Bank calendars, she wrote five lines per day on the happenings, activities, and accomplishments of her farm family through five decades. While not a diary, she authored a treasure on her family’s farming experiences, starting in the early 1960s.
She was a faithful member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buffalo, MN. Over the years, she taught Sunday School, led the funeral lunch coordination, and served on the Altar Guild for many years. Starting in the mid-1970s, she became the Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL, predecessor to Thrivent) local Branch #948 Secretary. Later becoming an AAL Lamplighter, she delighted in the successes of sustained superior fraternal support in this Gold Star branch in Buffalo and lending support throughout the area.
After her sons were raised, Karen fulfilled a life-long dream of working in the medical field when she served at several chiropractic offices in Buffalo. She enjoyed supporting the patients and contributing at the front desk, with billing, and preparing rooms for the clients. She traveled with Dale across the country (often during his trips in support of electrical co-ops), and on three cruises to Alaska, Nova Scotia, the Caribbean and Central America. She traveled internationally for the first time with a group from St. John’s Lutheran, enjoying the trip to Israel in 2008. In 2010, Karen and Dale went to Europe to visit Greg and family stationed overseas. They enjoyed Venice, Pisa, and Florence in Italy, Wittenberg and Bavaria in Germany, and Salzburg in Austria. They were glad they traveled when still healthy.
Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2020, Karen moved into Memory Care at Havenwood in Buffalo in November of that year. After breaking her hip in February 2023, she and her faithful husband moved to Folkestone in Wayzata.
She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Anita Dixon; and younger siblings, Darvis Dixon and Andrea Ressler Hauge.
Karen is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Dale Jans; children, Chaplain, Lt Col Gregory (Lydia) Jans (Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ), Lyle Jans (Buffalo, MN), Bradley (Janet) Jans (Wayzata, MN), Douglas (Denise) Jans (Medina, MN); grandchildren, Alexandra and Katrina Jans, Isaac and Peter Jans, Adam and Emily Jans; brother-in-law, Mark Hauge; and extended family and friends.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 302 2nd St NE, Buffalo, MN. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, with meal to follow interment. Pastor Ryan Clark and Chaplain Greg Jans will serve as officiants. Interment will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Buffalo. Memorials can be intended for: St. John’s Lutheran Church or Folkestone Foundation.
Serving the family is The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo
Helen Kemmerling, 86
Helen Mary Kemmerling, age 86, of Maple Grove, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2024.
Helen, who was lovingly known as “Pudge,” was born in Monroe, Michigan, to Leo and Gertrude (Lauer) Hoffman and graduated from St. Mary Academy. She met her husband, John a couple of years later, and the two were married almost 60 years until John’s passing in 2019.
Together, John and Helen had three children, Dave, Steve, and Carrie. After living in multiple Midwestern states, the family landed in Plymouth, MN, in 1975 and decided to lay down roots.
Helen was a devoted mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and friend. She was a steadfast confidant and wise sounding board, always without judgement. She taught her kids about unconditional love, loyalty, integrity, self-sacrifice, and commitment, as well as the healing power of laughter.
Helen loved bright colors, Mickey Mouse, patriotic music, and anything cherry flavored, especially PB & Js with cherry jam. You could often find her reading books or the newspaper, and she enjoyed games, puzzles, watching birds at the feeder, reading about the civil war, and dressing up for Halloween. She was a “cookie-aholic” who never met a cookie she didn’t like.
Helen is survived by son, Steve, of Maple Grove; daughter, Carrie (Tom) Keck, of Maple Grove; sister, Carol Weaver, of Manassas, VA; grandsons, Cory and Matthew Keck of Philadelphia, PA, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; son, Dave; sister, Jean Waybright; brother, John “Nick” Hoffman, brothers-in-law, Don Waybright and Bob Weaver; as well as sister-in-law, Sharon Hoffman.
A celebration of Helen’s life will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 12 P.M. with visitation one hour prior at Kozlak Radulovich Chapel, 13745 Reimer Dr., Maple Grove. Lunch will be served after the service. Because of Helen’s love of color, we invite you to wear bright colors, whether you’re joining us in-person or watching the live-stream on the Chapel’s website, www.kozlakradulovich.com, “A Celebration of Life,” 763-416-0016.
Michael Rohde, 46
Michael Lane Rohde, 46, of Clearwater, MN, left this life on January 23, 2024.
Michael was born on August 6, 1977.
He is survived by fiancée LeeAnn; children, Paige and Nicholas; stepchildren, Treyton and Kamryn; mother, LaNell (Steve); father, David (Mary); siblings, Jodi (Danny), Amanda, Damon, Derek, Jerry, and Nikki.
Michael was preceded in death by grandparents, Ralph and June Shepperd, Gilbert and Dolores Rohde; stepbrother, Anthony.
Services will be held at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, MN, on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 11 a.m. with visitation one hour prior. There will be a luncheon following services at the St. James School in Howard Lake, MN. Burial will be at St. James Cemetery at Dutch Lake.
Arrangements made by Swanson Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Howard Lake & Cokato, MN.
