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A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:30 AM Monday, November 4th, 2024 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church with Fr. Cole Kracke presiding. Family and friends are warmly invited to a visitation 90 minutes prior to Mass.
Ted was preceded in death by his parents, George and Laura (VonKuster) Johnson; brothers, George, Vern and Lynn; brothers-in-law, Don, Clarence, and Leander; sisters-in-law, Trudy, Betty, Loretta, Sister Petrann, Lucille, Dorothy, and Rose.
Ted is survived by his wife, Lorraine; son, Jeff (Deb) Johnson; daughter, Brenda (Paul) Irvin; grandsons, Jim and Tom; great grandsons, James and Carter; sister, Arlene Croes; brothers-in-law, Al (BettyLou Baysinger) Sieben, and Tony (Carole) Sieben; sister-in-law, Stella Johnson; and by many other relatives and friends.
Interment will follow at the parish cemetery.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, with Fr. David Hennen officiating.
Family and friends are warmly invited to the visitation one hour prior to Mass.
“Skip” Wesolowski, age 87, of Hastings, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Friday, October 25, 2024.
Skip was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Suzanna (Huberty) Wesolowski. He is survived by his loving wife Dee; daughters, Jane, Judy (Lee) Stokke, Karen (Dave) Hartung, and Kay (Dan) Zimmer; grandchildren, Andy Hartung, Mallory (Jordan) Jacobson, and Logan Stokke; step grandson, Gareth Brickzin & family; great-grandsons, Miles Hartung, Brooks, Cruz and Hayes Jacobson.
A visitation for Skip will be held on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 from
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, 3075 Vermillion Street, Hastings, MN.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, with Fr. David Hennen officiating.
Family and friends are cordially invited to a visitation from 10:00 a.m. to the time of the Mass at church on Tuesday morning.
George Guck, age 85, of Hastings, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Hugo and Helen (Breuer) Guck; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Casper and Loretta Schwartz; daughter-in-law, Shelly Sherrill; brother, Duane Guck; brothers-in-law, Roger Mohs, Greg Lunzer, and Harry Harrison.
Ron is survived by his wife of 64 years, Deian Guck; children, Cindy Stern, Brian Guck, Angela (Tim) Wick, Bruce Guck, Bradley Guck; grandchildren, Eriane (Collin) Peterson, Katie Stern, Jason (Andrew) Stern, Derek (Candi) Stern, Allison (Nick) Guck, Hillary (Monique) Bartsh, Lucas Wick, Courtney Wick, Brandon (Desiree) Otto, Ryan (Kathy) Otto, Nathan Guck, Brandan (Aleisha) Guck, Danica (Mikey) Swanson, James Sherrill, Drake Guck, Alexa Dearborn, Mitchell (Bryana) Guck; great-grandchildren, Harper, Reese, Levi, Trey, Charlie, Bodie, Riley, Mia, Braxton, Alexis, Karsyn, Parker, Braxton, Lincoln, Brecken, Kylie; siblings, Margaret (Pete) VanErp, Susan (Ed) Vonderharr; sisters-in-law, Jan Guck, Marge Harrison, Sister Jean Schwartz OSB, Barb Bessett, Audrey Davis, Mary Lunzer; brother-in-law, Gary (Jean) Schwartz; and by many nieces, nephews, Godchildren and friends.
Interment will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis at a later date.
Richard ‘Rick’ Lundstrom, aged 62, was called to be with the Lord on October 6th, 2024.
Rick was born on August 17th, 1962, to DuWayne and Kay Lundstrom in Watertown, MN, he grew up in Hastings, MN, graduating in 1980. At 19, he met the love of his life and future wife of 41 years, Katie ‘Kate’. Together, they were blessed with three children: Darrick, Tanya, and Dustin, forming a loving family. Rick's life was grounded in his strong faith and love for God, his family, and his friends. An enthusiastic deer hunter, he cherished time with his family, his grandsons, and regular gatherings with ‘the boys’—his lifelong high school friends. Rick owned an exterior siding business, where he made many lifelong friends. Known for his positive outlook, Rick's humor and wit were his gifts to brighten days, even during tough times.
He leaves his legacy of laughter and love to his wife, Kate; his children, Darrick (Tammy), Tanya (Adam), and Dustin; and his four grandsons: Dylan, Gavin, Daxton, and Kyson. Preceding him in death were his parents, DuWayne and Kay Lundstrom, his sister Wendy Hawkins, and brother-in-law Steve Hawkins. While we deeply miss him, we find comfort in faith, knowing he’s in a better place, at peace, and watching over us, saving a place for when we're reunited. We'll honor him by celebrating his life and continuing his legacy.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2035 W 15th St, Hastings, MN 55033, with a visitation one hour prior to Mass at the church.
Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, 3075 Vermillion St, Hastings, MN 55033, is assisting the family with arrangements.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard, please visit our floral store.
William E. "Bill" Schommer, age 94 of Hastings, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Monday morning, October 7, 2024. Bill, our beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, you are home. We pray you may rest peacefully in the arms of our Saviour for eternity.
William Eugene Schommer was born on November 29, 1929, in Hastings, MN, to Margaret (Fuchs) and Edward Schommer. He attended Hastings High School and worked at Cudahys as a meat cutter before joining the National Guard, where he served as a staff sergeant during the Korean War. On June 2, 1951, he was joined in holy matrimony to Marilyn Burr at Saint Boniface Church in Hastings. They were blessed with five children, 15 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and 70 wonderful years of marriage.
After his military service, Bill and Marilyn made Hastings their home. Bill worked at Smead Manufacturing, where he managed the print shop and played a key role in starting the union. He later served as a plant manager at Saint Paul Ammonia for 25 years. He then reinvented his work life and held sales roles with Gemini and Industrial Customs Products. Known for his reliability and dedication, Bill worked well into his 80s, earning the nickname "Old Bill." Though he preferred a notepad to a computer, he was reliable and smart and his co-workers knew he’d get the job done.
Bill had a servant’s heart and always put others before himself. Over the years, he was dedicated to his parish and the Total Life Care Center in Hastings. He always looked forward to time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, attending all their activities as their biggest fan. They relished the love and attention he gave them, and shared many cherished moments together at his cabin in Danbury, Wisconsin. As an avid outdoorsman, he taught them to hunt, fish, and respect the environment.
Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marilyn; parents and siblings, Bernard, Leonard, Raymond, Mildred, Lorraine, Betty, Edward (Mike), Margaret Ann, and Ronald; daughter-in-law, Patti Schommer; and by the extended Burr siblings and spouses.
Bill is survived by his children, Julie (Kelly) Orth, William (Martha) Schommer, Marian (Ken) Hausladen, Mark (Mary) Schommer, Sharon (Mark) Blatzheim; 15 grandchildren, Amy (Jeff) Hammer, Gina (Dominic) Wareham, Michael (Jen) Orth, Maria (Brian) Thorstad, Nicholas (Amanda) Schommer, Juliet (John) Leonard, Emily (Isaac) Kendall, Paul (Angelica) Hausladen, Jillian (Ryan) Hendrickson, Meghan (Brad) Lawinger, Katlyn (Jake) Haws, Patrick (Maria) Schommer, William (Kristin) Blatzheim, Bridget (Jon) Hauff, and Brianna (Adam) Kunkel, and 41 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Rita Fasbender, Joan Jacobsen, and Robert (Sandy) Schommer; brother-in-law, Ed Temmers; sisters-in-law, Ruth Schommer, Shirley Schommer, and Darlene Schommer; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 11, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Hastings, with Father David Hennen officiating. Interment with Military Honors provided by Hastings VFW Lyle Russell Post 1210 will follow at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Cemetery in Hastings.
Family and friends are cordially invited to a visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel of Hastings, and for one hour prior to the service at church on Friday morning. Due to construction at church, please use the West entrance near Mother Seton Hall.
Bill's family would like to extend a special thank you to St. Croix Hospice for their loving care and support provided to dad over the last three weeks.
In lieu of flowers, Bill's family requests memorials be made to TLC of Hastings or to the donor's choice in his memory.
Arrangements are being completed by Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel of Hastings.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William E. "Bill", please visit our floral store.
William “Bill” Sylvester Miller, 76 of Hastings, MN passed away peacefully on September 13, 2024 after a courageous battle with status epilepticus caused by a prior stroke.
Bill was born in St. Paul, MN to Irene and Alois Miller on January 23, 1948 and graduated from Henry Sibley High School in 1966. He received a degree in electronics from St. Paul College. Bill was a truck driver and retired from Yellow Freight in 2010. Bill served in the Minnesota Army National Guard. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor activities. However, family was the center of Bill’s world. Bill and Lynn were married on July 31, 1970 and have been together for 54 years. Bill was extremely proud of his four children and especially proud of his nine grandchildren.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents Alois and Irene Miller.
Bill is survived by his wife, Lynn; his children and their families, Melissa (Michael) Jensen and Thomas and Anna; Jodie (Dean) Deshler and Rose and Lara; Daniel (Tara) Miller and Avery, Norah and Savannah; Robert (Heidi) Miller and Isabel and Adalyn; his sister Diana Klekotka, brother Glen Miller; brother in law Jack (Beverly) Bernard; sister in law Mary Yarbrough, niece Grace Yarbrough; and several nieces and nephews.
Bill will be dearly missed by his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hastings Family Service.
Joan Marie Tonsager of Hastings, age 92, died Monday, April 13, 2020 in Mesa, Arizona.
She was the loving wife of Roger Tonsager for 73 years. She is survived by her husband and nine children: Luella (Jerry) Kramer, John (Mary) Tonsager, Cecelia (Bruce) Bauer, Gregory (Valerie) Tonsager, Kathy Lakin, Mary (Kevin) Fogarty, Madonna (Michael) Denley, Veronica (Lance) Johnstone, and Peter (Janet) Tonsager. She will also be greatly missed by her 24 Grandchildren, 30 Great-Grandchildren and 2 Great-Great-Grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Bud Mahowald and Mary (John) Wren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Joan was preceded in death by her grandson, Jeremy Lakin and her siblings: Jerry Mahowald, Donald Mahowald and Richard Mahowald.
Joan was born on September 5, 1927 in Lakeville, Minnesota to Nicholas and Marie Mahowald. As a child of the Great Depression and a teenager during WWII, her experiences in those formative years influenced her greatly. Remarkably, it gave her a positive outlook on life and the appreciation of the beauty that surrounded her, not only in nature but in mankind.
In 1947, she married Roger Tonsager, her high school sweetheart, and they moved to Hastings, Minnesota to raise their family in a neighborhood on a ‘pleasant hill’ surrounded by large families.
If we are all a sum of those that came before us, then Joan has influenced her family in countless ways. From her father, a Police Chief, she learned compassion and the ability to always look beyond appearance and social standing for the good in others. From her mother, the love of cooking and the joys of reading. She encouraged all her children to read and to share what good books they had found with others. She loved art in any form and would take the family on trips to museums to show them what man could create. Gardening was a passion as it was also a form of art, to see a bare patch of ground, imagine the possibilities and transform it to a thing a beauty. Weeding with her was an education in the boundless beauty of nature and it was also the time of quiet contemplation.
Joan valued education and encouraged her children to expand their minds and pursue their dreams, whatever that might be. She rejoiced in the variety of their dreams from hiking in the SW in pursuit of Native American petroglyphs, creating museum quality quilts, turning the perfect piece of pottery, exploring the far reaches of the earth, creating gardens of beauty and many numerous other accomplishments. When her grandchildren followed in their parents’ footsteps and greatly expanded their worlds, she always knew where each and every one was, what they were doing and was proud of each of them.
“Her smile would light up the room” and any visitor to her house would be greeted by that smile and her undivided attention whether they were 72 or 2. She especially enjoyed her time with her grandchildren, listening to their stories, sitting and coloring with them or putting together puzzles, watching their faces light up in wonder as they walked to the back garden with her. When family members would visit for several hours, the evening would end in a game of cards or her favorite game, Spinner. She almost always won as she had the ability to strategize and see possible plays well in advance. If you were able to win one game against her in your lifetime that was an accomplishment you would never forget. Yet she was not competitive and to play with her was just plain fun.
For the last thirty-seven years, she had one-week of alone time with her beloved family as they made their annual summer trip to resorts in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and once in the UP of Michigan. The last twelve years were spent in Little Norway, Minnesota. Every family that could make the trip would rent a cabin and have dinner together every night where they would share their experiences of the day: fishing, hiking, biking or simply sitting on the porch watching the children play or swim in the lake. There would be arts and crafts projects for the grandkids and Joan would join in. Her grandchildren always felt comfortable in Gram’s cabin as they knew they were loved and welcome. She loved watching the sunrise in the quiet of the morning, drinking her cup of coffee and listening to call of the loon.
Once all her children had married and some had moved out-of-state, Joan decided it was time to have a yearly weekend ‘girl’s trip’ somewhere within driving distance or a short flight to spend some quality time together. Each daughter or daughter-in-law would arrange one aspect of the trip: hotel accommodations, play possibilities, tours (because you do not go anywhere without learning about that place), museums, travel arrangements and, of course, the best places to eat. That time spent with her was filled with laughter and is priceless.
Joan never traveled far from home until her 40’s. Having a child move out-of-state was the first stimulus for Roger and Joan to pack up the car with the youngest kids and drive to Michigan. She loved seeing new places and learning about them. When she discovered an ‘Elder Hostel’ Catalogue at the local library, she realized she could travel and take classes at the same time. By the time Roger retired, the first trip was planned and for years they would travel within the United States and Europe. When her youngest daughter‘s husband was transferred to Germany for several years, an Elder Hostel trip was planned and extended to stay with them.
Joan had endless patience, not only in dealing with others, but in learning new crafts. An example of her patience, determination and artistic talent is her creation of needlework Christmas ornaments. When her first grandchild was born, she decided to make him a Christmas ornament for his first Christmas and for each Christmas of his childhood. Of course, when you do that for one, you do it for everyone. As the number of grandchildren grew, she would have to start the next years immediately after finishing the current year. As her arthritis progressed and her vision diminished, this became a labor of love. Now there are 24 Christmas Trees from coast to coast decorated with symbols of Grandma’s love.
We hope that we are a sum of those who came before us. She is greatly missed.
The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers of Encompass Health Rehabilitation, Advanced Health of Mesa and Crismon Peaks for their loving care and compassion during Joan’s last three months. We would like to also thank Joan’s sister, Mary, for her love and dedication for making long drives daily to sit at Joan’s bedside and help her through this time. Finally, there are not enough words to thank Joan’s granddaughter, Sara, for her endless love and help in finding the right places for ‘Gram’, making appointments, finding the best doctors, transporting Roger and giving him the support he needed, keeping us all informed of the multiple and interlocking pieces of information, basically for being our hero.
A memorial in Joan’s memory will be held when all the family can be together: 11 a.m. Saturday, November 30, 2024 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Hastings, with visitation one hour prior to the time of the Mass. Interment will take place at Lakeside Cemetery, Hastings.
Memorials in Joan’s name can be made to the Pleasant Hill Library, Hastings, MN - a place she dearly loved.
Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel is handling arrangements. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joan, please visit the floral store.
Carol A. Rohr, 81 of Hastings, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, September 20, 2024, at United Hospital in Saint Paul. Born on November 9, 1942, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, she was the daughter of William and Susan (Meier) Strassburger. Carol shared her childhood in Hastings with two sisters and one brother.
Carol's life was richly woven with the love of her family. She found immense joy in the company of her children, Shaun and Kim, and her affection grew tenfold with the arrival of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Carol's love for her family was evident in everything she did, from singing and playing to gently rocking her grandkids to sleep. Her spirit of giving shone brightest at Christmas, delighting in both the giving and receiving of gifts, and earning her affectionate recognition as “Kim's mom” and “Shaun's mom.”
Carol's zest for life was infectious. She found adventure without ever needing a driver's license, from floating in the water and enjoying meals out, to engaging in friendly card games and embarking on shopping sprees for all sorts of treasures. Her extroverted nature meant she was seldom home, always preferring the company of others. Carol was a friend to many, knowing everyone and then some.
She is survived by her children, Shaun (Melissa) Macioch and Kim (Steve) Richardson; her grandchildren, Kailey, Jesten, Abigail, Paige, Andrew; her great-grandchildren, Kinzie, Logan, and Myla; siblings, Joanne (Jim) Seifert, Kenny Strassburger; her aunt, Emma Seeger; best friend, Joan Mancl; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ed Rohr; her sister, Mary Jo Olson; and her son-in-law, Matt Christensen.
A Mass of Christian Burial will celebrate Carol's life on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at 11:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2035 W 15th St, Hastings, MN, with visitation beginning one hour prior. Interment will follow at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Cemetery.
Arrangements are entrusted to Starkson Family Life Celebration, 3075 Vermillion St, Hastings, MN.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carol , please visit our floral store.
Carol Ann Hirschey (née Caulfield), 74, of Hastings, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly at Abbott Northwestern Hospital on September 18, 2024, surrounded by her family.
Carol was born on December 26, 1949 and she had a charming upbringing on a dairy farm in Byron, MN. She always valued kindness and was crowned her high school’s Homecoming Queen and Olmsted County’s Dairy Princess.
Carol went to college at Mankato State University to pursue a teaching degree and that’s where she met her future husband, Walter Hirschey. The couple married on June 12, 1971, and were blessed with six children.
Carol dedicated herself as a Home Economics teacher at Hastings Junior High School. Her passion for education was only rivaled by her devotion to her family, as she later chose to focus on raising her children, instilling them with her warmth, wisdom, and generosity.
Known for her magnetic personality and the best hugs, Carol made every person she encountered feel special and important. This gift of hers was deeply rooted in her strong faith and active involvement in the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. As a proud member of AAUW, Carol championed education and empowerment for women and girls.
Carol's home was a hub of love and laughter, where family gatherings were cherished rituals. Grandma Carol’s bunny pancakes and the stash of ice cream treats for pool gatherings were highlights for her 11 adoring grandchildren.
Carol is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Walter Hirschey; her children, Jennifer (Zach) Stabenow, Karin (Steve) Wallace, Megan (Tyler) Hirschey, Craig (Jenny) Hirschey, and Kimberly (Doug) Anderson; her grandchildren, Chase, Ethan, Paige, Jack, Katelyn, Luke, Cole, Cecily, Hank, Leo, and Wells; her siblings, Wayne (Cheryl) Caulfield, Diane (Bob) Eustice, Don Caulfield, Deb (Jan) Hanson, and Gene Goepferd; alongside countless nieces, nephews, in-laws, friends and community members whose lives she touched.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kristin Hirschey; her parents, Jim and Eileen Caulfield; her sister, Shari Goepferd; her parents-in-law, Ken & Betty Hirschey; brothers-in-law, Mark Hirschey and Tony Jaspers; sisters-in-law, Linda Hirschey and Anne Corrow; niece Beth Hirschey and nephew Luke Jaspers.
A Mass of Christian Burial will celebrate Carol’s life on Monday, September 30, 2024, at 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Trier, 8433 239th St. E, New Trier, MN 55031. A visitation will take place on Sunday, September 29, 2024, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, 3075 Vermillion St, Hastings, MN 55033, and again one hour prior to Mass on Monday. Interment will follow at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to Hastings Family Service or the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carol , please visit our floral store.
W. V. “Butch” Wagner, age 83 of Hastings, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at home surrounded by his family.
Born May 22, 1941, the son of William and Louise (Keller) Wagner in rural Dakota County, Minnesota and raised on the family farm in Hastings. After graduating from Hastings High School in 1959, Butch started working at 3M Chemolite until he retired in 1996. On September 23, 1961 Butch married Jeannine Albright in Hastings and together they raised their six children on the family farm that Butch grew up on. After retirement, Butch and Jeannine spent time with family and traveling to Orange Beach, Alabama for the winter months. Butch loved to farm, hunt, woodwork, shoot trap and help others. Butch was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a man of strong faith and a great example to his family.
Butch is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jeannine; daughters, Brenda (Tom) Becker, Charlene (Kevin) Nygaard, Annette (Charlie) Johnson; sons, Kenneth (Amy) Wagner, William Wagner, Christopher (Crissy) Wagner; 10 grandchildren: Joshua (Angela) Becker, Jacqueline Nygaard, Alexander (Calley) Nygaard, Kyle Johnson, Nicholas Johnson, Jamie (Jeremiah) Berryman, Cody (Anna) Wagner, Caitlyn Wagner (Joe Lubich), Lily Wagner, Wyatt Wagner; 6 great-grandchildren; sister, Leila Meyer; brothers-in-law, Baine (Dianne) Mowry, Roy (Deanne) Mowry; and by many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Jeremy Becker; and by his siblings, Luella Stoffel, Bud Wagner, Larry Wagner, and Fran Schneider.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Butch will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 27, 2024 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2035 15th Street West, Hastings. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 26 at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, Hastings as well as one hour prior to the Mass on Friday. Burial will take place at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Cemetery, Hastings.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hastings Family Service or TLC of Hastings.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of W. V. "Butch", please visit the floral store.
Robert Paul Lawrence, 69, of Hastings, MN, passed away on Sunday, September 8, 2024. Born on February 27, 1955, in Richland Center, WI, he was the son of Richard and Katherine (Haas) Lawrence. Raised in Hastings, Robert was a proud 1973 graduate of Hastings High School, where he enjoyed woodworking, shop classes, and playing football.
A true outdoorsman, Robert's passion for hunting, fishing, and trapping was well-known amongst his family and friends. He never met a stranger. Every person, to him, was just a friend he hadn’t met yet. His unmistakable presence, marked by a huge personality and a generous spirit, touched everyone around him. Throughout his life, Robert remained a loyal fan of all Minnesota sports.
Robert dedicated his entire career to Smead Manufacturing, where he was a tool and die maker from 1975 until his retirement when they closed the doors of their plant in Hastings.
He is survived by his son, Patrick Lawrence (Lynn Zurnieden); his granddaughter, Dulcie Lawrence; his sisters, Veronica Davis and Diane Lawrence; cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends who will miss him dearly.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Katherine; his brother, Richard; his sister, Rita; his grandson, Colin; and his niece, Jennifer.
A Celebration of Life in honor of Robert will be held at 3:30 PM on Monday, September 23, 2024, at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, 3075 Vermillion St, Hastings, MN 55033. Family and friends are invited to gather for a visitation starting at 3:00 PM, prior to the service, and again from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Burial will take place at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Cemetery, 2035 15th St. W, Hastings, MN 55033 at a later date.
Starkson Family Life Celebration is handling the arrangements.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert, please visit our floral store.
Roland “Rollie” Karnick, age 72, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Hastings on September 10, 2024.
Born in Lompoc, California, Rollie was a passionate athlete who played baseball and football during his youth, notably serving as an All-Conference running back and Captain for the Hastings Raiders during his high school career.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Mary Ann (Marshall) Karnick; sister, Frances Karnick; sister-in-law, Barb Kiritschenko; and brothers-in-law, Dave Loesch and Robert Loesch.
Rollie is survived by his wife of 51 years, Kathy; children, Bruce Karnick and Jill (Aaron) Ekstrom; grandchildren, McKenna Karnick, Brent Karnick, Brooklynn Ekstrom; great-granddaughter, Freya Almendinger; siblings, Michele (Bob) Brabec, Ed Karnick, Irma (Todd) Peine; sister-in-law, Debbie Loesch; and many nieces and nephews, along with other relatives and friends.
A lover of life, Rollie enjoyed riding his motorcycle and was a dedicated supporter of his children and grandchildren in all their activities, including football, dance, baseball, softball, volleyball, taekwondo, band, and choir. He cherished bowling with his wife and had a passion for working on his old cars.
Additionally, Rollie was skilled in many do-it-yourself projects around the home and found great enjoyment in tinkering around the house and in the garage. He was a devoted NASCAR fan and loved going to the local racetrack, where he could immerse himself in the excitement of the races.
Rollie retired from Lockheed Martin, where he worked as a maintenance technician, applying his technical skills and dedication throughout his career.
A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel in Hastings, with visitation from 9 a.m. until the time of the service.
For the guestbook and further information, please visit www.hastingsmnfuneral.com.
Arrangements are being completed by Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel of Hastings.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Roland "Rollie", please visit our floral store.
Gerald F. “Toby” Tobias, age 77, of Hastings, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at United Hospital in St. Paul, MN.
Born on May 19, 1947, in Prescott, WI, to LeRoy and Teresa (Schommer) Tobias, Gerry lived a life full of love, adventure, and dedication. He married Mary Pierce on June 5, 1971, in Watertown, SD.
Gerry was known for his love of deer hunting, his passion for riding and working on Harley Davidson motorcycles, and his joy in cutting wood. Above all, his family was his greatest treasure. He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, often going out of his way to build whatever their hearts desired.
He was a mild-mannered and easygoing man. Gerry had the unique ability to enjoy life simply by sitting back and appreciating his surroundings. His dedication to his work was evident in his long tenure at 3M Chemolite in Cottage Grove, from which he retired at 55. Not one to idle, he spent the following 21 years as a handyman for his daughter's business, Rio Grooming.
Gerry was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, his son, Todd Lubinsky, and his parents. He is survived by his children, John (Colleen) Lubinsky, Karen (Rich) Beskau, and Mike (Peggi) Tobias; his grandchildren, Mandy, Heather, Jessica, Brian, Kayla (Garrett) Lucking, Amy (Dan) Ericson, and Emma Tobias; and his great-grandchildren, Brooks, Banks, Henry, Ciaro, Mia, and Ivan; alongside numerous relatives and friends.
A private service for the family will be held at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel in Hastings, with interment at Lakeside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the family in Gerry’s honor. Contributions can be directed to Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, c/o The Tobias Family, 3075 Vermillion St., Hastings, MN 55033.
Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel has been entrusted with arrangements.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gerald , please visit our floral store.