Obituaries

Apr 22, 2025

Cecil (Cy) Claude Strang, aged 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at his home

April 22 nd , 2025, while receiving hospice care.

Cy was born December 29 th , 1936 in Brainerd, MN to Eldred and Helen (Hardy) Strang. He

attended elementary school in Barrows, Jr and Sr High in Brainerd....

Apr 21, 2025

Services are pending.

Apr 21, 2025

Apr 20, 2025

Deanne Marie Tessmer, age 81 of Pillager, peacefully passed away on April 20, 2025. She graduated from Pillager High School in 1961 and after spending two years in college, she began her career in banking at The First National Bank of Brainerd. In 1991, she moved to American National Bank of Minnesota where she continued to work until she...

Apr 13, 2025

Amy Maria Smith, age 41 of Baxter died April 13, 2025 at Essentia Health Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota. Amy was born on her Aunt Veronika's birthday on December 6, 1983. She was always a happy child, with a constant smile on her face. At 6 years old, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and given from 6 months...

Apr 13, 2025

Doris Ann Sievek, 95, of Brainerd, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2025. Born on September 10, 1929, in Redwood Falls, MN. Doris was the daughter of Guy and Amy (Keller) Manning.

On September 25, 1947, she married Don Sievek, Doris once stated, of all the decisions she made in her lifetime, the best one was marrying...

Apr 11, 2025

Surrounded by family who loved her, Valerie (Wood) Hellmers age 63, passed away at Lakewood Hospital, Staples MN, on April 11, 2025. Val was born July 11, 1961 to LeRoy & Betty (Oliver) Wood in Crosby, MN. The family moved from Riverton to Fawn Lake Township in Todd County. Val attended school in Staples & graduated high school in...

Apr 10, 2025

Lee William Bachman, age 87, of Brainerd, passed away on Thursday April 10, 2025, at Essentia-St Joseph’s Medical Center. Lee was born in Brainerd to Julius and Sylvia (Bodle) Bachman on September 29, 1937. He married the love of his life, Connie Nelson on April 18, 1959. Together they had three children.

Lee was the founder of...

Apr 8, 2025

Services for Irene will be private.

Apr 2, 2025

Loren Arthur Grams, age 95, of Brainerd, passed away on April 2, 2025, at Woodland Good Samaritan Society. Loren was born on January 16, 1930, in Westbrook to Arthur and Anna (Nelson) Grams. He married Frances McArtor, and they had four children.

Loren is survived by his children, Karen Dahl, Bruce (Barbara) Grams, Gary Grams and Pamela...

Apr 1, 2025

DuWayne (Duke) Kollodge passed away April 1, 2025 from end stage ALS. Per his wishes, he spent his end days at home being cared for by his wife Carol. Duke was born in St. Cloud, MN to Clarine and Ray Kollodge on July 6, 1944. He is surely welcomed by his brother-in-law, Rock DuCharme and his beloved sister, Darleen...

Mar 30, 2025

Jeanine Louise Pearson, age 67, passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at the Riverside Healthcare System in Aitkin. Jeanine was born in Minneapolis to Luther & Shirley (Rassler) Koon. She married James Pearson on September 10, 1988.

Left to cherish her memory are her beloved husband, Jim; sister, JoEllyn (Ron) Foss; brother, Ronald (Sheila) Koon; 2...

Mar 26, 2025

Donna D. Kastanek was born on August 21st, 1931, in Staples, MN. The daughter of Werley L. and Myrtle P. (Roche)Hagenson. She grew to womanhood in the rural Staples area. She attended rural District #36 graduating from the 8th grade in 1945, Staples High School in 1949, and Staples Teacher training in 1950. She married George J. Kastanek on...

Mar 22, 2025

Della Luella Steininger, age 85, of Brainerd passed away on March 22, 2025, at Woodland Good Samaritan. Della was born in Ross Lake Township on November 28, 1939, to Floyd & Iren (Dennison) Palmer.

Della is survived by her son, Jerry (Paula) Steininger; daughter, Deanna Steininger; lifelong companion, David Yde; brother, Sid Palmer; 5 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren....

Mar 21, 2025

Lyle Frank Krueger, age 96, passed away on March 21, 2025, at Woodland Good Samaritan in Brainerd, Minnesota. He was born May 11, 1928, to Frank and Mabel (Bentley) Krueger at the home of the midwife, Mrs. Siegel, on Third Avenue NE, Brainerd, MN. He attended high school in Portland, Oregon, and was a veteran of World War II,...

Mar 21, 2025

Earl Hugo Baversjo, age 70, passed away at the University of Minnesota-Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis on Friday, March 21, 2025. Earl was born in St Paul to Hugo & Eleanor (Anderson) Baversjo.

Earl is survived by his sister, Charlotte (Glen) Wolf.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Services for Earl will...

Mar 16, 2025

Charles (Chuck) John Balzer passed away peacefully at the age of 86 at the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Hospital on March 16, 2025. He was born on September 20, 1938, at the Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea, MN to Carl H. and Cecil R. (Clausen) Balzer. He had two siblings: Carol R. (late Donald) Owen and (late) Contance R. Balzer....

Mar 11, 2025

Howard William Caughey, age 100, of Merrifield, passed away at his home on Wednesday, March 11, 2025. Howard was born on February 5, 1925, in St Paul to Robert Lauren and Anna Mary (Peterson) Caughey.

Left to cherish his memory are his grandchildren; Leah (Jason) Gilbertson, James Caughey, Kristin Caughey and Cody Caughey; sisters; Virginia Caughey and...

Mar 8, 2025

Denise Elaine Sirucek, 77- year- old resident of Poplar Township near Leader, MN, passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at the St. Cloud Hospital. Denise was born in White Fish, Montana on April 29, 1947, to Frances (Goggins) and David Hiebert.

Denise married Donald Sirucek her husband of 59 years in 1964, at the...

Mar 5, 2025

Wendy Jo Muenchow, age 64, of Brainerd passed away on Wednesday March 5, 2025, in Minneapolis. Wendy was born in Faribault, Minnesota on February 4, 1961, to Lois (Knutson) and Merlin Muenchow. Wendy was a Pre-School teacher for many years.

She enjoyed camping, golf cart rides, and campfires. She had four kids with Michael Petterson...