Obituaries

Mildred H. Nienaber

Mildred H. “Millie” Nienaber, age 84 of Freeport, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 5 at the CentraCare Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 13 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport.

Mildred Helen Heinen was born February 5, 1939 in Saint Anthony, Minnesota to Martin and Anna (Eiynck) Heinen. As a young woman, Millie worked at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud. She was united in marriage to Richard Nienaber on April 19, 1961 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in St. Anthony. The couple settled on a farm near Freeport where Millie was a farmwife and homemaker. Millie always said that her favorite way to show love to her family was to cook for them, and she was an excellent cook and baker, especially when it came to her apple pies.

Millie began working at Melrose Area Schools as a cook and baker in 1987 and retired in 2017. One of Millie’s accomplishments that she was proud of was earning her GED in 2007, one week prior to her oldest grandchild’s graduation.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport, Christian Women, and Catholic United Financial. She was an active member of her faith community serving in many roles. Millie enjoyed cooking and baking, gardening, walking and biking on the trail, reading, embroidering, and also enjoyed volunteering for Meals on Wheels.

Survivors include her husband, Richard Nienaber of Melrose; children, Kathleen Nienaber-Gapinski (Rick) of Cold Spring, Daniel (Cindy) Nienaber of Albany, Michael (Susan)

Nienaber of Osakis, and Charles (Sheri) Nienaber of Freeport; 11 grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren with two on the way; brothers and sisters, Delores (Bob) Weyer of Sauk Rapids, David (Margaret) Heinen of Sartell, Rosemary Nienaber of Burtrum, Vernon (Karen) Heinen of Albany, and Gerald (Ione) Heinen of Albany.

Millie was preceded in death by her parents; son, Clifford Nienaber; brothers and sisters, Anna, Norbert, Dorothy, Margaret, and Arnold.

Memorials are preferred to Sacred Heart School in Freeport.

Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral and Cremation Services of Freeport.

David L. “Dave” Blaeser

David L.

“Dave” Blaeser, age 77 of Grey Eagle, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at the CentraCare Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 15 at St.

Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grey Eagle with Rev. Ron Dockendorf officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church in Grey Eagle.

David Leonard Blaeser was born on November 30, 1945 to Herman and Marcella (Schriver) Blaeser in St. Cloud, MN. David’s early years were living in St. Cloud and Burtrum, MN and Rapid City, SD. He is the youngest of 7 sons in a family of 9 children.

He married Ermina Ostendorf July 5, 1967 at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Minneapolis. They lived in Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and Grey Eagle (Little Birch) during their 56 years of marriage. Dave worked a variety of jobs in Minneapolis and St. Cloud and worked 25 years at Jennie-O Foods in Melrose MN. He retired from Jennie-O in 2011 and then worked parttime for several summers for the City of Grey Eagle and the DNR.

Dave was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and Monsignor Lorsung Council #14616 Knights of Columbus.

Dave enjoyed hunting of all types but loved fishing even more. Thousands of hours were spent on the lakes in summer and ice fishing in winter. Dave and Ermina lived on Little Birch Lake for 50 years and he always had fishing rods equipped for the little ones so he could teach them how to fish. From a young age, Brian hunted and fished with his dad. They loved the outdoors and were constant companions. Rob Zollar and the four Vogel boys soon followed as Dave taught them how to fish and hunt. He enjoyed reading, TV, bird watching and brandy cocktails. Dave was humble, a man of few words, and a proud Poppa to grandkids Cole & Callie and niece Jade.

Dave is survived by his wife Ermina, son Brian, grandchildren Cole and Callie, siblings Tom (Jeanette), John (Gail), Jerry, Susan (Randall) Severs and numerous nieces & nephews who were all very special to him.

He was preceded in death by daughter Ann Marie Blaeser who died in October of 1977, parents, brothers Jim, Bob and Mike and sister Pat Fritz.

Arrangements were made with PattonSchad Funeral & Cremation Services of Grey Eagle.

Luke A. Jacobs

Luke A. Jacobs, 22 year old resident of rural Little Falls, MN passed away Thursday, March 30, 2023, as a result of an automobile accident in Stearns County.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flensburg, MN with Father Jimmy Joseph officiating. Burial was in the Parish Cemetery. Caring for Luke and his family was the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN.

Luke Andrew Jacobs was born on April 11, 2000 in St. Cloud, MN to Dave and Cathy (Jendro) Jacobs. He grew up near Flensburg, MN, and attended school in Little Falls, graduating from Little Falls Community High School with the Class of 2018. Luke was currently employed at Knife River as a loader operator. He loved his work as an operator but enjoyed working with his Dad running the portable wood processor. Luke was always willing to lend a hand to family or friends and was very loving, caring, and in his free time, he enjoyed four wheeling, mudding, fishing, hunting, gambling, which he was “always one away from millions,” shopping at Buckle, going to concerts and events, singing karaoke, (specifically, Jamey Johnson). He especially loved spending time with his family and friends. He was their biggest and littlest brother. Luke will forever be remembered for his kindhearted soul, being a son, brother, uncle, and one heck of a friend. Luke had a smile that would light up the room and always brought a laugh to those who were around him. Luke “Hermy” was loved dearly and will be missed beyond measure.

Luke is survived by his parents, Dave and Cathy Jacobs of Little Falls, MN; siblings, Todd (Laura) Jacobs of Little Falls, MN, Careena (Spencer) Jacobs of Little Falls, MN, Kyle Jacobs of Little Falls, Devan (Sam) Jacobs of Little Falls, MN, Darren (Jaclan) Jacobs of Fort Ripley, MN; nieces and nephews, Aubrey, Abigail, Oliver, Aiden, Jackson, Carson, Eli, and Ava. Luke was preceded in death by his grandparents, Harlin & Barb Jacobs, Eddie & Deloris Jendro; and uncle, Kary Mollner.

Donald Peter Hemmesch

Donald Peter “Donny” Hemmesch, 67, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday April 1, 2023.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church in Lake Henry. Reverend Glenn Krystosek officiated. Burial took place in the St. Margaret’s Parish Cemetery.

Donny was born on November 28, 1955 in Melrose, MN to Alois and Elizabeth (Bertram) Hemmesch. He grew up on the family farm in Lake Henry. He graduated from Paynesville High School in 1973. He married and later divorced Carol Schmitt, with whom he had three children. He loved all aspects of farming, especially raking hay and hauling manure. His dogs were his best co-pilots for riding around on his side-by-side to make sure everything was in its proper place, and he made sure Junior knew if it wasn’t. He spent many years shooting pool in league and with anyone who would take on “Lefty”. He enjoyed fishing trips with friends, playing cards at family get-togethers and reminiscing about the good ole days. Everyone knew they could always stop by and visit “Alfonse” at home to shoot the breeze and have a beer.

Donny is survived by his children Donald Jr. (Megan), Angie (Ben Thelen) and Dale; grandchildren Carley, Owen, Olivia and Caleb Hemmesch and Jack, Madison and Eli Hemmesch; sisters: Alice Schaefer and Janet (Donald) Schaefer; brother: Richard (Mary Ann); and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Alois, mother, Elizabeth, stepfather Alfred Rothstein and brother-in-law Herman Schaefer.