Susan Kuchinski Walter H. Beuning

Susan

Kuchinski, 79-yearold resident of Swanville, MN died Tuesday, January 17 at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, January 24 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flensburg with Father Jimmy Joseph officiating. A visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 A.M. at the church on Tuesday. The burial will be held in the parish cemetery.

Susan Schmelzer was born on May 7, 1943 in Little Falls to the late John and Coretta (Fimon) Schmelzer. She grew up in Little Falls where she attended St. Francis High School and graduated with the class of 1961. She was united in marriage to Robert Kuchinski on July 29, 1961. After their marriage, the couple moved to Thompsonville, CT, due to Robert’s job with Crestliner Boats. The couple returned to the Little Falls area in 1964 and lived in Flensburg for 10 years before buying their farm outside of Swanville. Along with raising her family, Susan worked many jobs throughout her life including Hoveys Steakhouse, Land O’ Lakes Creamery, Switch Board Operator at St. Gabriel’s Hospital, Hearthside Restaurant, Herzog Roofing and Banta Publications in Long Prairie. For over 20 years, the couple also operated an egg-laying facility with over 60,000 chickens. Susan was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flensburg, where she taught Catechism, cooked for funeral luncheons and sang in the choir for 40 years. Susan enjoyed learning new things, playing cribbage, crossword puzzles, and she was a very avid reader. She also enjoyed going on nature walks, deer hunting, fishing trips to Canada, tending to her bird feeders, vegetable and flower gardening, and her daily 'cat scans.' She treasured her time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren. Susan was a wonderful cook making the best caramel rolls, cinnamon rolls, coffee cakes, and many other family-favorite dishes. She always made sure everyone else had their plate ready before she would eat.

Susan will be remembered as loving wife, mother and grandmother by her husband, Robert Kuchinski of Swanville; children, Robert, Jr. (Charlotte) Kuchinski of Rangely, CO, Sandy (Dan) Oehmke of Welch, Nancy (Kevin) Smude of Robbinsdale, Tom (Rhonda) Kuchinski of Crystal, Kris (Jeff) Daniels of Ramsey; grandchildren, Patrick, Katie, Joey, Drew (Sydney), Angie, Elizabeth, Aaron, Benjamin and Corey.

Susan is also survived by her nephew, Jim Schmelzer, and nieces, Linda (Karpinski) Arnold and Carol (Karpinski) Damhof.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Coretta Schmelzer; siblings, Jack Schmelzer, Barbara Schmelzer, Joe Schmelzer, Mary Lou Karpinski and an infant brother, James Schmelzer.

Emblom Brenny Funeral Service is Cherishing the Memory and Celebrating the Life of Susan.

Walter H. Beuning, age 84 of Freeport, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at the Little Falls Care Center in Little Falls, Minnesota.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, January 23 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating. Inurnment was held in the parish cemetery with military honors provided by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Walter Henry Beuning was born February 21, 1938 in Freeport, Minnesota to George and Ida (Klein) Beuning. He graduated from Melrose High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army. Walter was stationed in Europe where he provided support for the Vietnam Conflict. He served for over three years and was honorably discharged in 1965. He was united in marriage to Lourdine Beste on January 16, 1965 at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany. He worked as an implement mechanic most of his life. Walter was a founding member of the Stearns County Pioneer Club and was very active.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport, Freeport Fire Department from 1974 through 1994, Stearns County Pioneer Club, Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion Inc., Minnesota Chapter 15 IH Collectors Club, and the Young at Heart Club. Walter enjoyed walking and biking on the Wobegon Trail and collecting tractors.

Survivors include his wife, Lourdine “Loura” Beuning of Freeport; children, Barb Beuning of St. Cloud, Ken (Joyce) Beuning of Andover, Sandy Beuning of Waite Park, and Kevin (Lisa) Beuning of Albany; grandchildren, Trevor, Anne, Grace, Joe, Monica, Thomas, Jennifer and Cody; and siblings, Edward Beuning of Waite Park, Clara Williams of Melrose, Arthur Beuning of Avon, Leo Beuning of Idaho, and Carol Edgington of Florida.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother, Rosie Cheyne and Virgil Beuning.

Memorials are preferred.

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