Obituaries for December 9, 2002
Published 12:00 am Monday, December 9, 2002
Catherine L. Kuth, 80
Catherine L. Kuth, 80, died Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002, at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester.
She was born Aug. 28, 1922, in Indianapolis, Ind., to L. C. and Rose (Grannan) Leuty.
Catherine graduated from Purdue University in the spring of 1943. She belonged to the Delta Gamma Sorority. She met and married John W. Kuth in November 1943, while he was stationed at Purdue University. They moved to Austin in 1947.
Catherine was a homemaker and also taught fifth grade for two years. She was a volunteer at the Sacred Heart Care Center and enjoyed traveling with her husband during retirement.
Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Tom (Bunny) Kuth, Kasson; Mark Kuth, Dodge Center; Jim (Fawn) Kuth, Houston, Texas; George Kuth, Everett, Wash.; daughters and sons-in-law, Cathe "Anne" (Tom) Brunkan, Sioux City, Iowa; Mary (Ed) Lunn, Stewartville; Rosemary Simonson-Kuth, Dodge Center; 22 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband on May 6, 2001; parents; and son, John Carl.
Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002, with a 4 p.m. CCW rosary and a 7 p.m. wake service and from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Service: 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Queen of Angels Catholic Church with Father William Becker and Father Lavern Trockinski officiating.
Interment: Calvary Cemetery.
Funeral Home: Mayer Funeral Home, Austin.
Ethyl Mae Moen, 94
Ethyl Mae Moen, 94, of Austin, died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, at St. Mark's Lutheran Home.
She was born Feb. 22, 1908, to John L. and Edith (Corson) Morgan in Austin.
In 1925, she married Archie "Art" d'Etienne. He died in 1937.
Ethyl married John S. Moen in 1956. They were active members of Tronhjem Lutheran Church, rural Oakland.
Ethyl worked for many years for Mr. John Treef at the Austin Fur Shoppe.
She enjoyed her grandchildren.
Survivors include daughter, Bethyl (Ralph) George, Austin; son, Morgan (Mary) d'Etienne, Dallas, Texas; nine grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by parents; husbands; sisters, Ruby Partridge and Eva Morgan; brothers, Roy, Ray and Russell Morgan.
Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002, at the funeral home and Wednesday at church for one hour before the service.
Service: 2 p.m. Wednesday at Hayward Lutheran Church.
Interment: Tronhjem Cemetery, rural Oakland.
Funeral Home: Worlein Funeral Home, Austin.
Lillie L. Traff, 90
Lillie Lisetta Traff, 90, of Austin died Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002 at Austin Medical Center.
She was born Aug. 26, 1912, in Caledonia to Gustav and Mathilda (Kruse) Schroeder.
She attended Houston County District #50 School.
She married Emil Joseph Traff on March 29, 1938, in Eltzen.
She worked as a cook for many years at the Austin Country Club and Tolly's Time Out.
Her hobbies included cooking, sewing and crocheting, playing cards with her family, watching hockey and baseball.
She was a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church and active in the Ladies Aid.
Survivors include son, Lester (Barbara) Traff, Austin; daughters, Norma (William) Bray, Austin; Leona (John) Detwiler, Austin, Gloria Traff, Ft. Collins, Colo.; 15 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; brother, Carl Schroeder, Caledonia; sisters, Ella Meiners, Caledonia; Amanda Olson, Caledonia; sisters-in-law Helen Schroeder, Caledonia; Lillian Bresaw, La Crosse, Wis.; Phyllis Traff, LaCrescent; Evelyn (Donald) Kessel, La Crosse, Wis.
She was preceded in death by her husband; brother, Arnold Schroeder; sister, Clara Pohlman; and brothers-in-law.
Visitation: Was 2 to 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, at the funeral home and for one hour prior to the service at the church.
Service: 1 p.m., Monday, at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church with Pastor Ted Barthels officiating.
Interment: Grandview Cemetery, Austin.
Funeral Home: Clasen-Jordan Mortuary, Austin.
Memorials: To the donors choice.
Armella A. Mullenbach, 95
Armella Anna Mullenbach, 95, of Adams, died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2002, at Adams Health Care Center.
She was born April 15, 1907, in Johnsburg, to Mathias and Mary (Kramer) Mullenbach.
Armella attended school in Johnsburg and worked for many years as a housekeeper in Austin. She was a member of St. John's Catholic Church of Johnsburg and enjoyed painting and working jigsaw puzzles.
Survivors include brother and sister-in-law, Otto and Marcella Mullenbach, Austin; sisters, Marrianna Mullenbach, Adams; Ida Mullenbach, Adams; sister-in-law, Alice Mullenbach, Adams; brother-in-law, Stephen Freund, Adams.
She was preceded in death by five brothers and four sisters.
Visitation: One hour before the service on Tuesday.
Service: 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002, at St. John's Catholic Church with the Rev. Gregory Leif officiating.
Interment: St. Johns Catholic Cemetery, Johnsburg.
Funeral Home: Adams Funeral Home, Adams.
Cora M. Conklin, 103
Cora Marie Conklin, 103, of Austin, died Dec. 7, 2002, at St. Mark's Lutheran Home, Austin.
She was born Aug. 5, 1899, next to the oldest of eight girls and three boys in Hubbard, Iowa to Edward and Molly (Anders) Hubbard. She attended school there through eighth grade. Grandpa Hubbard was into farming and real estate, so they moved a lot. They lived around Indianola, Iowa before moving to Lime Springs, Iowa and Lansing and Wells. Cora learned early to drive a car.
She married Melvin A. Conklin on June 11, 1918, in Indianola, Iowa. He had been serving in the Army in World War I when they met at a fair in Indianola. They farmed in the Austin area, living on several different farms over the years. They were married seven years before Muriel Maxine was born and 10 years when Dale Nathan was born at St. Olaf Hospital. The early years were highlighted with visits with family and friends. They couldn't go often, but they did get to go to Wells to see Grandma and Grandpa Hubbard. They took trips to Mille Lacs and Itasca State Park. Family reunions at Clear Lake, Iowa and Fairmont were lots of fun. The family moved off the farm and into Austin in March of 1938. Cora worked at Cassidy's Yardage Store when Averbooks sold out and for several years at Wallace's. She also worked different jobs wallpapering and cleaning other houses. Work became very important and the family got to go to Grandpa Hubbard's more often. There were lots of cousins, and Grandma always put them on a bench at the back of the table and made donuts for them. Cora always had some "roomers" and "boarders" in the house. She worked at the Austin Country Club, Elk's Club and took in ironing.
She was active in the American Legion Auxiliary, Austin Garden Club and Austin Eagle's Auxiliary, being voted Mother of the Year at one time. She enjoyed getting dressed up in her pink formal and performing with the Eagles Drill Team. A member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, she enjoyed hosting her Circle. She enjoyed being a grandmother to Muriel's children.
After Melvin passed away in 1971, Cora sold the house on Franklin Street and moved into an apartment. She entered St. Mark's Lutheran Home in 1996.
Survivors include two daughters, Muriel (Lee) Kasten of Babbit and Alice McGuire of Zimmerman; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; sister, June Nelson of Owatonna; many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, one son, her parents, seven sisters, three brothers and one grandson.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with the Rev. Greg Mannel officiating. Interment is at Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call for one hour before the service at church. Worlein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Joseph R. Pollock, 95
Joseph R. Pollock, 95, of Austin, died Friday, Dec. 6, 2002, at his son's home in Oshkosh, Wis., where he had lived since April.
He was born Feb. 8, 1907, in Lansing, to Alexander and Ida (Vermilyea) Pollock.
He lived on the family farm in Lansing until his graduation from Austin High School in 1925. He then attended Hamilton Business College in Mason City, Iowa. After three years with two rural banks in southern Minnesota, he came to Austin where he joined the First National Bank as a teller in December 1933. After 38 years with the First National Bank, Joe retired as vice president.
He married Mildred Wamsley of Clarksville, Iowa on Nov. 1, 1935.
Joe was active in civic affairs. He was a Jaycee and at one time belonged to Kiwanis. He was a long-time member of the Izaak Walton League, the Elks Lodge #414, and the Austin Country Club. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Austin where he served as a elder and trustee. He also served as a money counter for the church every Tuesday morning until his recent move to Oshkosh.
Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Joanne Pollock of Oshkosh, Wis.; two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife in 1994; and brothers, Harold and Earl.
Visitation: 4 to 6 p.m. today, Dec. 9, 2002, at the funeral home and Tuesday at the church for one hour before the service.
Service: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, at Westminster Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Andrew M. Lindahl officiating. Casket Bearers will be Les Buck, Sid Brown, Robert Borchardt, William Hardy, Robert Schulz and Duane Olson.
Interment: Oakwood Cemetery, Austin.
Funeral Home: Clasen-Jordan Mortuary, Austin.
Memorials: Preferred.
Clara Curran, 89
Clara Curran, 89, died Dec. 6, 2002, at St. Mark's Nursing Home, Austin.
She was born April 7, 1913, to Ole and Clara (Leider) Nygard near Dundas. Due to her father's premature death and her mother's persistent health problems, Clara and her siblings were placed in the state orphanage in Owatonna. Clara later lived with and worked for a family in St. Paul.
On May 4, 1942, she married Frank Curran.
Clara worked at Bethesda Hospital and lived in St. Paul until Frank's death in the early 1970s. Clara then moved to Austin to live with her sister, Florence Draheim. Shortly after Florence's death in 1996, Clara moved to St. Mark's Nursing Home.
She enjoyed gardening, knitting, birds and animals.
Survivors include many nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and siblings, Mabel, Earl, Florence, Leo, Carl, Harry and Edward.
Service: 1 p.m. memorial service, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2002, at St. Mark's Nursing Home.