Plan, Joan Elizabeth
Age 59 of Rosemount
Passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on August 30, 2017. Preceded in death by parents, Daniel & Marjorie Hogan; brother, Thomas Hogan; in-laws, Gerald & Shirley Plan. Survived by loving husband, Jeffrey; son, Joshua; daughters, Jenna (Kyle Johnson) & Julia (Derek); grandchildren, Sterling, Boe, Mason, Miles & Lana; 2 sisters; 3 brothers; also many other relatives & friends. A Celebration of Joan’s Life will be held at 6 PM Thursday, September 7th, at Lighthouse Christian Church, 3285 144th St., Rosemount.
Palechek, Robert G. “Bob”
Age 75 of Inver Grove Heights
Passed away on August 26, 2017. Survived by wife of 54 years, Jeri; sons, Michael (Kim) & William; grandchildren, Tony & Kylie; sister, Mary Ellen (Skip) O’Connell; also nieces, nephews & many friends. Memorial Service 11 AM Thursday, September 7th, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 7600 Cahill Ave., Inver Grove Heights. Visitation 10-11 AM prior to the service at church.
Kuehnast, Robert B.
Age 89 of Inver Grove Heights
Passed away peacefully on August 31, 2017. Survived by loving wife of 61 years, Colleen; son Paul (Marlys); daughters, Nancy (Charlie) Meyers & Sue (Mark) Schmidt; grandchildren, Cindy (Chris) Balus, Nicholas (Becca), Sam Schmidt, Nate Schmidt, Abigail Meyers & Luke Meyers; great-grandson, Micah; brother, Neil. Bob loved to hunt, fish, donate time at church and especially his grandchildren. Funeral Service 11 AM Saturday, September 2nd, at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 2075 70th St., Inver Grove Heights. Visitation 10-11 AM prior to the service. Interment Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery, Eagan. Memorials preferred to Timber Hills Presbyterian Homes of Inver Grove Heights.
Thompson, Christina “Chris”
Died on August 25, 2017.
Chris was born January 4, 1940 in Owatonna, MN where she graduated high school in 1958. She entered nurses training at Ancker School of Nursing and received her R.N. degree in 1992. Her nursing career included 30 years in the emergency room at Ramsey (now Regions) Hospital. After retirement in 1995 she worked 9 years as a triage nurse at Gorman Clinic in West St. Paul. Chris joined the Air National Guard in 1966 serving in the 133rd Tac Hospital which provided health services for the 1500 Air Guard members in the Twin Cities. She was the first MN woman to ever receive the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Chris volunteered countless hours at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Inver Grove Heights. In 1984 Chris was asked to work with Project Hope to develop an emergency medical program in Barbados training nursing staff there in emergency room procedures. The family will donate all memorials to Project Hope. She was preceded in death by her dad, Osmon and her mother, Marcella. She is survived by many cousins, nurses and guard friends. Mass of Christian Burial 11 AM Tuesday, September 5th, at the Church of St. Patrick, 3535 72nd St., IGH. Visitation 9:30-11 AM prior to Mass.
Grant, Myron A. “Mike”
Age 81 of South St. Paul
Passed away on August 27, 2017 from COPD and lung cancer. Preceded in death by parents, Myron & Myrtle (Bladholm); sister, Joan Peterson. Survived by loving wife of 57 years, Bunny (O’Donnell); children, Patty (Phil) Lindeman, John (Lisa Serbus), Tom (Mary), Debbie (Brent) Tilton & Mark; grandchildren, Matt (Sarah) Lindeman, Kelsey (Mitch Olson), Alex (Leah), Abby & Nolan Tilton, Will, Charlie, Sara, Nora & Violet Grant; great-grandson, Owen Grant Lindeman; sister, Maurine Avery; also other relatives & friends. Mike was a cattle buyer for Rifkin Pack & Green Bay Dress Beef. He was active in the Jaycees, Cursillo and a 3 term SSP City Councilman. After retirement Mike and Bunny moved to their scenic pines lake home north of Grand Rapids where they hosted many visitors, went on fishing trips and Mike played golf with the boys at Eagle Ridge. Mass of Christian Burial 10 AM Saturday, September 9th, at the Church of St. Patrick. 3535 72nd St., Inver Grove Heights. Visitation 4-8 PM Friday, at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Ave. IGH. Also 9-10 AM prior to Mass at church. Interment Acacia Park, Mendota Heights. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to the SSP Educational Foundation or donor’s choice.
Howlett, Merlin J.
Age 51 of West St. Paul
Passed away on August 11, 2017. Preceded in death by loving parents, George & Rita. Greatly missed by wife, Mary Ann; step-children, Patrick (Francine) Goetsch, Christopher Goetsch, Laurie (Mike) Bergum; grandchildren, Samantha, Erin, C.J., Abby, Natalie & Anthony; brothers, Wayne (Sharon) & Calvin (Virgie) Howlett; also other family & friends. A gathering of Family & Friends will be held from 12 Noon-2 PM Saturday, September 9th, at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Heights. Special thanks to Becky R.N. @ Mn Oncology in Woodbury.
Kohnke, Robert
Age 67, of Andover, MN
Passed away unexpectedly on August 23, 2017. Bob was born to Henry and Wanda Kohnke on June 22, 1950 in St. Paul, MN. He graduated from Henry Sibley High School and received a Bachelor of Science from Arizona State University. Bob also served his country in the Army from 1969 – 1975. Bob was married to Marlys Kohnke from 1970 until 1997. They spent time living in Arizona, Illinois and Minnesota. Bob was an avid motorcyclist and had a love of cars. His true passion though was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. His career took him through positions at Land O’Lakes, Kemps, and most recently the Minnesota Humanities Center (where he had retired in 2016 but continued to work part time). Bob is survived by three sons, Matt (Gwen) of St. Louis Park, Tim (Emily) of Ogden, IA and Mike (Suzanne) of Lakeville. He is also survived by five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by parents, Henry and Wanda; son, Robert Jr. A memorial will be held on Thursday, August 31st, at Roberts Funeral & Cremation Chapel, 8108 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Heights from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M, with a time of sharing beginning at 5:30 P.M.
Pasket, Debbie
Age 56 of Inver Grove Heights
Passed away on August 22, 1017. Preceded in death by in-laws, Don & Bev Pasket. Survived by loving husband of 36 years, Craig: children, Eric (Amanda), Jen (Jeff) Brainard & Ryan; grandchildren, Brianna, Cole, Charlie, Emma & Nora; siblings, Jeff (Deb), Renee (Mike); brothers & sisters-in-law, Gail, Scott, Keith (Kim); also nieces, nephews & friends. Mass of Christian Burial 11 AM Monday, August 28th, at the Church of St. Patrick, 3535 72nd St., Inver Grove Heights. Visitation 9:30 – 11 AM prior to Mass. Interment St. Patrick’s Church Cemetery.
Kallas, Carol Ann
Age 86, died Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017, in South St. Paul.
Left to miss her laughter, shenanigans, cinnamon rolls, vats of spaghetti sauce, holiday outfits, crocheted dish cloths, afghans, and guidance are her family and friends.
She is survived by four children, Shelli (Paul) Beck of South St. Paul, Tony (Cris) Kallas of Eagan, Kristy Greene of Mankato and Randi Kallas of Rochester; five grandchildren, Jason and Jeff Kallas, and Emily, Alice and Grace Beck; and three step-great-grandchildren, McKenzie, Gavin and Wyatt; brother Mike (Janet) Brenna of Pelican Rapids, Minn.; sisters-in-law Bernita Kallas and Dorothy Brenna; and many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin “Red” and Alice Brenna; her husband, Sam Kallas; brothers Carl and Don Brenna; and sister-in-law Bernice Brenna.
Carol Ann Brenna was born Dec. 18, 1930, in South St. Paul to Red and Alice Brenna. She married Sam Kallas on her 18th and golden birthday, Dec. 18, 1948. As a couple, Carol and Sam raised their family in South St. Paul, becoming very involved in the schools and youth athletics, especially VFW baseball. Their home was always open to family, extended family, old friends and new friends. They always had room for one more at the table, or in the car (or truck) for a ride to whatever game was going on. There was one more water fight to be had, one more bottle rocket to shoot.
Always strong-willed and independent, Carol rebuilt her life after Sam’s unexpected death in 1993. She traveled, spending nearly a month in Hawaii and yet never once stepping on a beach (“It’s just sand and water!”), reveled in her grandchildren’s accomplishments (“They are such nice boys, they are such sweet girls”), continued to boss her kids around (“I’m just helping!”) and maintained a full life as long as she could.
Alzheimer’s disease robbed of her ability to drive, cook and bake, remember names, faces, places, and so many other things, but it never took her sense of humor or independence. In her final days, as she lay with her eyes closed, she would smile at stories we told of her antics, and she’d give her special hand gesture that actually meant “I love you.”
She will be greatly missed, but she will be lovingly remembered.
The funeral will be at 11:00 AM Friday, August 25th, at Concordia Lutheran Church, 5th Avenue and Douglas Street, South St. Paul, her home church of more than 60 years. Burial will be alongside Sam at Oak Hill Cemetery in South St. Paul. Visitation will be from 9:00 – 11:00 AM until the time of the service.
Howlett, Merlin J.
Age 51 of West St. Paul
Passed away on August 11, 2017.
Preceded in death by loving parents, George & Rita. Greatly missed by wife, Mary Ann; step-children, Patrick (Francine) Goetsch, Christopher Goetsch, Laurie (Mike) Bergum; grandchildren, Samantha, Erin, C.J., Abby, Natalie & Anthony; brothers, Wayne (Sharon) & Calvin (Virgie) Howlett; also other family & friends. A gathering of Family & Friends will be held from 12 Noon-2 PM Saturday, September 9th, at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Heights. Special thanks to Becky R.N. @ Mn Oncology in Woodbury.