Age 90 of South St. Paul

Passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on August 1, 2024. Preceded in death by husband, Edward; grandson, Colin Rahn & baby Rebeck. Survived by daughters, Ann (Kevin) Rahn, Lisa (Kristofer) Rebeck & Amy (Steven) Solberg; grandsons, Dylan & Cameron Rahn; granddaughter, Iris Solberg; special friend, Al Willenbring; & other family and friends.

Joyce Marie Elmquist was born on March 20,1934.  She was the second daughter born to Arthur and Agnes Elmquist.  The first daughter was her best friend/sister Joan.  She grew up in Minneapolis near Lake Nokomis and went to Roosevelt High School where she skipped a grade and was a graduate of the 1950-1951 class.  She attended River Falls for a year and then went to the University of Minnesota graduating with a degree in Education.  During this time she had various jobs.  One at the Nile theater and the other at Gray’s Drug in Dinkytown.   She was also a member of Kappa Kappa Lambda.

After graduation she set off to California and then to Michigan to teach elementary school.  Eventually she came back to Minnesota and started a teaching job in South St Paul where she met a coworker named Mrs. Dolan who set her up on a blind date with Edward Abas.  She ended up marrying the handsome suitor in September 27, 1958.  They had 3 girls Ann, Lisa and Amy.

Joyce was an excellent seamstress.  She sewed a lot of her children’s clothing and patched up things that others thought were unrepairable.  She made school dance clothes out of bed sheets and made all of her granddaughter, Iris’s Halloween costumes.  She was a regular at her two grandson’s, Dylan and Cameron, sporting events.

She had a huge imagination and was very creative.  Taking usual things and making them her own creation was part of who she was.   Birthday parties included pin the bow on the girl instead of pin the tail on the donkey.  In her later years, she invited anyone she knew to come over for “Art Night” which included either drawing or painting.

Joyce was an avid reader and a member of many book clubs.  She played a mean game of cards and enjoyed meeting with other card players at the Senior Centers near her home and playing with family and friends.  She loved jigsaw puzzles which she passed on to her kids.

Cooking was not her forte but she tried her best to have a meal on the table every night but was highly afraid of it not being cooked enough which resulted in a lot of dried meat and overcooked vegetables.  No spice either because she was Scandinavian.  She made muffins in the oven when it was 90+ degrees out when she first got married.  It didn’t go over so well with Ed.

Most of all, she loved her family and friends and will be missed greatly by them all.

Memorial Service 12 pm Monday, August 12^th, at Augustana Lutheran Church, 1400 S. Robert St., West St. Paul. Visitation 1 hour prior to the service. Private interment Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials preferred to the Special Olympics.

Age 87, of Inver Grove Heights,

Passed away surrounded by family on July 20th, following a long health decline while in hospice.

Joan Zaharopoulos was born in 1936, in Chicago, Illinois, to Anthony and Mary, immigrants from Greece. After her high school graduation, she began working in a downtown office building where she met her future spouse, Gordon Challeen, while riding in an elevator. Lovely sparks flew and they were married within a year.

The early death of both her parents, as well as her new married life led her to Gordon’s home state, Minnesota, which was very different from Chicago. Joan said the transition was not easy and involved adjusting to small town Mankato, while Gordon finished college at Gustavus Adolphus College. They eventually moved to the “big city” of St. Paul where Gordon was employed at 3M for his entire career. They started a family, and it wasn’t long before they bought their one and only house in Inver Grove Heights.

Joan’s greatest joy came from family. She and Gordon raised three children, Michael (Kate), Kathryn (Joe), and Linda (Denny), and Joan adored each of her grandchildren and great-grand-children. Grandchildren include Nicole (Eric), Michael (Tiffanie), Raina (Bobby), Claire, Tony, Morgan and Alex. Great-grand- children include Lila, Logan, Mae, Selma, Mora, Gwenyth, and James. Joan was predeceased by her husband, Gordon Challeen, and her parents, Mary and Anton Zaharopoulos. She is survived by her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to ninja-level home-making (a cleaner home would be hard to find), and outstanding food labeling skills (keeping 3M post-it notes in business), Joan enjoyed crafting, passing along many heirlooms to family members over the years. She also was an excellent baker, which made her house a big draw for the kids in the neighborhood. Notable in a long list of cooking favorites, her wonderful baklava recipe, Christmas-time rosette cookies, and the special way she prepped lamb chops for grilling, will remind us of her every time we gather as a family over a meal that includes one of those delicious items.

No services will be held at this time, with a private interment to be scheduled. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to DeathWithDignity.org or one of your own meaningful charities.

Age 67 of Eagan

Passed away on July 28, 2024.

Funeral Service 1:00 pm Thursday, August 8^th, at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Heights. Visitation 11:00 am-1:00 pm prior to the service. Interment Oak Hill Cemetery, South St. Paul.

Janis passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 28^th, 2024. Janis was born on December 25^th, 1953 to Kenneth and Jean (Shannon) Petrie.  Janis is survived by her husband of 38 years, Ralph Launderville; his children, Samantha, Ralph Jr. and Lon; sisters, Susan, Nancy (Bill) and brothers, David (Kathy), Bruce (Jan); sister-in-law, Mary.  She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Kent.

Visitation will be Monday, August 5^th at 10:00 am, with a short service at 11:00 at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Avenue, Inver Grove Heights, MN. Private interment will be at Acacia Park Cemetery, Mendota Heights, MN.

Age 80 of Inver Grove Heights.

Passed away unexpectedly on July 19^th, 2024. Preceded in death by son, Timothy Jr. Survived by loving wife of 59 years, Pat; sons, Peter & Todd (Lynn); grandchildren, Hannah, Victoria and Zachary.

Tim enjoyed spending time with friends and family especially at his favorite place, the cabin in Nevis, Mn.  Up there he loved giving pontoon rides around Lake Belle Taine while pointing out each loon we pass and giving all the latest updates on all things Nevis.

Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 am Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at The Church of St. Thomas Becket, 4455 S. Robert Trail, Eagan, MN. Visitation 10:00-11:00 am prior to the Mass. Interment Union Cemetery, South St. Paul, MN.

Age 75 of Inver Grove Heights, MN.

Passed away on July 21, 2024. He was born on March 2, 1949, to Howard and Mildred (Ernster) Gackstetter. Glen is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Jean and his daughter, Melissa (Andy) Timm of Hampton, MN. He was a proud grandfather to Cory and Ruby Timm. Glen also leaves behind his sisters, Janet Opine and Lynn (Mike) Larkin. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Chester, and his sister Mary Ann Jensen. Glen honorably served as a Sergeant in the United States Army, spending time stationed in the Korean DMZ. Known for his love of a good time and his active community involvement, Glen’s passions included hunting and his loyal dogs. His faithful companion, Ernest, was by his side for 17 years, while Julio introduced him to the world of hunting tests and dog shows. Glen joined the Northern Flight Hunting Retriever Association, serving actively for over 20 years. As a dedicated conservationist, Glen co-founded the IGH Ducks Unlimited Chapter, serving as its first chapter chairman and continuing in that role for many years. He was also a long-standing board member of the South St. Paul Gun Club for 20 years, where he earned the Meritorious Service Award and numerous shooting-related trophies and achievements. Glen found immense joy in watching his grandchildren excel and eagerly awaited their weekly score reports. He loved spending time outdoors, sharing his hunting knowledge with friends and family. In later years, despite his disabilities, he created a bird sanctuary in his front yard, attracting a variety of birds from songbirds to ducks and even falcons. Glen loved to go fast and enjoyed driving his classic cars and attending car shows. A lifelong learner, Glen never missed an episode of Jeopardy, always eager to test his knowledge. He worked at the Red Rock Bulk Terminal for over 30 years, forming lifelong friendships. As a union steward for the Local 49ers, he advocated for safe and fair working conditions throughout several contracts. Glen will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him. His legacy of community service, love for the outdoors, and dedication to his family will be remembered fondly.

A Celebration of Glen’s Life will be held at Roberts Funeral Home on August 2nd, 2024, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, with a program and time of sharing at 12:00 noon. A fellowship luncheon will follow at The Moose Lodge #1088, 5927 Concord Blvd., Inver Grove Heights, MN. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Ducks Unlimited.

Age 77, of St. Paul, MN

Passed away on Mothers’ Day, May 12, 2024.
Anne was a free spirit who loved her family, friends and any cat.
She left an everlasting mark on the lives of those around her.
She went out of her way to help anyone who needed it, she would drive kids to practice and games or let them crash if they needed a place to stay. She had a heart of gold and shared it with everyone. Holidays were fun, we met new friends who had nowhere else to celebrate because Anne couldn’t leave anyone out. Anne is survived by son: Joshua (Jennifer), grandson: Philip, sister-in-law Nancy Wiederhold (Philip).
Anne took immense joy in being a proud granny to Philip. She cherished every moment spent with him. Preceded in death by her parents: Al and Magdalen Wiederhold, and brothers, Philip and Aloysius Jr. Born on April 30, 1947, in Saint Paul, MN. She grew up in South St. Paul where she graduated from high school in 1965 and later attended Inver Hills Community College. Anne had a passion for music and traveling to concerts. Her favorite memory was being at Woodstock and participating in history. She also spent a summer living on Madeline Island, her favorite place on earth. Sundays were her favorite day because she got to hopefully enjoy watching her Vikings win.

Join us to remember and celebrate Anne’s life on Sunday, August 25, 2024, from 3-7 pm at Moose Lodge #1088 at 5927 Concord Blvd Inver Grove Heights, MN. Let’s come together, share stories, and remember Anne who touched countless lives. The family encourages you to wear your favorite tie-dye attire or Vikings gear just as she often did. Anne will be dearly missed but forever remembered for her free spirit, passion, joy of life, for those fortunate enough to know her.

Age 92 of Inver Grove Heights.

Beloved Mom, Grandma, Sister and Friend.

Janet was born December 14, 1931 in Pierz, MN to Matt and Barbara (Faust) Stuckmayer.  She was united in marriage to Joseph Schlegel on August 31, 1953, in St. John’s Catholic Church in Lastrup.  They started their life together in Edgar, WI where Joe was trucking.  In the 1950’s they moved to MN and eventually bought a house in Inver Grove Heights where they raised their 3 daughters.   She was an excellent seamstress and crocheted many beautiful items.  She enjoyed baking, gardening, and loved to dance, especially to old time polkas.

Janet passed away on July 22, 2024. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph, her sisters Emma Hoffman, Melvina Lust, Saraphine Loidolt, and Delores Saehr, her brothers, Matt, Gerald, Melvin, and Clarence. She is survived by daughters, Jane (Shane), Gail (Nate) and Karen; grandsons, Joshua (Briana), Ryan, Martin (Michelle); and her sister, Marilyn Flicker; also many nieces, nephews and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial is 11:00 am Saturday, July 27th, at The Church of St. Patrick, 3535 72nd St., Inver Grove Heights. Visitation is 9:30 am to 11:00 am prior to Mass at church. Interment St. Patrick’s Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to a charity of the donor’s choice

Age 44 of Inver Grove Heights & South Saint Paul

Passed away unexpectedly on July 17, 2024. Preceded in death by Gerald & Jim York, Eugene, Adeline, Fred & Carrie Rothenberger & Mike Kincaid. Survived by mother, Julie York (Bryan); father, John Rothenberger; brother, Nicholas (Jill); grandmother, Margaret York; aunt Jodie York; nephew, Gavin; nieces, Layla & Ella; girlfriend, Tiaj. Along with many other friends & relatives. With broken & heavy hearts, he will be missed. Jason, is now at peace and he will be deeply missed & always loved.

A Memorial Gathering will be held from 3:00-6:00pm Sunday, July 28th, 2024 at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Avenue, Inver Grove Heights. If you so choose a time of sharing any memories will be held at 5:00pm. There will also be sandwiches & snacks provided. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred.

Age 76 of Inver Grove Heights

Passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on July 20^th, 2024. Preceded in death by parents, Norman and Mary Bell; sister, Diane; brother, Daryl. Survived by husband, Bob; daughters, Staci (Jim) Weber, Heidi (Andy); son, Rob (Stacy); eight grandchildren; three great grandchildren; sisters, Sandra (Jim) Servatius and Marlene(Dave) Ward.

Patt enjoyed spending time with her family at the cabin sunbathing, fishing and hanging out at the campfire listening to stories. She was known for her love of Pepsi, popcorn, potato chips and chocolate. Her husband, children and grandchildren will miss her dearly and her great grandchildren will hear many stories in the years to come.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 12:00 noon to 2:00pm Thursday, July 25^th, at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Heights. Interment to follow at St. Patrick’s Church Cemetery, Inver Grove Heights.