September 19, 1953 – January 26, 2021

Born to Orville and Dorothy. Gone to Heaven before Wally, parents,  Orville and Dorothy; daughter, Katie Ann Krech; grandson, Dominic Alan Krech. Those Who Made His Life Complete: Kathy – The love of his life!  Children, Mark (Renae), Michelle (Jason), Ben (Amanda), Emily (Jordan); Beloved Grandchildren, Kayley, Meggan, Alyssa, Elijiah, Isaiah, Josiah, Henry, Izzabella, Ruby, Adelynn & great grandson, Cayden; Ten Very Loved Siblings, Ruth, Dave, Dan, Jim, Pattie, Janet Ginny, Mary, Barb, Steve And Hundreds of Friends!

In celebration of the life of Walter John Krech, a Gathering of Family and Friends will be held from 9-11 am Monday, February 1st, at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Heights followed by a service at 11:00 am which will be live streamed at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/21668399. Interment Emanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Memorials preferred to the Union Gospel Mission.

December 14, 1930 – January 19, 2021

Bob loved and was loved in return by everyone he touched during his long and meaningful life journey. He owned and was president of Ochs Agency. He enjoyed time with his family, played Jazz, and golfed. Bob had many dear friends in the communities he lived, and considered them family. He was always generous to share his knowledge and values with those around him. Bob changed many lives and left them eternally grateful for the time they had with him. His life will be remembered well, and missed by all. Preceded in death by his loving wife, Lucille I. Ochs. Survived by beloved wife, Barbara L Ochs; 11 Children, Harry (Karen) Ochs, Christine (Chuck) Frank, Gregory (Renee’) Ochs, Dave (Pam) Ochs, Ella (Brian) Taylor, Bill (Maureen) Ochs, Michael Ochs (Dovenia Harris), John (Tammy) Ochs, Lisa Ochs, Tom Ochs, and Lynn (David) Keffer; along with 17 Grandchildren and 19 Great Grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held in the summer of 2021.

Of Inver Grove Heights.

Born June 19^th, 1943 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Passed Away Peacefully Jan 22^nd, 2021 at age of 77 after 2^nd bought of cancer

Willard graduated from Simley High School and spent the greater portion of his life living between Inver Grove Heights and South St. Paul MN.

He worked as a civil engineer/draftsman for the City of St. Paul, then as a businessman and VP at Sibley Co. Catalog showrooms in St. Paul and Richfield, where he also did catalog design, layout and advertising. He also spent time as a volunteer member of SCORE for the Small Business Administration.

He was an intelligent sharp thinker and conversationalist with a great sense of humor

In his years past he enjoyed swimming, archery, cool cars, woodworking and bowling. His later interests were following the business news and the stock market.

Survived by children and (spouses) Patrick Lanahan, Kelly Lanahan, Shawn Lanahan, Shelly Meistad, Kerry (Scott) Bongers; his grandchildren, Amanda, Sara, Samantha, Sabrina, Kaydee, Kristy, Nicholas, Neal, Alison, Megan, Kylie; many great-grandchildren; brothers, Gerald and Benjamin; sister, Carol; former wife, Susan McArdle; friend, Donna Medina.

Willard is preceded in death by his parents, Elmer Francis (Marjorie) Lanahan and Claryce Lanahan; baby brother; sisters, Marie Morrison, Dianne Lanahan, Dorothy Most; his dear aunt, Florence Dumont.

Special thanks to Hospice and care staff at Gondola Assisted Living of Inver Grove Heights. He will be greatly missed. A private family service will be held at Acacia Park Cemetery, Mendota Heights.

All memorials to be directed to Roberts Funeral Home 8108 Barbara Ave. Inver Grove Heights, Mn 55077

Age 63 of Wayzata, MN

Passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on January 17, 2021. Preceded in death by parents, Jack & Joan; sister, Beth Smith; infant sister, Ann. Survived by loving wife of 28 years, Kathleen; son, Dylan (Abby Hansen); daughter, Abby; sister, Julie (Joel) Stoppel; best friend, Andy Warner; also survived by in-laws, Richard & Marcia Kleberg, Laurie Kleberg (Kevin Morrison), nephew, Matthew, Shelley Kleberg. Rick was a proud graduated of the University of Michigan and Carnegie University. He was a brilliant software engineer, accomplished Eagle Scout and a Master Geo-Cacher. A Celebration of Rick’s Life will be held at a later date. Memorial preferred to the Humane Society.

After one last High Life happy hour, Tom DeLong’s courageous battle with Glioblastoma ended peacefully at home on January 18^th, 2021, surrounded by loved ones. Norbert and Aldine DeLong really broke the mold when they brought Tom into the world.  On August 23^rd, 1962, Tom and his twin, Tammy, completed the family and joined siblings, Roxie, Ed, and Barb. Growing up in Inver Grove Heights, Tom, also known as “Woody” by some undignified associates, caused only minimal trouble with some of his lifelong friends “Lippy”, “Bubblehead”, “Flat Top”, “Geeman”, “Puff”, and Tipke, to name a few.  One night out with friends at Duke’s on Concord Street changed Tom’s life forever when a beautiful blue-eyed blonde farm girl asked him to take her for a ride on his Harley.  You know what they say-the rest was history.  Tom knew Wendy was the one for him when she came by the DeLong house and Aldine saw Wendy waiting for Tom in the backyard petting the family’s dalmatian, Princess.  Anyone else who tried to pet Princess may have walked away a few fingers short, so this was something special.  Tom and Wendy married December 12^th, 1987 at The Graceland Chapel in Las Vegas.  He was a proud husband and father. Tom adored their three children, Crystal, Tina, and Zack, as much as he did Wendy.  Anyone would be lucky to have a father like him. Tom instilled a strong work ethic in his children and many other “young lads” who looked up to him.  He led by example working as a diesel mechanic for thirty some years for Industrial Services, Total Construction, and West Side Transport. If you know Tom, you know you could see a life time of hard work just by looking at his hands. Whether you’ve spent a lot of time around the guy, or just a little, his genuine love and pride for the honest life he made was always evident.  His mannerisms and inappropriate humor were bar-none. Tom was the life of a party. He would tip back his head and unleash that fun-loving laugh that lit up a room.  Don’t get me wrong, there were times he could clear out a room too-just ask Wendy.  Tom was the kind of guy who would give you the Harley Davidson shirt off his back, as long as you don’t mind walking around with a lightly clothed gal on your shirt.  He was everybody’s friend, and as long as you didn’t lean on any of his cars, his garage door was always open. You could find Tom in his garage “just donkin’ around”, wearing the tread off his shoes, or having an ice cold High Life with friends and family.  He always said Wendy walked into a store and had to “touch, taste, and sniff everything”, but Tom liked to shop too.  If you were ever looking for him at 6 AM on a Saturday, you could find him at Menards buying more sh*t he didn’t need.  His home, yard, vehicles, toolbox, teeth, and mustache were always meticulously maintained.  Tom never met a dog he didn’t like and always treated his dogs like royalty.  Make sure to give Arlo some extra love because that’s what Tom would have wanted. When he wasn’t travelling the US with Wendy and his kids, Tom loved to ride his motorcycle, go camping, fishing, and deer hunting. He was a self-taught pit boss, and while at times he was liberal with spice and seasoning application, Tom was skilled in the art of grilling and smoking. He was a fine crustacean connoisseur and devoted carnivore through and through, always encouraging others to follow suit with a hearty, “eat lad”. Most importantly, he was a loving Grandpa to, Addie, Avery, James Thomas “JT”, Lucy, Charlie, and Maya. When he talked about them you could see a sparkle in his eye and he would get choked up telling you how much he “loved them silly”.  His story should not be ending here and we are heartbroken that it has. Cancer sucks. We take comfort in knowing that he is in heaven with Jesus, surrounded by angels including his mom, dad, and many loved ones who welcomed him to eternal glory.

Please join us in choking down a few High Life’s to celebrate Tom’s life on Saturday, January 23^rd, 2021 at 3:00pm at the Moose Lodge 1088 in Inver Grove Heights.

There will be a visitation from 9:00-11:00am on Monday, January 25^th,2021 at Emanuel Lutheran Church, followed by a memorial service at 11:00am.  For those who interested, the service will be live streamed at https://youtu.be/cupCksjA_e4.

Age  37 of Eagan, MN

Caitlin Rebecca Haynes, 37, of Eagan, MN, died on the morning of Sunday, January 10, 2021, five days after experiencing sudden cardiac arrest of unknown causes. She leaves behind her loving husband of more than 12 years, Tom, and their three children, Clayton (10), Michael (7), and Maria (4); her parents Michael and Candice Kasper; her sister Erin (Kelsey) Tigges; and nephews Caleb (5) and Noah (2) Tigges, as well as numerous extended family members and friends. Caitlin was preceded in death by maternal grandparents Archie and Kay Wolfe, maternal great- grandparents George and Vera Gillmore and Henry and LaVina Wolfe, and paternal grandparents Dr. Raymond and Marian Kasper.

Caitlin was born on March 20, 1983, in St. Paul, MN, to loving parents Michael and Candice Kasper. She grew up in Eagan and graduated from Eagan High School in 2001. She graduated from St. Mary’s University in Winona, MN, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing in 2007.

On September 27, 2008, Caitlin married the love of her life, Thomas R. Haynes at St. Thomas Becket Catholic Church in Eagan. The premature birth of their first child Clayton in 2010, teamed with Caitlin’s never-ending compassion for others, drew her to work for the March of Dimes. Caitlin thrived in this role as she was able to provide support for other families affected by premature births while also furthering the organization’s research efforts.

After her second child Michael was born in 2013, Caitlin left the workforce and followed what she believed was her true calling; she chose the honor of becoming a stay-at-home mom. Caitlin’s life was focused on her family, but her family wasn’t complete until she gave birth to her third child Maria, in 2017. She enjoyed spending her time planning exciting and engaging activities for her kids and she loved documenting their lives by photographing the many fun and memorable family events along the way, including hiking, boating, berry picking, and cheerleading at all of her children’s practices, games, and activities. She excelled in her role as a hockey mom for Clayton and Michael, and treasured her time in Mommy and Me classes with Maria. Caitlin will always be remembered for being a wonderful and endearing soul, but also for being a joyful and fun-loving wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend.

Caitlin had many interests and passions that kept her busy and engaged with her family and friends. She took every opportunity she could to spend time volunteering in her kids’ schools and classrooms and was always present at their sporting events and social get-togethers. Caitlin also loved to cook and was always eager to create new recipes.

When the weather was warm, Caitlin loved nothing more than to spend time boating with her family and friends on a variety of Minnesota lakes, with Lake Pepin being her favorite. When the Minnesota weather became too cold to enjoy the local lakes, Anna Maria Island on the Gulf Coast of Florida was Caitlin’s preferred winter get-away. The beautiful beaches, breath-taking sunsets, and seemingly endless family time were all things she loved.

Caitlin’s circle of friends was large and continuously growing. The cul-de-sac in which she lived with Tom and their children was home to many friends and was the source of so much enjoyment. Caitlin frequently planned and organized events for the neighborhood families, which brought her great joy and happiness. Nights and weekends spent with these friends around bonfires and kitchen tables created friendships and memories to be cherished forever.

Teaching and sharing her Catholic faith with her children was one of Caitlin’s top priorities. She knew the importance of having a relationship with Jesus and she led by example; teaching Sunday school, serving as a catechist, volunteering at Faithful Shepherd Catholic school, and reading nightly bedtime Bible stories to her children.

Caitlin’s family and friends will remember her for the loving, caring, and generous person she was, but also for her bubbly, out-going, and energetic personality, which brought joy to everyone she met. Caitlin had a remarkable ability to bring humor into any of life’s moments and she was well known by those close to her for her playful and endearing pet names she gave to many of those she loved.

Caitlin will forever be remembered as the cornerstone on which her family was built and for the unconditional love she had for her hard-working and dedicated husband and her three amazing children, as well as for the rest of her family and friends. She will also be remembered for her deep faith and strong relationship with Jesus, her contagious smile, and her selfless acts of kindness, of which she may have saved the best for last. Before going to be with the Lord, Caitlin had one more selfless act left – as an organ donor, Caitlin blessed four people with the gift of life.

Caitlin was the light and heart of our family and she will be forever loved and forever missed. Until we meet again.

Services to honor Caitlin will be held at Mary, Mother of the Church, located at 3333 Cliff Road E, Burnsville, MN 55337 and can be viewed live via Tribucast at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/1643296  Visitation will be on Friday, January 22, 2021 from 4:00-7:00pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 11:00am. There will not be a visitation immediately preceding Mass. Caitlin will be interred during a private ceremony at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights, MN.

Passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Jan 15^th 2021 at the age of 95. Preceded in death by his parents, William and Julia Tunell; Emalyn, loving wife of 62 years; sister, Barbara Duquette. Survived by loving children, Patty Fitzgerald (Dan), Rob Tunell (LeAnn), Linda Tunell and Mary Peter, as well as 10 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was born in Duluth and grew up in Pine City, MN. He served in the US Army, WWII Pacific Theater. After the service he moved to the Twin Cities to pursue his love for art.  He received his degree from Minneapolis School of Art and was hired at Brown and Bigelow as a commercial artist. His career lasted there for 38 years. He had a great love for the outdoors and spent many weekends in the woods, duck blind and the deer stand. He taught his children to appreciate the outdoors and summer vacation were spent camping and fishing. He will be deeply missed by his family. Visitation 3:00 – 4:30pm, Thursday, January 21^st at Roberts Funeral Home 8108 Barbara Avenue, Inver Grove Heights.  Memorial service to follow. Streaming available at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/71016281. Private interment, Fort Snelling National Cemetery at future date.

11/22/60-1/7/21

Beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Jeffrey Donald Winter passed away peacefully in his home on January 7th, 2021. Jeff lived life to the fullest while battling heart issues and COPD over the last decade. His loved ones will carry on his legacy through the humor and passion that Jeff carried with him every day.

Jeff was born in Le Sueur, MN on November 22nd, 1960. He grew up in Inver Grove Heights and graduated from Simley High school in 1979. First and foremost, he was a loving father and a dear friend to so many. Professionally he had a long career in the HVAC industry, most recently working with the Local 10 Sheet Metal union as a foreman. Jeff loved hunting, fishing and enjoying the outdoors.

Jeff’s personality was contagious and made everyone he met feel like he’d known them for years. He will be greatly missed by his sisters, Debra (Greg) Zippel, Patricia (Mark) Nikodym; daughters, Kayla (Logan) Sohn, Bridget Cullen; grandchildren, Parker Sohn, Connor Cullen & Brynn Cullen.  Jeff was preceded in death by his father and mother, Donald and Beverly Winter.

Private services are being held. A service and celebration of Jeff’s life will be held at a later date.

Kathleen L. Sloan (b. 1951 in Greenville, MI) died from COVID-19 complications on December 15, 2020 at Unity Hospital in Fridley, MN, with her daughter holding her hand.

Kathleen Sloan (aka Kathleen Chipman and Kathleen Allen) is survived by her daughter (Monica Allen), son-in-law (Paul Wagner), two grandchildren (Lily and Liam Wagner), two sisters (Patricia Klintworth and Nancy Hansen), two nieces (Tery O’Brien and BreAnna Jauregui) and their families, and five nephews (Richard Shields, Chad Vos, Tim Vos, Grady Hansen, and Ross Hansen) and their families.  Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents (Russell and Marjorie Chipman), her oldest sister (Sandra Shields), and her second husband (Clair Sloan).

Kathleen (Kathy) started working at a young age at her family’s drive-in movie theaters in Greenville and Ionia, MI and continued in many helping positions over her lifetime including: bank teller, retail associate, special education paraprofessional, activities director for seniors, and dental office receptionist. She founded the KISS (Keep Infants Safely Seated) car seat program at the American Red Cross of Wausau, WI. Kathy briefly lived in the Philippines, as a teenager, with the family of a beloved foreign exchange student. She enjoyed singing in vocal ensembles in MI and WI, as well as playing piano as a teen. She was an avid music consumer, through recordings and live performances.

Kathy stopped working due to a mental health disability, but continued to stay active. Kathy enjoyed designing, planting, and caring for her flower gardens in Grand Rapids, MI. She enjoyed movies, reading, and people-watching. She travelled with her husband to Florida each Winter for the few years prior to his death in 2017. In Minnesota, she enjoyed playing bingo and designing and creating greeting cards and beaded jewelry. Kathy enjoyed spending time with her friends and was especially happy to live close to her two grandchildren.

Kathy appreciated living at The Commons of Timber Hills, an assisted living community in Inver Grove Heights, MN. Kathy shared this when they asked about her greatest achievements and current aspirations: “Making people smile- especially strangers. Letting people know that I truly care about them.” May her family and friends remember this and pay it forward, in her memory. 

Memorial gifts may go to:

Neighbors, Inc.- https://www.neighborsmn.org/donate/

GAPP Services, Inc.- https://gappservicesinc.com

NAMI Minnesota- https://namimn.org/get-involved/donate_now/

There are no current plans for a memorial service due to the COVID-19 pandemic.