Obituaries 05/11/23

Duane Barthel, 83

Duane Barthel, age 83, of St. Michael passed away surrounded by his family on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 23, from 4-8 p.m. AT THE CHURCH’S St. Joseph Hall. A Rosary will be recited at 8:00 p.m.   Further visitation will be held on Wednesday morning, May 24, one hour prior to Mass at the church.

A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial for Duane Barthel will be held on Wednesday, May 24, at 11:00 a.m. at The St. Michael Catholic Church in St. Michael.

Interment will follow at The St. Michael Cemetery.

A full obituary will appear in next week’s paper.

The Peterson Chapel St. Michael-Albertville Funeral Home is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com

 


 

William Hinkemeyer, 66

William E. “Bill” Hinkemeyer, age 66, of Dassel passed away on Monday, May 8, 2023.

A Memorial Service for William “Bill” Hinkemeyer will be held on Thursday, May 18th, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo.  

A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, May 18th two hours prior to the memorial service.

A Full obituary will appear in next week’s paper.

The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family.   Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com

 

 


James Liefert, 56

James Arthur Liefert, age 56, of rural Buffalo, passed away accidentally on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. 

He was born in Buffalo on September 30, 1966, the son of Richard and Betty (Uecker) Liefert.

He was baptized on October 23, 1966. James was instructed in the Lutheran Catechism and confirmed in the Christian faith in 1981 at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church-Pelican Lake.

James graduated from Buffalo High School in 1985.

He later attended Ridgewater Vocational School in Willmar for two years for agricultural studies.

James farmed all of his life and was in partnership with his father for many years.

He was a lifelong member of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church-Pelican Lake and was former usher.

James enjoyed hunting, bowling, music, and traveling.

Survived by his parents, Richard and Betty Liefert; a brother, John Liefert; a sister, Lolene Liefert-Trulson (Darrel); his significant other, Bonnie Swanson and her son, Kevin Swanson; many other relatives and friends.

Preceded in death by his grandparents, Edward and Edna Liefert and Arthur and Viola Uecker.

Funeral services for James Liefert were held on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church-Pelican Lake. Pastor Christopher Oehlke officiated. Interment followed at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery.  Karen Davis was the organist for the service.

Visitation was at the church Saturday, May 6, 4-8 P.M. Further visitation was Sunday, one hour prior to services.  

Casket Bearers were Tom Liefert, Chad, and Tim Barthel, Bernie Schmidt, Dan Weldele and David Tice.

The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo served the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.

 


Timothy Mueller, 62

Timothy Jay Mueller, age 62, of Buffalo, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on May 4.

Tim was born on February 13, 1961, to Merlyn and Barbara (Bielke) Mueller in Watertown, MN. He attended Watertown High School, where he excelled at track and field, football, choir (performing in state competitions for solos and small groups, including barbershop), and theater. He attended Hamline University on a football scholarship.

He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Watertown, and has been a 30+ year member of Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo.

Tim had widespread and varied work experience, first delivering newspapers as a young boy, then at various country clubs as a grounds worker, bartender, and dining room manager, Metro Garage Door, Aid Association for Lutherans (now Thrivent Financial), and finally at Timesavers, where he was proud to be employed for over 35 years. He held various positions in sales, marketing and applications, and often referred to himself as “Timmy Timesavers.”

On July 5, 1986, Tim was united in marriage to Gail Fasching. God blessed them with two daughters, Emily and Katie. Their family settled in Buffalo in 1991. As a couple and as a family, they enjoyed traveling – from east to west – Disney World, Wisconsin Dells, Texas to visit family, Mexico, Mount Rushmore and the Badlands, Colorado, Montana, and Hawaii. He also traveled extensively for work and made good friends around the world.

Some things his friends and family know about Tim – he loved to talk! He was passionate about hunting, camping, and the outdoors. He enjoyed collecting guns and pocketknives and was “Mr. Gadget Man.” Tim’s size and forthrightness were sometimes intimidating, but he was a softy at heart. He loved dogs, and he had several over the course of his adult life – Vic, Ginger, Skyy, Maggie.

But above all, Tim was a family man. He loved nothing more than being surrounded by his daughters, the sons-in-law who became the sons he never had, and his energetic grandchildren.

Tim will be greatly missed by his wife, Gail; daughters Emily (Chris) Northenscold, and Katie (Matt) Anderson; grandchildren, Nora, June and Henry, plus twins on the way. He is also survived by his father and stepmother, Merl and Millie Mueller; sister Margaret Renner; father- and mother-in-law, Jim and Shirley Fasching; sisters-in-law Lori Dahl, Sue (Joe) Stevens, Karla (Tony) Powell, and Joan Niesen; step-sisters and brothers, Jim (Fran) Feldhege, Tim (Lynn) Feldhege, Donny Feldhege, Russ Butala, Sharon (Keith) Schaefer, and Sue (Chris) Schreifels; many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Barbara Mueller, brothers Scott and Mark Mueller, brother-in-law Chris Niesen, and sister-in-law Sandy Butala.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 15, at Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo. 9-11 am visitation, 11 am service, lunch immediately following.

Memorials preferred to The Wildlife Federation.

 


Diane O’Neel, 77

Diane Sharon (Johnson) O’Neel nee Ernhart went home to her Savior May 5, 2023.  She was born October 23, 1945, to James and Valeria Ernhart of Dassel, Minnesota.

She is preceded in death by her parents and infant son, Joshua.

Diane’s best-loved childhood memories were made on her grandparent’s farm in Howard Lake, Minnesota.  Helping grandpa in the barn and playing tricks on her ‘city cousins’ were true highlights.  In September of 1965, she married Dick Johnson of Dassel and settled into life on a dairy farm.  Diane immersed herself into her community, even starting a monthly card club that lasted for many years after her departure from Dassel.  In March of 1980, Diane married Tom O’Neel and continued raising her family with devotion.

Diane was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.  Her ready smile and quick wit endeared all who met her.  Diane’s love and pride for her family was evident.  Nothing gave her more pleasure than watching her kids and grandchildren grow and thrive.  Diane poured herself into every person she met and loved entertaining.  She will be remembered for her Christmas sing-a-longs, her countless hours of volunteering, her endless energy, her strong faith, and her ability to tailor virtually any item of clothing.

Diane is survived by her brother Jim (Mary) Ernhart of Elk River, Minnesota; and children: Amy (Kent) Dickson of Salem, Missouri; Abbey (Neil) Alle of Forest Lake, Minnesota; Noah Johnson of Isle, Minnesota; April (Aaron) Farrell of Overland Park, Kansas; Zach (Katie) O’Neel of Plymouth, Minnesota; Andi Conde of Hopkins, Minnesota; Brady (Katelyn) O’Neel of Dent, Minnesota; Abria O’Neel of St. Paul, Minnesota; Ray (Courtney) O’Neel of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; Kris (Trevor) McLaughlin of Buffalo, Minnesota; Shaun (Kaitlyn) O’Neel of Redmond, Washington; Tiffani O’Neel of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Nathan O’Neel of Fort Worth, Texas; Britt O’Neel of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Anpo O’Neel of St. Cloud, Minnesota; Arliss O’Neel of Pensacola, Florida; and Tony O’Neel of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Diane’s legacy will live on in 32 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Funeral arrangements are provided by Fox Funeral Home in Licking, MO and Johnson Funeral Home in Dassel, MN.  Services for Diane will be held at Johnson Funeral Home (611 2nd St.) on Tuesday, May 16 at 11 a.m.  Internment will follow at Swan Lake Cemetery in Dassel and a lunch and time of remembrance will be held at The Ergot Center (901 1st St.) in Dassel.

 


Celebration of Life

 

Todd Perkins

    Celebration of Life for Todd Perkins will be held May 20th at 2:00 p.m. at Centre Pointe Equestrian Center, 5756 Ehler Ave. S.E., Delano, MN.

In his honor, we are having his favorite kind of party, potluck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Publication: 

The Drummer and The Wright County Journal Press

PO Box 159
108 Central Ave.
Buffalo MN 55313

www.thedrummer.com

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