Obituaries 08/28/25
Gordon Brings Jr., 87
Gordon F. “Buck” Brings Jr., age 87, of Buffalo, passed away on Friday, August 22, 2025, at his residence.
Arrangements for “Buck” Brings Jr. are pending at the Peterson Chapel in Buffalo. A complete obituary will be in next week’s paper.
Marilyn Kilian, 93
Marilyn Gertrude Kilian, age 93, of Albertville, and formerly of St. Michael, passed away on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at Cura of Monticello.
She was born on September 22, 1931, in Hennepin County.
On June 28, 1951, Marilyn was joined in holy marriage to Marcellus N. Kilian. God blessed their marriage with seven children.
Marilyn belonged to The St. Michael Catholic Church. She enjoyed cooking, playing cards, and taking trips with her cousins. Marilyn formed many good friendships with residents and staff at Engel Haus.
Survived by her children, Deborah (Greg) Dahlheimer, Denice (Richard) Petrowski, Kevin Kilian, Craig Kilian, Brenda (Duane) Eull, Bridget (Duane) Berning, and Rebecca (Brad) Orn; nineteen grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Preceded in death by her husband, “Celly” Kilian; her mother, Irene Rush; her stepdad, Wally Eull; and by a granddaughter, Sekoya Kilian.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Marilyn Kilian will be held on Thursday, August 28, at 11:00 A.M. at The St. Michael Catholic Church in St. Michael.
Visitation AT THE CHURCH Thursday morning, August 28, beginning at 9:30 A.M.
Interment Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls.
Casket Bearers-grandsons, Luke Dahlheimer, Nick Dahlheimer, Jack Berning, Matthew Berning, Tyler Eull, and Tommy Orn.
The Peterson Chapel St. Michael-Albertville Funeral Home is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Janice Marschel, 78
Janice Cheryl Marschel, age 78, went to heaven on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at her home in Buffalo.
She was born at the Monticello Hospital on September 26, 1946, to Arthur and Regina (Rentz) Marschel.
She was welcomed into God’s family with her baptism on October 27, 1946, at Immanuel Lutheran Church-Pelican Lake. An uncle and two aunts were her Godparents-August and Helen Marschel and Maggie Marschel.
Her school years through grade 8 were spent in Country School District #21, near her Pelican Lake home. Along with her public-school education, Janice was instructed in the Lutheran Catechism at Immanuel Lutheran Church, where the foundation for her strong faith began. She was confirmed in the faith on May 29, 1960. Isaiah 54:10 was her Confirmation Verse—“For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee.”
She attended and graduated from Buffalo High School, in 1964. Before graduation, she began her banking career at the Buffalo National Bank, where she would use the typing and shorthand classes she had taken.
Janice was blessed with two children, Kevin and Janelle Schmidt. While raising those children, she furthered her career to include the Buffalo National Insurance Agency, where she was a co-owner. Shortly after Buffalo National sold out to Wells Fargo, Janice joined Country Financial. Her career in the banking and insurance industries spanned 42 years. Since 2019, her last work experience put her as a cashier at the Target Store in Buffalo. She so enjoyed meeting and helping people.
Throughout her years of working in banking and insurance, she was also very involved in the activities and events of her children, plus, as a demonstration of her faith and a role model for her children, she took part in a variety of church functions and responsibilities. Janice had continued this faithful stewardship at St. John’s Lutheran in Buffalo, where she remained until her death.
Janice had many personal interests and hobbies: baking (especially her delicious cinnamon rolls and chocolate crème-filled cupcakes), gardening (which includes her violets and succulents), ceramics, quilting, traveling, and even salmon fishing, where the canning process took place on location. When her three grandchildren arrived, Amelia, Andrew, and Anthony Schmidt, she gave much time and love to them and their activities.
Janice had a warm, welcoming and compassionate personality. She was always ready to share her faith and love of God with many people and in a variety of ways.
She was preceded in death by her children, Kevin and Janelle Schmidt; her parents, Arthur and Regina Marschel; her siblings: a sister, Marion Weber, two brothers, Merlyn and Steven Marschel; a brother-in-law, Kenneth Weber; and by two nephews, Thomas Marschel and Justin Marshel.
Janice is survived by her three grandchildren, Amelia, Andrew, and Anthony Schmidt; a daughter-in-law, Katie Schmidt; a brother, Rodger (Karen) Marschel; two sisters-in-law, Rita Marschel and Patricia (James) McNichols; nieces, Debra (Douglas) Manthei, Tracy (Jeff) Griffin, Jamie (Russ) Unger, Sara (Ernest) Hansen, Brittany (Grant) McFadden, Angela (Anthony) Pittman; and two nephews, Jeremy Marschel and Brady (Carmen) Meyer; special family members, Kenny and Carol Meyer; many other relatives and friends.
A Memorial service for Janice Marschel will be held on Thursday, August 28, at 4:00 P.M. at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buffalo. Pastor Ryan Clark will officiate. Inurnment will follow at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery-Pelican Lake.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, August 28, AT THE Church from 2:00 -4:00 P.M.
Urn Bearers will be her three grandchildren Amelia, Andrew, and Anthony Schmidt.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Marlene Mohwinkel, 86
Marlene J. Mohwinkel, 86, of Buffalo, Minnesota, died August 21, 2025, at The Glenn Assisted Living facility after a long-endured battle with dementia.
Marlene was born on December 28, 1938, to Martin and Elvera Berg, and was raised in Dassel, Minnesota. She attended Dassel Public School where she had a vast friend group and was elected homecoming queen in 1956.
Marlene married Gerald Wolff in 1958, and they would go on to raise five children, enjoying life at their home on Buffalo Lake. Besides being a loving wife and mother, she worked as a real estate secretary and at a catering company. Her love of school would eventually drive her to be a Title I teacher for District 877, from where she ultimately retired. Marlene grew up musically inclined; she could play piano by ear and used her talents as the head organist for Zion Lutheran Church (Buffalo, MN) for 30+ years. Additionally, she played for many services at Peterson Chapel, and later at Holy Cross Church (Maple Lake, MN).
Her tightly knit neighborhood group on Buffalo Lake led her to meet Rolf Mohwinkel, who she later married in 1998 following Jerry’s passing in 1996. Marlene and Rolf had many wonderful years together in Buffalo, and the two of them enjoyed traveling to areas such as London, Paris, Hawaii, Alaska, and many other cities within the US. They enjoyed winters together in Dauphin Island, Alabama.
Marlene was a one-of-a-kind person, and her love for her family and friends was endless. She spent her life providing and caring for others and always lived her faith.
Marlene is survived by her husband, Rolf Mohwinkel; brother, Donald (Jadynne) Berg; children, Craig Wolff, Mark (Cindy) Wolff, Jon Wolff, Kris (Jay) Klatt, Josh Wolff; stepchildren, Mark (Cassandra) Mohwinkel and Amy (Mark) Heinz; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren who loved her deeply.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Elvera Berg; her first husband, Gerald Wolff; and many friends who she remembered fondly.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, August 28, beginning at 10:00 A.M. until time of services AT THE CHURCH.
A Memorial service for Marlene Mohwinkel will be held at 11:00 A.M. at Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo.
Inurnment will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Buffalo.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials be sent to St. Croix Hospice or The Glenn of Buffalo.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Please follow the link to livestream the services for Marlene: https://www.youtube.com/live/ZUi1LfIuW8g.
Barbara Pittman, 70
Barbara Jean (Hannon) Pittman, age 70, of Richville, MN, passed away peacefully on August 18, 2025, at Perham Living in Perham, MN.
Barb was born on April 13, 1955, in Shakopee, MN, to Stan and Dee (O’Reilly) Hannon, one of six children. She graduated from Chaska High School and went on to earn her nursing degree from St. Mary’s University in Minneapolis. Barb was passionate about her nursing career in the operating room, which started at the Marshfield Hospital (Marshfield, WI). After Marshfield, Barb worked at North Memorial, the Buffalo Hospital, and the Monticello Hospital.
Barb and Dale were married on April 21, 1990, and they lived in Buffalo and Hanover for 20 years, then Maple Grove for eight years, before moving to Richville, MN, where Barb and Dale designed and built their beautiful retirement home on Lake Marion, a place filled with so many special memories. Barb and Dale enjoyed many winters in Arizona, and more recently, Florida.
Barb had a natural gift for interior decorating, loved spending sunny days on the lake, relaxing on the pontoon, and cherished time with her family and friends. She loved dancing, usually the first on the dance floor and the last to leave. Her vibrant energy and unmistakable laugh left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her.
Most of all, she will be remembered and deeply missed as a devoted wife and a loving mother and grandmother - affectionately known as “Grammy” - to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her warmth, spirit, and love will live on in the hearts of those she cherished.
Preceding Barb in death were her brother Terry; father, Stan; and mother, Dee.
Barb is survived by her husband, Dale, daughter; Lisa (Dale) Bjorklund; son, Jeremy Pittman, son, Josh (Randi) Pittman, son, Anthony (Angela) Pittman; daughter, Ashley (Nick) Reina; ten grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the team at Vivie Hospice and Perham Living for their compassionate care in Barb’s final weeks, and to all family and friends for the love and support they have shown.
Visitation will be 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. followed by Funeral Mass at 11:00 on Friday, September 12, at St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Perham, MN. Interment will take place at St. Henry’s Catholic Cemetery, and a light lunch will follow.
Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service, Perham, MN, (218)-346-5175, www.schoenebergerfh.com.
Ronald Uecker, 87
Ronald Paul Uecker, age 87, of Buffalo, loving father, husband, brother, and “Papa,” entered eternal life with Jesus on August 21, 2025.
Ronald was born to Louis and Amelia (Linkert) Uecker on October 5, 1937, in Annandale, MN. He and his twin brother, Donald, were the youngest of 10 children.
He was baptized into Christ at home on October 5, 1937. He attended parochial school, and confirmed his Lutheran faith on June 3, 1951, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Middleville Township. He graduated from Maple Lake High School in 1955.
On June 11, 1960, Ron married Joyce Goerke at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. God blessed their marriage with three children, Jill, Lynn, and Nick.
Ron began his working career at Peavey Grain Exchange as a traffic controller for 16 years. He then worked at Big Stone Canning Company for 19 years selling canned vegetables and later as a
salesman for Bush Brothers. Ron and Joyce experienced many moves around the country, which included Minneapolis, Maryland, Ortonville, eventually settling in Buffalo. After retirement, he and Joyce managed the Village Place Apartments for 22 years.
Throughout his life, Ron was a faithful church member who loved using his talents for the Lord. When the family moved to Buffalo in 1971, they joined St. John’s Lutheran Church where he served as an elder, a choir member, and a youth Sunday School teacher. Ron coached the youth softball team and started Lenten soup suppers as a fundraiser for the youth programs. Ron never wavered in his belief that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Ron enjoyed vegetable gardening and playing games, especially 500, Cribbage, and Sequence. He had a passion for baseball that included coaching, playing catch with his son, attending his grandchildren’s baseball and softball games, and cheering for the Minnesota Twins.
Ron deeply loved his family and was so proud of their educational and professional pursuits. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren and great-grandsons grow and was very excited to meet his third great-grandchild this fall. Vacations were special times together, including Arizona and Lutheran Island Camp. Throughout his life, he mentored children of all ages. Many will remember him for his calm patience, generous spirit, hard work ethic, as well as his funny “Papa-isms.”
Ron is preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Mary; his daughter, Lynn Meredith; great-grandson, Isaac Johnson; parents, Louis and Amelia Uecker; and all his siblings, Arnold, Alvin, Herbert, Leona, Helen, Lester, Loretta, Ruth, and Donald.
He is survived by his loving children, Jill (David) Johnson and Nicolas (Stacy) Uecker; grandchildren, Peter (Stephanie) Johnson, Allison (Jeffrey Mason) Johnson, Elias, Olivia, Caden and Brandon Uecker; great-grandsons, Lucas and Grant Johnson; and great-granddaughter (coming soon); also, many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Visitation for Ron was held Tuesday, August 26, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Buffalo, MN.
The Funeral Celebration of his faith and eternal life in Christ was Wednesday, August 27, at 11:00 a.m. with additional visitation one hour prior to the funeral service at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Buffalo, MN. Rev. Ryan Clark was the officiant.
Casket bearers were Peter and Stephanie Johnson, Allison Johnson and Jeffrey Mason, Elias, Olivia, Caden, and Brandon Uecker.
Interment was held at Lakeview Cemetery of Buffalo, MN. Luncheon followed at church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be gifted to Noah’s Ark Preschool at St John’s Ev. Lutheran Church.
Arrangements were entrusted to The Peterson Chapel of Buffalo, MN.
