Obituaries 2/11/21

Richard Graunke, 82

Richard “Dick” Graunke, age 82 of Buffalo, MN passed away January 23, 2021. He was born on June 20, 1938 to George and Evelyn Graunke. He was baptized at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Delano.

Dick joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1956 and was stationed in Japan. After his honorable discharge, he was united in marriage Frances Motzko on August 12, 1961.

Dick farmed and also worked at Red Owl warehouse. When he retired in 1994, it was then Super Valu. After retirement, Dick and Fran enjoyed traveling. They traveled to Arizona and Texas for the winter and later went on a two-and-a-half-months trip to Alaska. Dick also enjoyed fishing and gardening.

Dick was preceded in death by parents, George and Evelyn; siblings, Marlys Winsemann, Glenn “Bud,” Dale, Dennis, Barb, Frank, Ronald, and Judy Graunke; brothers-in-law, Leo Svoboda and Duane Poliwoda.

He is survived by wife of 59 years, Fran; sons, Douglas (Shelly), Dave (Mary), Steve (Pam); grandchildren, Joshua (Sara), Lucas, and Emma (Hugh); siblings, Pat (Larry) Snodgrass, Lois Svoboda, Leroy (Blythe) Graunke, Roger (Ginger) Graunke, and Carol Poliwoda; sister-in-law, Audrey Graunke; and many nieces and nephews.

A Private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 26, 2021 at St. Francis Xavier in Buffalo. Inurnment with Military Honors will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Delano. The Mass will be livestreamed with a link on our website at the time of service.  A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Arrangements by the Iten Funeral Home of Delano.

 


Joanne Johnson, 84

Joanne (Guddal) Johnson, January 6, 1937 to February 5, 2021.

Joanne passed on Friday evening, February 5, 2021 at Park View Care Center in Buffalo, after a long battle with dementia.

Joanne was born in North Minneapolis on January 6, 1937, as Joanne Miriam Contoski. She graduated from Robbinsdale High School and went on to complete her BA from Hamlin University. She later completed her master’s degree at St Cloud university in 1981.

Joanne moved to Buffalo in 1972. She was very active in the community and helped bring Campfire Girls and a natural food coop to Buffalo. She was involved in the local Alanon groups, as well as women’s ministry. She attended Buffalo United Methodist church and was active in most church activities. 

She worked for Wright County Human Services for 22 years and retired in 2001. Her passion in life was her work with children with special needs at the Wright County DAC. Much of her working life was spent on her hands and knees providing physical therapy for young children with severe disabilities. She did with positive enthusiasm and brought many smiles to these special children. She touched many lives through her work. 

She was remarried in 2001 to Richard Johnson who passed away in December of 2009.

Joanne is survived by son, Eric and daughter, Nancy Guddal; grandchildren, Brandon, Nicole and Jorden.

 


Peter March, 86

Peter Church March, age 86, passed away on February 1, 2021. Peter was born on August 6, 1934, in Minneapolis, MN, son of Stuart and Rebecca (Page) March. A Memorial Service was held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Buffalo on February 9. 

Peter and his sister, Nancy, grew up in St. Louis Park, MN.  His family attended Gethsemane Episcopal Church in Minneapolis. In 1947, the family moved to Northfield, MN, where his father had purchased a jewelry store. 

Peter graduated from Northfield High School in 1953. He joined the US Navy after graduation and was stationed aboard the USS Intrepid for most of his Navy career. After discharge in 1957, he moved to Boulder, CO, where he began his career in the apparel business. In 1962, he met and married Brigitte von Haken. They moved to Colorado Springs, where their daughter, Jennifer, was born. His career took the family to Detroit, MI, where they were blessed with a second daughter, Stephanie. Three years later, they moved to Wisconsin where Peter made a career change.  He was hired by Levi Strauss, traveling and selling jeans to retail businesses. His family later moved to Minnesota. After he and Brigitte divorced, Peter moved to Buffalo in 1990 and continued his career with Lee, Wrangler and Chic jeans until 1998. 

Peter developed Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and Renal Cancer in 1998. He continued to have recurring episodes of cancer throughout his life. The turning point in his life was on November 19, 2000, when he asked JESUS CHRIST to enter his heart and sought forgiveness for his sins.

Peter worked for Menard’s in Golden Valley, MN, for three years. From 2001 through 2012, he worked part-time as a school bus driver.  He felt God had blessed him richly with the opportunity to transport those precious children. Peter also volunteered at the Buffalo Food Shelf and enjoyed delivering meals-on-wheels.

In 2005, a good friend introduced him to New Life in Christ, an organization that provides jail ministry to the men at the Wright County Jail.  Peter became a volunteer and held a weekly Bible Study with the inmates. This became a very rewarding experience for Peter, seeing how God worked in the lives of these men. He volunteered at the jail until September of 2019, when cancer treatments prevented him from continuing. 

Peter became a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Buffalo in 2011. He was invited to join the Elder Board in 2014 and continued as an Elder until his death. His faith grew as he attended services and Bible studies. In May 2014, he was introduced to LeAnn Fremo. They were married on August 18, 2016. They were involved in Bible Studies and the Worship Team at St. John’s. They enjoyed taking trips, the last one, a two-week trip to the Holy Land in February 2019. 

Peter is survived by his wife, LeAnn; daughters, Jennifer and Stephanie; grandchildren, Tristen and Jacob; sister, Nancy; niece, Becky; nephew, Eric; cousins; his church family and friends; and his Springer Spaniel, Brandy.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; brother-in-law, Mike; and cousins.

Peter’s only regret is that he didn’t get to know Jesus earlier and the personal relationship that is available. The Bible has all the answers to ANY questions, if we would only take the time to sit down and read what God is saying to his children. Blessed be his memory!

 


Diane Meyers-Techam

Diane Meyers-Techam passed away on January 21, 2021; she was forever young.

There will be a Celebration of Life on May 8, 2021, from 1-4 p.m., at Deer Lake Orchard, Buffalo, MN. Bring your Diane stories.

 


William Miller, 94

William F. Miller, age 94, of Tomah, WI and formerly of Minneapolis and Buffalo, MN, passed away on Sunday, February 7, 2021 at his home.

He was a greeter at the Buffalo Walmart for ten years. He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Private family services will be held at Queen of the Apostles Parish in Tomah with a burial at a later date in the St. Henry’s Catholic Cemetery in Monticello, MN.

 


Dan Pobuda, 79

Dan Pobuda, 79, of Buffalo, MN passed away Monday, February 1, 2021 surrounded by his family.

Dan was born in Minneapolis, MN on October 30, 1941. He joined the Navy in August of 1959 and was honorably discharged in 1965. Soon after, he worked for NSP in multiple positions until retiring in 1997 as a System Relay Specialist. After retirement, he worked as bailiff for the Wright County Sheriff’s Office for over five years.

Throughout his life, Dan was a loving partner to his “sweetie” Jean, a dedicated father, and special friend to many. His kind heart and faithfulness were immediately apparent to anyone he crossed paths with. He loved to hunt, fish, and spend time in the great outdoors. He was always up for playing cards, especially cribbage. Dan and Jean enjoyed their dogs, trips up north, and attending their grandchildren’s baseball, dance, softball, soccer and figure skating activities.

He is preceded in death by his parents, George and Delphia Pobuda; and brothers, Richard and Charles Pobuda.

Dan is survived by his lifelong partner, Jean Pohlmann; children, Travis (Jody), Erin (Andrew), Aimee (Steve); sister, Carole; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, family and friends.

A private service is being held on February 13, 2021 at The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo, Minnesota. Public visitation will be 12:00-3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to New Beginnings Minnesota at https://www.nbminnesotaalumni.org/donations or U.S. Veterans Affairs Recovery Services at https://www.minneapolis.va.gov/giving/Donate.asp.

Serving the family is The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo, 763-682-1363, www.thepetersonchapel.com.

 


Joan Uecker, 74

Joan Mildred Uecker, age 74, passed away peacefully January 31, 2021 at her home surrounded by family in Spring Valley, Arizona.

She was born September 24, 1946 to Arnold and Leona Uecker.  She was baptized October 20, 1946 and confirmed May 17, 1959 by Pastor Barlow at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Annandale, MN.  Her confirmation verse was Psalm 55 verse 22.

She graduated from Annandale High School and began working at Gambles Inc. in Minneapolis. In 1969, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona where she attended Grand Canyon College in Arizona.  She worked as an accountant at Bordons, Phoenix Civic Plaza and several long-term care facilities. She retired in 2014 in Spring Valley, Arizona.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, David.

Joan is survived by her brothers, Dale (Diane) Uecker, of Mayer, Arizona; Gaylen (Joann) Uecker, of Portland, Oregon; Eugene (Bonnie) Uecker, of Buffalo, Minnesota; Larry Uecker, of Spring Valley, Arizona; and sister, Mary Murtaugh (David Rhode), of Zimmerman, Minnesota.  She will also be greatly missed by her many nieces and nephews who she enjoyed spending time with.

A private family service was held February 2, 2021 in Mayer, Arizona.

 

 

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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