Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Gedde, Gary Gene
age 71, of Howard Lake passed away at his home surrounded by his family on January 12, 2015. He was born July 25, 1943 in Portland, Oregon to George and Shirley Gedde. Gary was raised in Pillager, Minnesota and graduated from Pillager High School in 1961. He attended the University of Minnesota. Following graduation he began his 37 year career with Federated Insurance of Owatonna, Minnesota. Gary was united in marriage to Mary Ann Clarine in September of 1963. Mary Ann passed away in 1998 and Gary was married to Carol Jean Dierker in July of 2006.
Gary was an avid hunter, trap shooter, reader, and fisherman. He was a life long Minnesota Gopher fan. Gary was a talented musician and loved music. He was devoted to his family and his dogs.
Gary is preceded in death by his father, and wife, Mary Ann.
He is survived by his mother, wife, Carol, children, Christine (Robert) Castaneda, Laura (Joel) Menden, and Kimberly Gedde, step-children, Jimmie (Tara) Johnson, Damon (Jennifer) Dierker, Charles Dierker, and Erika Dierker, siblings, David (Mona) Gedde, Joyce Gedde, and Jean (Michael) Larson, 10 grandchildren, and his 2 loving dogs.
A celebration of Gary’s life will take place at 11:00 am. on Friday, January 16, 2015 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, Minnesota. A time of gathering will be held 1 hour prior to the service at church.

Bruce Roger Cressy, 74 passed away after a battle with multiple myeloma at the Waconia Ridgeview Hospital on January 7, 2015. Bruce was born in Mound, Minnesota on October 21, 1940, to Orville and Gwendolyn (Hagman) Cressy. He grew up in Mound, and was baptized and confirmed at St. Johns Lutheran Church. Bruce graduated from Mound High School in 1958. After high school Bruce went to work selling cars at Hansord Pontiac.

On August 13, 1960 Bruce married Jeanne Bollman at Stockholm Lutheran Church. They lived first in St. Louis Park and Wayzata before moving to Cokato. In 1965 they moved to Cokato so he could work at Cokato Motor Sales. In 1966 they purchased the car dealership, which they owned until 2003.

Bruce was a member of the Cokato JC’S, and the Minnesota Auto Dealers Association. He was a member of Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church and served on the Church Council. Bruce enjoyed clowning around with his grandchildren and always was the one to let them do things no one else ever would. He loved telling stories, spending time at the cabin in Park Rapids, the “garage”, and of course – GOLF.

Bruce is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jeanne of Cokato, son, Greg (Lisa) Cressy of Woodbury, and daughter, Sally DiMartini of Lake Elmo, grandchildren: Elena and Lily Cressy, Alex, Julia, and Anna DiMartini, his brother Darryl Cressy of Park Rapids, his sister: Karen Winterfield of Mound, and many other family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, and son-in-law Todd DiMartini.

Memorial Service: 11 AM Tuesday, January 13, 2015, at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato
Visitation: 5-7 PM Monday at the church and 1hr prior to service on Tuesday.

Dave G Guennigsman

Dave went home to heaven on January 3rd, 2015 after a long, courageous battle with cancer. He will be remembered for his kind, generous spirit and his quick wit and sense of humor.
Dave was born on May 7th, 1952. He grew up on a farm southeast of Cokato and learned to work hard and enjoy the simple things in life. He loved being outdoors and he could often be found in the woods watching the birds or cutting firewood. He also loved creating beautiful landscapes with gardens and trees and rocks.
Dave graduated from Holy Trinity High School and earned a degree in Accounting at Hutchinson Vo-Tech and U of M Morris. He has worked at Weather Master Seeds, Loren Borg Seed Farms, Littfin Truss, and most recently American Time. He also served as Treasurer of Stockholm Township. Dave was very skilled at home construction and renovation, and he also farmed 80 acres. Dave loved sports and volunteered as a coach for girls 4th-5th grade basketball, and Girls Teen League softball when his daughters were in school. He was also a member of the Dassel Leikarring Dance group.
Dave was a member of the Dassel Covenant Church and he was baptized as an adult to reaffirm his faith in Jesus in August 2014. That renewal of faith inspired him to write about his journey with God. Those writings have become a legacy of songs put to music by Sarah Cady. Dave loved singing the praise music at church and now he is continuing that praise in heaven.
He will be deeply missed by his wife Heidi, and his children: Nicole (Justin) Martin, Blake ( Luke) Schaaf, Megan (Josh) Hughes, Shaina Guennigsman, Dan Guennigsman, and step-daughter April Baxter. And also, by his father, Leo, and five brothers and one sister. Dave loved spending time with his grandchildren: Emma Martin, Sydney Martin, Lydia Hughes, Charlie Hughes, Sterling Peterson, and Audrey Schaaf.
Dave was met in heaven by his granddaughter Lillian, sister Annette, mother Jeanette, father-in-law Dave Rasmussen, and grandparents Albert and Tillie Guennigsman, and Matthew and Frances Kunkel, as well as dear friend Kjell Nordlie.
A service to celebrate his life with us will be on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 11:00am at the Dassel Evangelical Covenant Church. A gathering for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the memorial service.

Murphy, James Michael
age 61, of Winsted, passed away on December 30, 2014 at his home. He was born August 16, 1953 in Appleton, Wisconsin to Robert and Mary Murphy. He resided in Dassel, Howard Lake, and Winsted. Jimi was an avid fisherman, enjoyed music, and his 3 cats: Blackie, Stretch, and Tom Brown. He had a way to make everyone laugh. Jimi was a Green Bay Packer fan. Survived by his very special friend Bonnie Rasmussen, siblings, Kathy Kessler and Tim Murphy, along with several other friends and relatives.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 2:00 PM, with visitation 1 hour prior to the service, at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Howard Lake.

Muonio (Niska), Elsie Lillian
age 70, of Howard Lake passed away on December 29, 2014 following her short battle with bladder cancer. She was born January 28, 1944 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Melvin Sr. and Linda Niska. She graduated from Buffalo High School in 1962. Elsie was united in marriage to Dennis Muonio on July 4, 1964 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This union was blessed with the birth of 11 children. Elsie was a member of The Old Apostolic Lutheran Church. She was an exceptional cook, enjoyed gardening, making rugs, sewing, and most of all taking care of her family.
Elsie is survived by her husband, Dennis, children, Mark (Kathy Kjoberg) Muonio of Anoka, MN, Sharon (Donny) Oberg of Maple Grove, MN, David (Cindy) Muonio of Battle Ground, WA, Sarah (Chris) Schanus of Howard Lake, MN, Carl (Brandee) Muonio of Watkins, MN, Linda LaFave of Sauk Rapids, MN, Andrew (Robin) Muonio of Battle Ground, WA, James Muonio of Buffalo, MN, Elaine Muonio of Battle Ground, WA, Cindy (Kent) Kivari of Battle Ground, WA, and 27 grandchildren. Also survived by her siblings, Melvin Jr. (Ester) Niska, Annette (David) Carlson, Lila (Wayne) Schmidt, Edith (Edward) Maki, JC (Gary) Johnson, Leonard (Selina) Niska, Lois Niska, Eunice (John) Burns, and numerous other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, son, Daniel Walter, grandson, Cody LaFave, siblings, Marian Halberg, Charlie Niska, Evelyn Wilen, and Victor Niska.
Funeral Service: Thursday, January 1, 2015, 11:00 AM at The Old Apostolic Lutheran Church (70647 280th Street, Dassel, MN 55325)
Visitation: Wednesday, December 31, 2014, 5-8 PM and continuing 1 hour prior to the service all at the Church.