Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Wendolek, Mary Ann
age 84, of Cokato, passed away on January 22, 2015 at the Cokato Manor. She was born November 1, 1930 in Chatfield, Minnesota to Charles and Catherine Cox. At age 1, Mary Ann lost her father, Charles. Shortly after, Catherine was united in marriage to Frank Ardolf. Following this union, the family resided in Silver Lake, Minnesota where Mary Ann attended St. Joseph Catholic School and The School Sisters Notre Dame in Mankato. She graduated from Silver Lake High School. Following high school, Mary Ann worked until being united in marriage to Theophil Wendolek on August 2, 1949. This union was blessed with the birth of 5 children. In 1951, the Wendolek family moved to Cokato, where Mary Ann worked for over 30 years at Fabri-Tek.
She enjoyed her flower garden, crocheting, cross stitching, and was known for her chocolate chip cookies. Mary Ann loved to spend time with her friends and family, traveling and visiting casinos. She was an active member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Darwin.
Survived by her husband of 65 years, Theophil, children Bonita (Roland) Hansen, Linda (Jim) Carlen, Joe (Lisa) Wendolek, Pamela (Randy) Nowak, and Lisa Weiss. Also survived by 13 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, brothers, Alfred, Bob, Fr. Paul, and sister, Germaine.
Preceded in death by her parents, and 4 siblings.
Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, January 26, 2015, 11:00 AM, at St. Johns Catholic Church in Darwin with Visitation 1 hour prior to the service at church.

Mardell Carol Lemke
Passed away in Phonex, Arizona on January 15, 2015
Memorial Service: 2:00 PM Thursday, January 29, 2015 at St. James Lutheran Church of Howard Lake
Visitation: 4-8 PM Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake
OBITUARY
Mardell Carol Lemke was born October 18, 1940 in Cokato, Minnesota, the daughter of Marvin and Bernadette (Engelman) Schuman. She was baptized on November 10, 1940 and confirmed in her faith on April 11, 1954 at St. James Lutheran Church, Howard Lake.
After graduating from Howard Lake High School she attended Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota.
On August 18, 1960, Mardell was married to Vernon Lemke at St. James Lutheran Church. Their marriage was blessed with five children.
Mardell taught in Lutheran grade schools in New Germany and Watertown. In Howard Lake, she was a substitute at St. James Lutheran grade school and the Howard Lake elementary school. For over 34 years she provided daycare in her home in Howard Lake. Many children adored her. Each child was very special to her, and she cared deeply for each and every one of them.
Two years after their retirement Mardell and Vern moved to Garrison, Minnesota in 2007. They enjoyed spending time with family and friends. They spent their summers in Garrison and winters in Apache Junction, Arizona.
On January 15, 2015, while a patient at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona Mardell was called to her eternal rest.
She was preceded in death by her parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law Paul and Lorena Lemke; brother Beryl Schumann; sister-in-law Delores Vollrath; brothers-in-law Harlan Herman and Loren Lemke.
Mardell is survived by her husband Vernon Lemke; children Lynn Eischens (husband Doug, children Jennifer, Nicholas and Shawn), Joel Lemke (wife Jan, children Matthew and Brooke), Kim Wilson (husband Tony, children Krista and Katie), Jere Lemke (significant other Melissa, children Andrew, Brian, Kayla and Cody), and Dean Lemke (children Mercedes, Dylan and Lexi); fourteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. She is further survived by sisters-in-law LaJean Herman, Ruth Templin and Joyce Schumann; brother-in-law Rueben Vollrath; other family and friends to numerous to mention but not forgotten.
Honorary Pallbearers are her grandchildren: Jennifer Jerdee, Nicholas Lemke, Shawn Webb, Matthew Lemke, Brooke Lemke, Krista Zieglmeier, Katie Zieglmeier, Andrew Jerde, Brian Jerde, Kayla Schlicht, Cody Lemke, Mercedes Lemke, Dylan Lemke and Alexia Lemke.

Howard Emery Doolittle
of Howard Lake, passed away at his home on January 11, 2015.
Services will take place at a later date

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.