Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Eugene Edward Lorentz passed away at the Veterans Administration Hospital of Minneapolis on December 6, 2021.

Memorial Service: 1 PM Friday December 10, 2021 at the First Presbyterian Church of Howard Lake

Visitation: 4-7 PM Thursday December 9, 2021 at First Presbyterian Church of Howard Lake and 1 hr. prior to memorial service on Friday.

Interment: Howard Lake Cemetery

Eugene (Gene) E. Lorentz passed away at the Minneapolis VA Hospital on Monday, December 6, 2021 having reached the age of 75 years, 3 months and 15 days. Gene was born in Cokato, MN on August 21, 1946 at the Cokato Hospital to Clarence and Ardis (Hess) Lorentz. He was baptized at the First Presbyterian Church in Howard Lake, MN and confirmed in his faith on March 27, 1959.

Gene began his education at the Rice Lake country school and then Howard Lake Public School graduating as a member of the class of 1964. Shortly after graduating from high school he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in June of 1964 and served until May of 1967. He was among the first ground troops sent to Vietnam serving 18 months in that country. After being honorably discharged from the USMC, he returned home to Howard Lake and took over the operation of the family farm from his parents. Gene was born the same day his parents purchased the farm where he made his lifelong home with his family.

On August 15, 1970, he married Terry L. Westphal at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. Their marriage was blessed with three sons. After a farm injury in 1979, he was forced to sell the dairy cows. He continued to run the cropland for a few more years. His sons currently operate the farm with help from their families.  He then worked at various jobs as an airline dispatcher for Northwest Airlink, at the Howard E. Morris Agency, and Interstate-Payco Seeds. He was a lifetime member of the Howard Lake American Legion Post 145, the Marine Corps League, the HLWW FFA Alumni, and the Randall, MN VFW.  He served as a school board member and board chairman for the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted School District, and as a Supervisor on the Stockholm Township Board.

He was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents, his parents Clarence and Ardis Lorentz, infant sister Mary Jane, brother-in-law Richard Barberg, father and mother-in-law Raymond and Helen Westphal, sister and brother-in-law Linda and Wally McCurdy. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Terry, sons Jeffrey, Anthony (Angela), and Patrick (Angie). Seven grandchildren Jacob, Jordan, Jackson, Brady, Leah, Wyatt, and Benjamin. He is further survived by 5 brothers David (Jean), Dale (Tunnie), Albert (Marlene), Leo, and Michael (Cher). Six sisters Rose Barberg, Eva (Royal) Moulton, Joyce (Herbert) Smith, Sue (John) Tapio, Shirley (Martin) Javurek, Trudy (Kelly) Clausen. Also by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Urn bearers are Gene’s grandchildren. Honorary urn bearers are Dennis Mahlstedt, Bruce Carlson, and Riley Hoheisel. Internment will be at the Howard Lake Cemetery.

Janet Louise Moberg was born at the home of her parents, Paul and Genevieve Nelson, west of Dassel, on July 23, 1931.  She lived there with her parents, a sister and a brother for the first eighteen years of her life.  Janet accepted Jesus as her savior at an early age and began her walk of faith.  After graduating from Dassel High School, she continued her education at Northwestern College, North Park University, and St. Cloud University.  She taught high school geography in Hutchinson, North St. Paul and Robbinsdale public schools.

In 1970 she was married to Waldo Moberg at First Covenant Church of Minneapolis. The couple made their home in Cokato.  Four years later they adopted Joseph Brown as their son.

Although her hopes and plans to serve as a career missionary did not materialize, she was happy to serve with her husband as short-term missionaries in Tokyo and Mexico City.  She was active in ministry at Elim Mission Church, especially in Christian Education and music.  She enjoyed travel, music, reading and time with friends.  Waldo and Janet enjoyed 11 winters in Weslaco, Texas.

Janet passed away at her home in Dassel, Minnesota on December 4, 2021.  She had reached the age of 90 years, 4 months and 11 days.  Survivors include step-daughter Connie of Bloomington, granddaughter JoRae and her family of LeRoy, Minnesota, sister-in-law Audrey Anderson of Bloomington, niece Lisa Nordberg and nephews Jon Holmgren of Motley and Kurt Holmgren of Dassel.

She is preceded in death by her parents Paul and Genevieve Nelson, husband Waldo, siblings Robert and Margery (Holmgren). Son Joe and grandson Dustin.

Peace be to her memory. Memorial contributions may be made to Ecumen Hospice of Litchfield.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at the Dassel Covenant Church (251 Lake St, Dassel, MN 55325) with visitation 1 hour prior to services at Church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Livestream Link:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC3-tpx1EdpToo_LThYtTcw

Joel Victor Nyquist, aged 76, passed away in his home in Cokato MN on December 1st, 2021.
Joel was born on August 13th, 1945 in Hutchinson, MN to Eugene and Martha (Gustafson) Nyquist. He grew up on a farm in Dassel, MN where his family members were active in Lamson Evangelical Free Church. It was through the church that he met his future wife, Darlene Swedberg when he was 17 years old. Joel graduated from Cokato High school and attended Augsburg College where he played football and graduated with a major in Biology. On November 9th, 1968, he married Darlene and they lived for the first year in Germany while Joel served in the US Army during the Vietnam war. After coming home, they settled in Cokato, MN where Joel farmed for many years. He finished his career working as a Nursing Home Administrator. Joel was an active member of Elim Mission Church in Cokato, serving in many different roles throughout his years. Joel’s hobbies included woodworking, gardening, and, most of all, spending time with his kids and grandkids.
Joel was preceded in death by his wife Darlene Nyquist; parents Eugene and Martha Nyquist; brother Maurice Nyquist; sister Sally Nyquist.
Joel is survived by his children Darla Nyquist, Matthew (Jennifer) Nyquist, Joshua (Heidi) Nyquist, Benjamin (Kristina) Nyquist, Anjali Nyquist; his brother Peter (Susan) Nyquist; grandchildren Tyler, Megan, Chase, Zachary, Katie, Emma, Bennett, Caleb, Luke, Abigail, Olivia; and several nieces and nephews and their children.
A funeral service for Joel will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at Highland Community Church in Cokato with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at the church. A time of gathering will also be held from 5-7 PM on Monday, December 6, 2021 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato.

Varona Marie Weller was born to Richard Sylvester Weller and LuElla Lenora Weller nee Townsend on February 2, 1930 in Hanover twp., Minnesota. She was the 4th child of 6. She was raised in the Hanover/Rockford area until at age 16 her family moved to a farm north of Howard Lake. She graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1948 and married Myron (Mike) Otto Klugow on May 31, 1948. They made their home on a farm north of Howard Lake and had 7 children. They raised dairy cattle and farmed the fields until Mike’s death in 1979.
Varona enjoyed cooking and having the ladies over for coffee. There was always a house full of kids. She was always happier to spend time outside with the tractors than inside cleaning. She worked evenings in the 60’s at The Lafayette Club and introduced her kids to leftover Canapes. In the evenings you could find her laying on the bed reading a True Romance Magazine. Saturdays she would join her sisters to get her hair done – more for company than style. She was always ready to play cards, scrabble or Yahtzee with anyone who wanted to play – no matter what age. Tuesday was ladies bowling league which she was on for years. For extra money she held Stanley Home products parties and waitressed at Sadie’s Café in Cokato. She worked at the bakery in Howard Lake for many years. Holidays were always a special time for her – especially Christmas. The Christmas tree was always a ‘Charlie Brown’ tree – specially decorated with love.
Grandchildren were very special to her and filled the house with ‘hubub’. Chris (Barb) Farrier, Molly Lanars, Katrina Mauk, Ben (Tiffany) Farrier, Bry Farrier, Adam Farrier, Mallory (Alex) Carlson, Brianna (Paul) Solberg, Rob Kobow, David Kobow, Wendy Gageby, Patrick Drum, Samantha (Chris) Choate and Varonica Klugow.
Preceded in death by her parents, siblings, infant daughter, Myra Varona, son Paul Richard Klugow, several nieces and nephews.
Survived by her children – Michael Varon Klugow, Bonnie (Chuck) Kobow, Nancy (Joe) Kadlec, Betsy Farrier (Marty), Bill and daughter-in-law Deb Klugow Zeestraten, 27 great grandkids and 6 great-great grandkids.
A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Thursday, December 16, 2021 with visitation 1 hour prior to services at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, MN 320-543-3401 www.swansonpeterson.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/CokatoEvangelicalLutheranChurch/?ref=pages_you_manage

Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church Website – https://www.elchome.net/upcoming-events-elc-cokato/a-celebration-of-life-amp-faith-pastor-heidi-jo-hagstrom

Viewing the Service from C-ELC Website – https://www.elchome.net/live-service-evangelical-lutheran-church

Viewing the Service from C-ELC YouTube Channel – https://youtu.be/15vTvAvoSZI

Heidi Jo Hagstrom was born Oct. 13, 1955, in Cokato, Minn., to Stan and Shirley Hagstrom. She died Nov. 26, 2021, in Buffalo, Minn. Heidi was always proud and grateful to be the daughter of a grocer/butcher and an English teacher. She was baptized Dec. 10, 1955, at Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church, where she was also confirmed, married, ordained and remembered at her funeral on Dec. 3.
Heidi graduated from Dassel-Cokato High School in 1974 and Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., in 1979 (major: music; minor: religion). Between her sophomore and junior years of college, she was chosen to be part of a Concordia outreach team that served six months in American and Western Samoa.
In 1980 she married Ken Hauan. Along with their beloved bulldogs, they lived in three Minnesota communities where Heidi served as parish worker/Christian education director: Trinity Lutheran in Montevideo 1979-82, Calvary Lutheran in Willmar 1982-84 and First Lutheran in Bemidji 1984-87.
Heidi and Ken moved to Bloomington, Ind., in 1987. He pursued graduate studies and she worked part time at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, the Indiana University Conference Bureau, and served as a board member of the Monroe County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In 1992, she and Ken divorced and she returned to Cokato to live with her family and help care for her mother, who Heidi credited with teaching her “the divine art of dying.” Also that year, Heidi moved to St. Cloud to work as director for educational conferences at the conference bureau of St. Cloud State University (SCSU). Toward the end of her tenure at SCSU, she and friends established The Odyssey Group, LLP, a full-service meeting management company.
In 1997, Heidi moved to Chicago to work as associate director, then director, of the ELCA Youth Gathering, shepherding gatherings in St. Louis (2000), Atlanta (2003), San Antonio (2006), New Orleans (2009 and 2012) and Detroit (2015). The ELCA Youth Gathering is the largest gathering of high school youth, and also the largest gathering of adults, in the ELCA. Under Heidi’s leadership the gathering re-established itself as a premiere faith-forming event for high school-aged youth based on service learning.
During her years at the churchwide offices in Chicago, Heidi, a lifelong learner, earned a certificate as a spiritual director, and in her final years there she began her studies at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, graduating as part of the Theological Education for Emerging Ministries program in 2018.
Following her father’s advice to “invest in a place, give gifts to a place,” in 2015 she moved to the prairie of Southwest Minnesota to serve Fields of Grace Lutheran Parish, Lafayette. She was ordained Sept. 23, 2018.
This three-point parish made up of Swan Lake, First and Bernadotte Lutheran Churches is where she was able to enjoy country living that she cherished: open spaces and neighboring farms, her own chickens (and fresh eggs!), a bountiful garden, her cats, and people who share her Swedish heritage. At a benefit held after she retired in October 2021, parish representatives praised her preaching and her singing voice. That same month she moved to Buffalo to live with her sister Tracy and family, and bring to completion two of her favorite roles: sister and auntie.
Although Heidi was featured soloist in many choirs, she described herself as a “blender” because she was often positioned in such a way as to temper two stronger voices. That same tempering characteristic was evident in her work as a leader. She always had a clear vision, but empowered others as she drew out and showcased their gifts. She took to heart the advice of a spiritual director who told her the job of a good leader is appreciation.
She spent a lifetime doing just that, and advocating for others–in high school and college by sharing her musical talent in nursing homes, to those with disabilities and the incarcerated, and later in life as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, especially after Ken came out to her as gay. Heidi had a heart for those who were disenfranchised and misunderstood.
Heidi is survived by Tracy Hagstrom Durant (sister), Tom Durant (brother-in-law), Greta Dahl (niece), Elaina Beecher (great niece), Ken Hauan (former spouse), Dennis Dahl and Jenni Johnson (former brother-in-law and girlfriend), Danish exchange sister Birthe Bjerge (Jens); Primus cousins–Patty Miller (Steve), Penny Pastornosro (Anthony), Jayme Sherman; Lois Jeanne Neubauer (aunt), and Neubauer cousins – Debbie Finley (Ed), Brad Neubauer (Sue), Bruce Neubauer (Carolyn), Brian Neubauer (Tami); adopted Larson/Landin family.

She was preceded in death by Stan and Shirley Hagstrom (parents), Frank and Clara Arndt (grandparents), Axel and Jenni Hagstrom (grandparents), Marge Rider (cousin) and Mary Wagner (cousin).
Memorials in Heidi’s name may be given:
• Underdog Rescue Minnesota (St. Louis Park) in honor of Toula
• tAble (formerly Definitely Abled Youth Leadership Event), ELCA.org/Gathering (Go to giving page)
• Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church Stained Glass Window Restoration Fund
+ Rest eternal grant her, O Lord, and light perpetual shine upon her. +

Celebration of life will be held at 11:00 am, December 3 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 280 3rd Street SW, Cokato, MN. Services will be live streamed. Visitation will be held at the same location December 2 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm and one hour prior to the service.

Full obituary with funeral live stream link can be found at Swanson Peterson Funeral Home: www.swansonpeterson.com and on Pastor Heidi’s CaringBridge.