Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Mildred Esther Jatko – January 23, 1927 to February 25, 2021

Mildred “Millie” Esther (Johnson) Jatko was born in Flandreau, South Dakota on January 23, 1927 to Edward and Olive Esther (Biever) Johnson. She was raised in Lake Benton, Minnesota and graduated high school there in 1944. After high school Millie moved to Minneapolis to begin a series of business, accounting, and cashier jobs. One evening while sitting on the front porch of her boarding house a group of GIs were strolling by having just returned from the war, and she took up conversation with her husband-to-be Henry “Hank” Jatko. Henry was living in California with his sisters, and they wrote letters to each other through their courtship before finally joining Henry in southern California. They were married at the Wee kirk o’ the Heather Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 3, 1947. Leaving Inglewood, California in 1950 after the birth of their sons Thomas Leroy and James Henry, returned to Minnesota. The young family then began following Hank’s heavy road construction work in South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming with the birth of Mary Jane and Patricia Ann, along the way. Henry’s civil service work brought them to Colorado, Texas, South Dakota again and Arkansas. They then returned to Minnesota in 1964, settling in North Minneapolis. Millie worked in housekeeping at North Memorial Hospital in Minneapolis and then after some mid-life reschooling in business systems began working with Hennepin County Government.
In 1968, with two sons off to the Army (West Point USMA) and college, Hank and Millie with Pat and Mary Jane move to Bloomington, Minnesota. Having never missed a Sunday worship wherever they lived, the family joined Emmaus Lutheran Church in Bloomington as Mary Jane and Pat attended and graduated from Kennedy High School in Bloomington. Hank and Millie retired from their jobs in 1982 and for a while would spend the winters in Prescott Valley, Arizona. Henry died on February 2, 1991 and was buried at the Finnish Cemetery in Cokato Minnesota. Even before Henry’s death, Millie joined the quilters at Emmaus Lutheran as she hand-pieced and hand-quilted bed quilts for all eight of her grandchildren and a few extra for other special friends; but after quilting Millie’s great joy came from playing cards at the Creekside Center in Bloomington. Relying on friends for rides to church (she had stopped driving around 1955), she transferred membership to Redemption Lutheran Church in Bloomington. As Millie’s mobility declined, she moved into assisted living facilities and finally the LTC facility at Presbyterian Homes of Bloomington.
Mildred is survived by her sons Thomas of Lakewood, Colorado, James (wife Sue Ann) of Raleigh, North Carolina; daughters Mary Jane of Stockholm, Sweden and Patricia (husband Kenneth Peterson) of Apple Valley, Minnesota; grandchildren Deborah, Monica, Megan, Erin, Jennifer, Elaine, Caitlin and Mollie; and 9 great grandchildren; nieces Suzanne, Gwynne, Diane, and Nancy and nephews Michael and Orin.
Funeral Services will be 11 AM on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at Redemption Lutheran Church, 927 East Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN 55420 with internment to follow at 3:00 PM at the Cokato Finnish Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Presbyterian Homes & Services Foundation (https://www.preshomes.org/get-to-know-us/foundation/make-a-gift-today) to their senior activity programs or Optage Hospice Care.

Gary Gene Stoeckmann was born in Glencoe, Minnesota on September 18, 1947, to Ernst and Martha (Schmitz) Stoeckmann. He grew up in Glencoe and graduated High School in 1965. As a youth he worked often on Aunts and Uncles farms, helping mostly with field work, this was a special time for him and he grew very close to his relatives. After military service he did various jobs, one of witch was working for the Milwaukee Rail Road. He then worked for Minnesota Mining in Hutchinson for 21 years. Most recently he was employed as a machine operator for 14 years and has enjoyed the past 9 years in retirement.
Gary had many hobbies he enjoyed hunting, fishing, taking nature walks, going to the coffee shop, trips up North, Itasca being a favorite. Most of all he was a kind and loving husband to Linnell, caring, compassionate and so much more.
Gary passed away at the Buffalo Hospital on February 24, 2021. He had reached the age of 73 years, 5 months, and 6 days. Survivors include his wife Linnell of Cokato, Siblings: Pat (Roger) Donnay of Elk River, Beth Schlauderaff of Litchfield, Barb (Dick) Maass of Glencoe, and Greg (Patti) Stoeckmann of Farmington. Sister in Law Gay Ewald of Egan, special nephew Tony (Tabitha) Benton. Many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents Ernst and Martha and Brother in Law John Schlauderaff.

There will be a memorial service on at 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato. Coved 19 precautions will be observed (face coverings must be worn, social distancing will be observed)

Wesley James Sigman was born on October 4, 1957 at the Cokato Hospital to Loren and Gertrude (Dake) Sigman. He grew up in Howard Lake and attended School there. He joined the United States Marine Corps and entered service on November 29, 1974. He was honorably discharged on October 31, 1980.
Following military service, Wesley worked in construction building silos. He went to school for law enforcement and worked for Superior Wisconsin Police Department and did security work at casinos and hospitals. Later he worked for a cable company installing cable for internet and telephone.
On August 5, 1989, Wesley married Joanne Marie Ford. The couple made their home first in Superior, Wisconsin, and later Fair Haven, Minnesota. In 2012, Wesley went to school to learn heavy crane operation and most recently worked in that capacity at Astech corporation of St. Joseph, Minnesota He enjoyed computers, fishing, and metal detecting.
Wesley passed away unexpectedly on February 19, 2021. He had reached the age of 63 years, 4 months and 15 days. He is survived by his mother, “Gert” Pettit of Howard Lake; wife; Joanne of Fair Haven; children Danny (Crissy) of Paynesville, Ryan (Kim) Zeppelin of Hutchinson, Jessie (Clint) Kidman of Plymouth, Utah, Kory (Mel) Conway of Newfolden, and Jaryl Sigman of Colorado Springs, Colorado; 17 grandchildren, including Alexis at home with Wesley and Joanne; and siblings Ardis, Genelle, Marvin, Melanie, Lisa, Jim, and Peggy.
He was preceded in death by his sisters Stacy and Linda, and brother Dennis.

There will be a public Visitation from 4-7 PM Saturday, February 27, 2021 at St. Johns Lutheran Church of Howard Lake.
In Lieu of flowers donations are preferred to St. Judes.

Gerald Norman Brekke passed away February 16, 2021 in Winsted, Minnesota. He was born on July 27, 1935 in Willow Lake, South Dakota. Gerald was the son of Norman and Esther Brekke. He lived on the farm with his parents and sister Jeanne in Vienna, South Dakota. Gerald was united in marriage to Sharon Ann Reoh in 1956, Gerald and Sharon had two children. He was a retail salesman for many years in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he was very successful. He had many interests which included fishing, going to the lake cabin, and spending time with his family. Gerald also liked to go to flea markets where he sold jewelry.

Gerald is survived by his daughter Pamela Brunner and his son Scott Brekke. He also has 7 grandchildren: Jason Campbell, Sarah Case, Adam (Amanda) Loch, Amanda Loch, Thomas Brekke, Zachary Brekke, Jennifer Brekke. Gerald also has 8 great grandchildren: Bailey, Kelsey, Logan, Lily, Carter, Xander, Lennox, and Max. He also has 2 great-great grandchildren: Quinten and Olivia. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, his sister Jeanne and several aunts and uncles.

Services will be February 20th at the Swanson Peterson Funeral Chapel at 1pm in Howard Lake, MN. www.swansonpeterson.com 320-543-3401

Marcella (Hintz) Peterson was born in Howard Lake, MN on May 25, 1932 the daughter of William and Effie Hintz. Marcella was baptized as an infant at St. James Lutheran Church and was later confirmed in her faith as a youth. Marcella received her education in the Howard Lake school district, graduating in 1950.
Marcella was united in marriage to Duane Peterson on November 7, 1953 at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. They were blessed with three children and shared 68 years of marriage. Marcella worked at the First National Bank for over 50 years, retiring in 1996. Marcella and Duane resided in Cokato until 2014 when at that time they moved to the Good Samaritan Apartments in Howard Lake until moving to the Cokato Manor in September of 2019.
Marcella enjoyed spending time with family and friends, going to grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s sporting events and rarely missed a game. She also enjoyed country music and dancing with Duane, going to listen to live bands such as Driftwood, Smok’n Guns, River Canyon, and South 40. Both Marcella and Duane became fast friends with all the band members, going as often as they could to hear them.
Marcella passed away at the Cokato Manor on February 11, 2021 at the age of 88. Survived by her daughters, Cindy (fiancé Chuck Duncan) Hoskins, Brenda (Randy) Schaufler, and son, Wayne (Kathy) Peterson, grandchildren, Melissa (Stefan) Hamilton, Mike (Jenny) Hoskins, Ryan (Nikki) Schaufler, Rodney (Shantay) Schaufler, Trevor (Lindsey) Peterson, and Shauna Peterson, great-grandchildren, Briana Anderson (special friend Andy Miller), Katelyn Anderson, Mason Anderson, Wyatt Hamilton, Maggie Hamilton, Hailey Hoskins (special friend Maddy Benson), Devin Hoskins, Lexi Hoskins, Leighton Peterson, sister, Delores Peterson of Surprise, Arizona, brother-in-law, Lowell Peterson, sisters-in-law, LaVonne Kaufman, Lois (Gary) Hoffman, Muriel (Harold) Von Berg, along with many nieces, nephews, friends, and relatives.
Marcella was proceeded in death by her husband Duane, parents William and Effie Hintz Sr, father and mother in law Elmer and Agnes Peterson, brothers, Clinton (Audrey) Hintz, Ellwood (Evelyn) Hintz, William (Doris) Hintz, Jr., twin brother, Marvin Hintz, brother-in-law, Lloyd (Loretta) Peterson, Omar (Edith) Peterson, Ray Peterson, Hillard Kaufman, sister-in-law, Barb Peterson, and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 with visitation starting at 10 AM at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-286-2534