Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Gerald Otto Gruenhagen “Budda” was born May 13, 1955, in Cokato, Minnesota to Otto and Dorothy (Anderson) Gruenhagen. He was baptized and confirmed in his faith at St James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, Minnesota. In his younger years, Gerald grew up on the family homestead where he enjoyed farming with his family, riding motorcycles and driving all kinds of muscle cars and trucks.

Gerald later went on to join the Operating Engineers Local 49 Union where he operated various pieces of equipment and met lifelong friends. He spent over 25 years in the union and retired from the Local 49ers at the age of 62. Gerald married Connie Rancour at St. James Lutheran Church on May 13, 1987. They would go on to have two children, Christina, and Matthew Gruenhagen. Gerald and Connie enjoyed 36 wonderful years of marriage together.

In his free time, Gerald loved spending it with family and friends. His favorite place to be was at home with his family. In April 2023, Gerald accepted one of his greatest titles in life, Grandpa, through the birth of his first granddaughter Georgie Lynn. He also enjoyed many hobbies throughout his life including collecting vintage Harley Davidson motorcycles & WW2 memorabilia, watching Westerns, going to gun shows with his son, and helping others whenever he could. He was a proud member of the American Rifle Association.

Gerald passed away on December 9th, 2023, at the age of 68 at the family farm in Howard Lake. Gerald was a kind, loving, and generous person who would have given his last dollar to anyone who would have asked and never said no to any request made to him; beloved by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife Connie, children Christina, Matthew (Cassandra) Gruenhagen, granddaughter Georgie, sisters Barb (Don) Lambert, Kathy Steffes, Susie (Joe) Synder, Janet (Tim) Lepage, Sister-in-law Janet (Mike) Ewert, brother-in-laws Mike (Kathy) Rancour, Tony (Aimee) Rancour, Pat Rancour, Vince Rancour, and family and friends.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Otto & Dorothy Gruenhagen, brother Dwight Carlen, brother-in-laws Jerry Hugo & Les Steffes, cousins Russell Gruenhagen & Garlen Gruenhagen, and in-laws Louis & Arline Rancour.

Memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, December 16, 2023 at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, MN with visitation one hour prior to service.

Anna Marie Painschab Hohag, age 100, passed away Friday, December 1, 2023.

Anna was born in a cottage on her parents’ Lake Charlotte resort near Rockford. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Hinteregger) Painschab, the ninth child in a family of twelve.

Anna married Stanley “Tim” Hohag in 1942. Following the war, they made their home on a farm north of Waverly. Three children were born to Stan and Anna: Karen, Katharine, and Dean.

Anna was active in the Waverly American Legion Auxiliary, the Women’s Association at both the Waverly and Howard Lake Presbyterian Church, the Wright County Extension, and as a 4-H club leader.
She enjoyed reading, gardening, bowling, playing cards with friends, and doing puzzles and needlepoint.

She is survived by daughters Karen Fadden (Ron), Kathy (Rick) Workman and son Dean (Joan) Hohag; grandchildren Paul and Nick Fadden, John, Luther and Jacob Workman; great-grandchildren Alexander, Keira, and Finnegan Fadden and Tatum, Jaidyn, Evianna and Elsinore Workman. She is further survived by her sister Rose Skonberg and many other relatives.

Anna was preceded in death by her husband Stanley Hohag, parents, John and Elizabeth Painschab, brothers Leonard, Arnold, John, Herman, Joe and George, and sisters Louise, Elizabeth, Antonia and Charlotte.

Visitation will take place from 4-7 pm on Friday, December 8th at the Howard Lake Swanson Peterson funeral home. Funeral services for Anna Hohag will be at 10 am on Saturday, December 9th at the First Presbyterian Church in Howard Lake, with visitation one hour before.

A special thank you to the staff of the Lodge of Howard Lake during the nine years it was her home; And for the medical care she received at the Buffalo hospital.

Memorials preferred to the First Presbyterian Church of Howard Lake or the Waverly American Legion Auxiliary.

Ruth Ann Lange, 88, passed away peacefully December 2nd, 2023 at Cokato Manor after struggling many years with dementia.

She was born June 12th, 1935 in Buffalo, Minnesota to Ed and Thelma (Cadwell) Schmedeke. She married Henry Lange in 1952. They were married 68 years until he passed away in 2020. They raised four children, living in Buffalo, Monticello and Darwin, with spending their last years in St. Cloud, MN. For many years, they enjoyed winters in Arizona. Ruth was a homemaker who fried every fish Hank caught, baked him every kind of pie and enjoyed hospitality to family and friends.

She is survived by daughters Darlene (Glenn) Jude, Donette Danberg, and Deb (Jay) Kadlec; grandchildren Tami White, Tony Jude, Melanie Wolffing, Trista DeLong, Kenny Danberg, Seth Danberg and Salem Kadlec, and five great grandchildren.

Her husband, her parents, son Dale, and son-in-law Dave Danberg preceded her in death.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, January 6, 2024 at the First Baptist Church in Cokato, MN with visitation prior beginning at 9:30 am.

Corinne died November 20, 2023 in Peoria, Arizona at 107 years of age. She was born in Cokato, Minnesota on September 18, 1916 to Victor and Alma Titterud. Her sisters and brothers, Arlene Nyquist, Vincent Titterud, Irma Rose, Hillard Titterud and Jeanne Martin are all deceased. She is survived by several generations of nieces and nephews. Corinne was never married.

Corinne graduated from Cokato High School. Graduated from St. Cloud State Teachers College and during her teaching career attended Biola University. Corinne taught elementary school in Minnesota, Colorado, Washington, Arizona and California. She retired from the Los Angeles California School District. In addition to teaching, Corinne sang professionally as a member of the Old-Fashioned Revival Hour Choir.

During her summers and during her sabbaticals from teaching Corinne was an avid traveler. She drove all over the United States and she visited 52 countries including several more than once.

After teaching Corinne moved to the Glencroft in Glendale, Arizona to be near her sister Jeanne. Her church home in Arizona was Desert Hills Evangelical Free Church in Phoenix.

Corinne will be buried in the Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Cokato, Minnesota. A grave side service is planned for 2:30pm on December 6.

Norma Jean Cruz went home to Jesus on November 18, 2023 at the age of 69.

Norma Jean was born March 15, 1954, to Arnold and Bernice (Messerli) Bang in Cavalier ND. She was baptized on June 6, 1954, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Cavalier ND and confirmed on April 27, 1969, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato MN. She was a graduate of the class of 1972, the last graduating class of Cokato High School. She went on to work in the insurance field with Prudential, then United Health Care and finally Medica where she retired in 2020. After enjoying a short retirement, she went back to work with Medica.

Norma Jean was blessed with two wonderful children, Tom & Amy and two amazing grandchildren Landon & Britton. She had been praying for God to bless her with a loving husband and her prayers were finally answered in 2003 when she married her long-time boyfriend, Frank Cruz. They made their home in Cokato, Minnesota.

Norma Jean was devoted to her faith, her family and serving others. She spent countless hours volunteering and spreading the story and love of Jesus through programs such as Operation Christmas Child, Habitat for Humanity & Friendshare for KTIS, just to name a few. When she wasn’t giving of her time and talents, she also enjoyed baking, traveling, yard work, planting flowers, dining out and exercising. Her bible study and Medica prayer group were highlights in her week. She was also known to frequent the Caribou drive through to order 2 medium hot chocolates (½ milk chocolate, ½ dark chocolate with skim milk and no whip cream). But her absolute favorite thing to do was spend time with family, especially her grandkids.

Norma Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold & Bernice Bang, her sister, Marjorie Stewart, and her mother-in-law, Trinie Jenkins. She is survived by her husband, Frank Cruz, her children, Tom Glessing and Amy Glessing, and her grandsons, Landon Lee and Britton Glessing. She is also survived by her siblings Rick Bang, Nancy (Greg) Barrick, Al Bang, Mavis Noga, Marlene (Ron) Carlson, brother-in-law Marv Stewart, nieces, nephews, and many other family and friends.

Visitation will be Friday, December 15, 2023, at Swanson Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato MN from 4 to 7 p.m. with prayer service at 6:30. Celebration of Life will be December 16, 2023, at Grace Hill Church in Cokato MN, at 10 a.m. with visitation one hour before.