Obituaries
Bradley Eugene Mertens
Jan 17, 2026
Bradley Eugene Mertens, age 75, passed peacefully into the Lord’s presence on January 17, 2026, after a long battle with illness, at St. Cloud Hospital.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples, Minnesota. Visitation will take place from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the...
Helen Petersen
Jan 17, 2026
Helen Constance Petersen, age 80, passed away Saturday, January 17th at Edgewood Vista Memory Care. Helen is remembered by many friends and family members in the Brainerd and Crosby area.
Born in Brainerd, Helen was one of 10 children born to Florence (O’Toole) and Harold Cecil Chamberlin and later stepdaughter to Madeline (LaSart) Chamberlin. She attended high school in Crosby, but...
Julie Pawlak
Jan 17, 2026
Julie Pawlak, 82, passed away on January 17, 2026.
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Julie carried her love for family and community with her throughout her life. She later moved to Minnesota, where she and her husband fulfilled a dream moving to Hackensack and Man Lake where she had visited year after year since she was a child. They owned...
Brian Joel McKusick
Jan 13, 2026
Brian Joel McKusick was born December 10, 1980 to Kari and Dean McKusick. Brian was raised in Centerville, MN with his 3 siblings. This is where Brian made many of his lifelong friends. While growing up, Brian loved hunting and fishing. Brian won 2nd place in the state high school wrestling tournament.
In 2002, Brian’s daughter Lexy was born and in...
Lawrence 'Larry' Shake
Jan 12, 2026
Lawrence (Larry) Shake, 61, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2026, at A Daughters Love Care Center in Staples, MN.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday January 24, 2026 at 11:00am at Swan Valley Lutheran Church in Leader, MN. A visitation will begin at 10:00am, and a lunch will be served following the service.
Larry was born on March 20,...
Edward 'Ed' D. Ziegler Sr.
Jan 12, 2026
Edward Daniel Ziegler, Sr.
October 2, 1960 – January 12, 2026
Edward Daniel “Eddie” Ziegler, Sr., age 65, of Staples, passed away unexpectedly on January 12, 2026. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mary Ziegler.
Eddie is survived by his significant other, Lynda; his children Angela (Jim) and their children Ben, Zack, Noah, Jack, and Levi; Natasha (Spencer) and...
Vicki Jurek
Jan 12, 2026
Vicki Rene Jurek, age 72, of Fifty Lakes, Minnesota, formerly of St. Cloud, passed away unexpectedly on January 12, 2026, surrounded by her devoted husband of 51 years and her children. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. A small gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date.
Vicki was born on...
Craig Schroeml
Jan 12, 2026
Craig Edward Schroeml
Born September 12, 1966, to Ronald Schroeml and Anne Tibbetts Klein.
Craig is preceded by his father Ronald Schroeml; aunt, Diane Gildart. He is survived by his mother, Anne Klein; sister, Joleen (Stacy) Carner; uncle, Albert Tibbetts; aunt, Beverly (Barry) Mudford; nephew, Zachary Klein; niece, Taylor Carner.
No services will be held. Private family interment.
Richard 'Rich' Koppes
Jan 11, 2026
Richard Edmund Koppes was born June 1, 1937, in Moran Township, to Raymond and Clara (Etzler) Koppes. He attended country school and helped on the family farm.
On June 27, 1959, he married Donna Mae Reger at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples, Minnesota. They lived for a short time in Minneapolis, before buying a farm in Staples township, where they...
Charles 'Charlie' Crews Jr.
Jan 11, 2026
Charles 'Charlie' Crews Jr., age 95, of Staples, MN passed away on January 11, 2026 in Staples.
A Funeral Service will be held on Friday January 16, 2026 at 11:00am at United Methodist Church in Staples. There will be a visitation held beginning one hour prior to the start of the service at the church on Friday. Graveside Service with Military...
Joana Bettis
Jan 11, 2026
Joana Marie Bettis, 90, of Motley, MN arrived in Heaven on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at Lakewood Health in Staples, MN. Services for Joana will be 11:00 AM, Thursday January 15,2026 at Motley Free Methodist Church in Motley, MN with Pastor Jim Johnson officiating. Family and friends are invited to gather for a visitation from 5:00-7:00PM, Wednesday, January14, 2026 at...
Roger Schwieters
Jan 10, 2026
Longtime Crosslake resident, Roger H. Schwieters, passed away January 10, 2026, at his winter home in Titusville, FL. He was 89 years old.
Roger was born on May 10, 1936, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, to Nick and Helen (Gerding) Schwieters. He graduated from St. John’s Preparatory School in 1954 and went on to earn a B.A. in English and Classical Languages...
Richard 'Dick' Phillips
Jan 10, 2026
Richard (Dick) Phillips, 85, of Crosslake, MN, passed away on January 10, 2026, in Lake Havasu City, AZ.
Services will be held on May 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Immaculate Heart Catholic Church in Crosslake where Dick was a long-time parishioner. Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to Mass, with interment at the Pinewood Cemetery in...
Jacquelyn Wolff
Jan 8, 2026
Jacquelyn “Jackie” B. Wolff (née George) passed away peacefully on January 8, 2026, at the age of 92, surrounded by love.
Born on August 1, 1933, in Richfield, Minnesota, to William and Phoebe George, Jackie grew up in Richfield, where she met the love of her life, Robert Wolff. They married in 1952 and built a beautiful life together, raising four...
Sandra Luoma
Jan 8, 2026
Sandra Kay Luoma (Lambert), age 78, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on April 2, 1947, in Bagley, Minnesota. Throughout her life, Sandra made her home in Twig and Staples, Minnesota, where she built a life full of love, laughter, honesty, and deep connection. She passed on a meaningful day that...
Carl A. Boberg
Jan 6, 2026
Carl August Boberg
Age 95 of Jenkins, MN, passed away peacefully in his Jenkins, MN home on January 6th, 2026 due to complications of leukemia. Services to be held at The Journey church, 5459 Co Hwy 18, Nisswa, MN on Wednesday, January 28th. Visitation 11AM-noon, service from 12-1PM, then lunch is served before military burial. In lieu of flowers, please make...
Ruthe Tappe
Jan 6, 2026
Ruthe Arlene Tappe
b:11-03-1958 d:01-06-2026
Ruthe Tappe, 67, of Wadena MN passed peacefully of leukemia on January 6, 2026, in New York Mills.
A beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend Ruthe is survived by daughter Pamula, son Paul, grandson Kelvin and great-granddaughters Avacyn and Parker.
She had no strangers in her life, only friends she hadn't met yet. We will all be poorer...
Gary West
Jan 5, 2026
On January 5th, our brother Gary West was holding the hand of one of his best friend's (Lou's) hand when he took the hand of Jesus to transition from this life to the next. Gary brought Blessing, Encouragement, Hope, and an Awareness of the Most High, into most every conversation with people. Truly an Amazing man for those who knew...
Judy L Richardson
Jan 5, 2026
Judy L Richardson, 68, of Wadena, MN, passed away on January 5, 2026. Funeral services will take place at later date.
Jim Holub
Jan 3, 2026
James “Jim” Warren Holub, age 57, of Oak Grove, Minnesota, passed away at his home on January 3, 2026. Jim was born on February 12, 1968, in Wadena, Minnesota, and was a proud Motley Rocket.
Jim went on to serve his country in the United States Navy, where he was on active duty from 1988 to 1992, followed by multiple years...
