Surnames: Stelzel, Schaefer, Fritz, Witzeling, Daufenbach, Mertens, Parent, Goessl, Kramer, Becker

----Sources: Herald Times Reporter (Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, Wis.) 26 Sept. 2004

Stelzel, Minnie (10 Dec. 1908 - 24 Sept. 2004)

DORCHESTER -Minnie Stelzel, 95, formerly of Dorchester, died Friday, Sept. 24, 2004, at the Lighthouse Eldercare in Medford where she had resided since September 1999.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Minnie at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Dorchester with the Rev. James Schaefer officiating. Burial will be in Dorchester Memorial Cemetery and her grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

Visitation with family and friends will be from 9 a.m. until service time Monday at the church. There will be a rosary service at 10 a.m.

Maurina Funeral Home of Dorchester is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Minnie was born Dec. 10, 1908, in Jenny Lind, Ark., the daughter of August and Maria (Fritz) Witzeling. As a young girl, Minnie worked as a domestic in Dorchester and was courted by her future husband, Martin Stelzel. They were married June 15, 1927, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Dorchester. Minnie was employed as a cook at Medo-Farms in Abbotsford and later worked in the housekeeping department of Medford Clinic where she was loved and respected by all the clinic staff. An excellent cook, homemaker and seamstress, her home was always filled with hospitality. Minnie enjoyed playing cards, reading and her garden. She was an active member of St. Louis Catholic Church and the Catholic Foresters. Minnie was a leader for the Holton 4-H Club and early organizer for Pleasant Pals 4-H Club. In her retirement years Minnie enjoyed traveling with family and friends throughout the United States and abroad. Her grandchildren were her great joy.

Minnie will be dearly missed by her five daughters, Pat Daufenbach of Elgin, Ill., Aggie (Dennis) Mertens of Medford, Arlene "Archie" (Fred) Parent of Medford, Mary "Mutzie" (Robert) Goessl of Medford, and Beverly (Dennis) Kramer of Abbotsford; 26 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. She is further survived by her son-in-law, La Roy Becker of St. Louis Park, Minn., daughter-in-law, Adelle Stelzel of Rib Falls, and sister-in-law, Margaret Witzeling of Merrill.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin Stelzel on Feb. 11, 1976; infant son, Martin John; son, Lawrence Stelzel; and two daughters, Rosemary Stelzel and Estelle Becker.