Obituaries

Minnesota lost a legend. One of the world’s most celebrated nature photographers James (Jim) Edward Brandenburg passed away peacefully at his Medina, Minnesota, home on April 4, 2025, at the age of 79. He was surrounded by his wife Judy, daughter Heidi, and granddaughter Olivia. He had been privately battling anaplastic thyroid cancer for seven months with further complications from pneumonia…

Peter Arlyn Kracht, age 59, of Steen, Minnesota, died peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, April 7, 2025, at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne. Visitation was Thursday, April 10, 2025, from 4-8 p.m. at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. Funeral service was Friday, April 11, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Living Rock Church in Luverne. Trucks were driven to the funeral service in honor of…

LeRoy “Roy” Adam Bieber peacefully met his Lord and Savior on March 17, 2025, in Vacaville, California, at the age of 90. A celebration of life will be from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Crescent City Elks Lodge at 359 H Street. Roy was born on June 26, 1934, in Lakefield, Minnesota, to Henry and Ida Bieber. He grew up alongside his siblings Clarence, Herbert, Dorothy and Lillian, all of…

Dennis Klein, age 81, of Luverne, Minnesota, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at the Hospice of Murray County facility in Slayton, Minnesota. Visitation was Monday, April 14, 2025, from 4-7 p.m. at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne, Minnesota. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 10 a.m. at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. Inurnment…

Robert Carl “Ike” Wiese, age 89, of Luverne, died Sunday, April 6, 2025, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was born January 5, 1936, in Luverne, to Carl and Mary (Jensen) Wiese. He attended school in Luverne and graduated in the class of 1954. Ike later attended Dunwoody College in Minneapolis, graduating in 1962. He joined the Minnesota Army National Guard where…

Orlando Dale Pluim, age 62, of Pipestone, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2025. Orlando was the beloved son of Orville and Audrey (Vander Weide) Pluim.  He was born on November 9, 1962, in Sioux Center, Iowa, and was baptized at the Netherlands Reformed Church in his hometown. He graduated from Luverne High School in 1981 and went on to complete his studies at Minnesota West…

Phyllis Ann (Petersen) Mohr, age 86, of Luverne, Minnesota, died peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at the Good Samaritan-Mary Jane Brown nursing home in Luverne. Visitation will be Friday, April 11, 2025, from 4-7 p.m. at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. Funeral service will be Saturday, April 12, at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Luverne. Burial will follow…

Robert “Ike” Wiese, age 89, of Luverne, died Sunday, April 6, 2025, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 11, at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne. A private graveside service will take place at a later date.  

Robert Edmund “Bob” Bailey, age 92, of Luverne, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025, while at the Sanford Luverne Hospital. Memorial visitation will be Friday, April 25, from 4-6 p.m. at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. Memorial service will be Saturday, April 26, at 10:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. Burial will be at Ottertail Union Cemetery in Ottertail,…

Carole Ann Hemme passed Sunday, March 16, 2025, from cancer, surrounded by family, at Ridgeview Sibley Medical Center/Arlington at age 74. Carole is survived by husband Gordon Hemme; brother Ronald Bowman; sister-in-law Jayona Bowman; children Jason, Jacalyn, Jana and Jessica Dunham; grandchildren Zane Raiche, Zuri, Derek, Deyla, Kaia and Nevaya Dunham; stepchildren Troy/Wendy Hemme and Chad…

Scott I. Wentler, 41, Valley Springs, South Dakota, died on Friday, March 7, 2025, at Select Specialty Hospital in Sioux Falls. A Celebration of Life will be held from 2-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, at Heartland Funeral Home in Brandon, South Dakota, with a time of sharing beginning at 3:30 p.m. Full obituary is at www.heartlandfunerals.com

Robert Edmund Bailey, age 92, of Luverne, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025, while at the Sanford Luverne Hospital. Arrangements are pending with Hartquist Funeral Home.

Judith Elaine (Wendt) Fick was born to the Reverend Walter Samuel and Doris Louise (Carlson) Wendt on August 12, 1941, in Ottumwa, Iowa. She was baptized on September 28, 1941, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa. In 1944 the family moved to Belle Plaine, Iowa. In 1951 the family relocated to Davenport, Iowa, where Judy was confirmed on May 22, 1955, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Growing up,…

Judy Fick, age 83, of Luverne, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne, Minnesota. Visitation will be Friday, March 28, 2025, from 4-7 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. A prayer service and memory sharing will follow at 7 p.m. Funeral service will be Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church.…

Marcia Tweed Klecker passed away on March 9, 2025, of complications from multiple sclerosis, a disease she lived with for 48 years. Visitation will be held at George Boom Funeral Home on Friday, March 21, from 5-7 p.m. A celebration of life will be held at George Boom on Saturday, March 22, at 10 a.m., during which the family invites loved ones to share memories. Interment will be at a later…

Anthony “Tony” James Brandenburg, 54, of Minneapolis, passed away unexpectedly at home on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. Born on Nov. 7, 1970, in Duluth, Minnesota, Anthony attended elementary school in Worthington, Minnesota, junior high school in Two Harbors, Minnesota, and high school in Wayzata, Minnesota. He started his professional photography career early. At age 11 he realized that lemonade…