death

Luverne community mourns loss of world-acclaimed artist and native son
By Lori Sorenson
April 09, 2025
National Geographic photographer, filmmaker and environmentalist Jim Brandenburg died last week at age 79. While the art and nature world last week lost a legendary creator, Rock County residents who knew Brandenburg lost a native son. “I don't think about Jim first as the famous wildlife photographer that he became,” said Randy Creeger, who grew up with Brandenburg in Luverne. “I think of him…
Community mourns loss of George Bonnema
By Lori Sorenson
January 03, 2024
Community members are mourning the loss of longtime businessman and volunteer George A. Bonnema, who died at age 74 on Dec. 26. His obituary (see page 7) lists personal and professional landmarks, but he will be best remembered for his untold, unpaid contributions to the community. George and Corrine came to Luverne in 1974 when they purchased Luverne Flowers and turned it into a thriving…
Pandemic hits this MeeMaw straight in the heart
By Mavis Fodness, reporter
May 19, 2020
My last in-person visit with my granddaughter, Jayden, was March 6. Almost 60 days later, on the bright, sunny Sunday morning of May 3, the grandmother in me knew it was time to see Jayden face to face. Unbeknownst to me, when my daughter Courtney told Jayden that MeeMaw Mavis was coming to Iowa for a visit, her response was “MeeMaw Mavis is not dead?” It’s been a long two months for my 2-year-…
Flowering crab tree death indicates possible scab
By George Bonnema, Luverne Horticulturalist
August 13, 2019
My trees are dying!!!! I’ve had a few people question the leaf loss of their trees, and most often the trees they are alarmed about are flowering crab trees. This year is exceptional for infection of a fungal disease called scab. The infection starts mid spring, and the first symptom is a black spot on the leaf which most people don’t notice. Later the leaf turns yellow and drops, and that is…
When one life is lost, another finds its place
By Mavis Fodness, reporter
August 06, 2019
Sometimes a little hope is found floating amid a sea of sadness. For Luverne native Abby Lange, that hope came June 26 when she helped a woman deliver a healthy baby boy. Abby works as a paramedic with Ringdahl Ambulance in Fergus Falls. The unexpected delivery was the result of a 5 a.m. emergency call of a female not feeling well. The ride to the hospital is something that Abby won’t soon forget…

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