Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Linda M. Laugen, 82, passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital on December 2, 2023.

Linda was born on April 9, 1941, to Arnold and Ruth (Westerberg) Peterson in Minneapolis, MN. She grew up in Baldwin, NY and had a lifelong love of New York City and the ocean – especially Jones Beach.
She left Long Island for St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN where she met the love of her life, Jack. Linda and Jack were married in 1964 in Northfield, but soon came to Cedar Rapids. Together they raised three children, Anne, Pete and Martha.

Linda graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Olaf College and was a French teacher in Hopkins, MN before moving to Cedar Rapids. She found her love of counseling and helping people in crisis which led to her attaining a Master of Counseling and Human Development degree from the University of Iowa in 1993 and operating a successful counseling practice. Linda held paid positions at Foundation 2, Inc. and with the Employee Assistance Program at Collins Aerospace. She also served endless volunteer hours with the Veterans Center, the Linn County Food Bank, St. Luke’s Pastoral Care program, the Inter-Religious Council of Linn County and the Catherine McAuley Center.

Linda loved the arts – she and Jack were staunch supporters of Orchestra Iowa; she was an accomplished organist who regularly played at Lovely Lane Methodist Church, Knox Presbyterian Church, and the St. Luke’s Chapel; and she loved to sing harmony on church hymns. She was also an amazing free hand artist who made beautiful doodles and addressed in calligraphy the wedding invitations for her niece.
Later in life, Linda renewed her love of the Jewish faith, which started when she grew up on Long Island. She converted to Judaism and became even more her authentic self. She embraced her multi-faith family with grace and endless curiosity. She would often light the Menorah while listening to the St. Olaf College Choir Christmas Concert.

Linda is survived by her children, Anne of Cedar Rapids, Pete (Stefanie) of Phoenix, AZ and Martha of Madison, WI. She is also survived by her sister Kristi (Rick), brother Roger (Karen); nieces Jenny and Kathy; nephews Bill, Chris and Tim; and her beloved grandchildren, Emi, Ali and Jack Laugen.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jack and her parents.

A private family burial took place at Stockholm Lutheran Church near Cokato, MN. A Celebration of Life is being planned for March 2024 in Cedar Rapids. Memorials may be directed to Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust; Linda M. Laugen Memorial c/o Anne Laugen. Memorials will be shared with Coe College, St. Olaf College, and Temple Judah.

The family would like to thank the staff and traveling nurses at the Pulmonary Care Unit and the Hospice Unit at St. Luke’s Hospital for their exceptional care and compassion for Mom. We are grateful.

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.