Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

JoAnn Marie Onnen (Thorland) passed away August 18, 2022, after a long, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. JoAnn was born July 1,1946, in Forest City, Iowa, and into the grace-filled Christian home of Rodney Harold and Geneva Marie (Reines) Thorland, on a farm in Thompson, Iowa. She attended Bethany Lutheran Church with her family, including her brothers Eddie and Rodney. In 1968 she graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. JoAnn was joined in marriage to Tony Onnen on June 13, 1970. Tony and JoAnn enjoyed more than 52 years of growing in God’s grace together. Tony treasured JoAnn’s wisdom, intelligence, and listening ear.

JoAnn was foremost a teacher. She first taught in the Minneapolis school district in the 1960s, and then taught kindergarten and first grade in Cokato (including a time where she taught in a one-room school house!) She loved teaching her own children how to read, cook, develop their own opinions on any topic, make their own decisions as they got older, and let them know that it would be okay even when they failed.

She later was blessed by the opportunity to teach children at Lambs Christian Daycare in Cokato. JoAnn left that teaching role when her granddaughter Gracie was born. Gracie had lots of extra needs due to the health issues that often accompany Down Syndrome, and JoAnn counted it a privilege to provide daycare for Gracie and later on Tysen, Amelia, and Cole. She followed that by helping provide child-care for her granddaughters, Sophia, Corinne, and Naomi. She was in Africa to be with Esther, Maria, and Elayna when Timmy was born. She spear-headed a project to turn her basement into an apartment where she has hosted missionary families and others who were dear to her. During her fight with cancer, nothing gave her greater joy than the countless visits from all of her children and grandchildren, including her four newest and youngest, Harley, Haylee, Stevie, and Leona.

Woven throughout her teaching of her children, grandchildren, and all of her students at Lambs, were lessons of God’s love for each of us – that He sent His own Son to die for our sins so that we might be saved. Nothing mattered more to JoAnn than that those she taught and loved would come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.

JoAnn was a good friend to those around her. She grew closer to the Lord with her friends – and in particular, friends who did Bible Studies together in the 80’s and up until the weeks before her death. When around her college friends, cousins, or sisters-in-law, she was instantly a 20-year-old girl again, giggling and mischievous. An avid football, basketball, and baseball fan, it was best to be a few feet away from her during a game so that you didn’t suffer hearing loss from her loud cheers.

Since 1985, JoAnn enjoyed worship and fellowship with dear friends at Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church in Cokato, MN. She found comfort and strength here throughout life’s joys and sorrows.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her mother and father, her brother Edward, her nephew Gregg, and a child she lost to miscarriage.

JoAnn is survived by her husband Tony, her children Jennifer (Jeromie), Kristin (Paul), Matthew (Rosemary), Ruth (Steven) and Lori (Matthew), as well as several grandchildren: Grace, Tysen, Amelia, and Cole; Esther, Maria, Elayna, and Timothy; Haylee, Harley, and Steven; Sophia, Corinne, Naomi, and Leona; her sister-in-law Darla, her brother Rod and his wife Lynda, and nieces and nephews Erik (Nicole), Jon (Kati), Jamie (Brian) , and Joel (Amber), as well as grand-nieces and nephews.

The family is working to be able to present any memorials received to the Virginia Piper Cancer Center Buffalo, MN, in JoAnn’s name.

A funeral service will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 27, 2022 at Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church in Cokato. Visitation will be from 4-8 on Friday 8/26 and continue 1 hour prior to services on Saturday, all at the church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-286-2534

A funeral service will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 27, 2022 at Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church in Cokato. Visitation will be from 4-8 on Friday 8/26 and continue 1 hour prior to services on Saturday, all at the church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-286-2534

Burkstrand, Duane Craig

age 72 of Cokato, passed away August 12, 2022. He was born July 8, 1950 in Cokato, MN to Clifford and Eleanor (Johnson) Burkstrand. He graduated from Cokato High School in 1968 and was united in marriage to Nancy Wozniak on August 22, 1970. Duane owned his own insurance agency, Burkstrand Agency in Howard Lake, MN. but his passion was farming. He was involved in various public activities, such as Lion’s, Ridge Runners snowmobile club, Jaycee’s, baseball association, and the Howard Lake Business Association. Duane was also an avid hunter, bowler, golfer, and softball player. More than anything else, he loved his children and grandchildren.

Survived by his wife, Nancy, children, Brent (Jennifer) Burkstrand, Stacy Burkstrand, and Pete (Kristi) Burkstrand, grandchildren, Julia “Ja-Ja”, Claire “Bearsie”, Sophia “Sophers”, Elayna “Schnookums”, Lydia “Sunshine” (Orrin Grangroth), Grayson “Loodie”, Braxton “Chumbly”, Henry “Hank”, Molly “Mol”, and Jillian “Jilly Bear”.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, August 24 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com Reception will take place at the Howard Lake Legion at 5:00 PM

Schneden (Sheckler), Shellie Lea

age 59, of Howard Lake, MN passed away August 5, 2022. She was born October 11, 1962 in Prairie Du Chien, WI to the late Ted and Marjory (Ahrens) Sheckler. She was a resident in Howard Lake for the past 22 years. She had a passion for sales and being around people. She sold cars and boats in her previous employment and for the last 19 years she ran Paul Berg Drywall and helped grow the company to what it is today.

Shellie’s biggest passion in life was her dogs, they were the light of her life. Shellie was an excellent gymnast growing up and enjoyed being active. She also enjoyed the outdoors, walking her dogs thru the trails in the woods, hunting, fishing, traveling, motorcycle rides and never missed a chance to beat Paul at Wheel of Fortune. She loved people and always had some good jokes and great one liners to tell to others. She had a love for her friends kids, nieces and nephews, and making sure everyone and every animal was taken care of and happy.

She is survived by her fiancé, Paul Berg, Karen Berg, Kenneth Berg, Sharon (Craig) Schmitt, Britney Ronning and Jared Krogen, Audrey, Karyn, and Jackson, Brian (Jessica) Anderson, Jim Berg, Sandy (Mike) Bradley, Branden (Sarrah) Berg, Landon, Mayson, and Sawyer, Melissa Berg, Prestin Bradley, Suzanne Dow and Bob Hall, Ashly (Jacob) Pribbenow, Todd, Jordan (Bethany) Dow, Kennedy and Kinley, and Brianna Hall, siblings, Ted R. Sheckler of Prairie du Chien, WI,  Tammie (Phil) Frost of Brodhead, WI, Cindy (Mark) Williams of Bagley, WI, nephews and nieces, Troy (fiancé, Sarah Munz) Sheckler, Laci Clarke, Steven Sheckler, Lindsay (Patrick Hansen) Frost, Caleb Frost, Levi (Karyssa) Frost, Seth (fiancé, Kayla Ruechel) Williams and Jaci Williams, three great nieces, one great nephew.

Preceded in death by parents, Teddie Sheckler and Marjory Sheckler, along with Clement Fox and Dustin Berg.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 13, 2022 with visitation 1 hour prior to services at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake, MN 320-543-3401, www.swansonpeterson.com

Brady Schmidt, age 28 of Dassel and Howard Lake, passed away July 21, 2022. He was born August 27, 1993 in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Brady was baptized September 12, 1993 at St. John’s Church in Madison, MN. He attended school at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted until the 10^th grade, when he moved to Moorhead, MN with his brother, Dylan and attended Moorhead High. Here he worked as a prep cook and host at the Long Horn Steak House. He returned to the Cokato area in 2015 and worked at Casey’s, Howard Lake Legion, and the Legacy of Delano until the time of his death. Currently at Casey’s, he told his mom he liked his boss Michelle and co-workers, they were like family.

Brady was a fun-loving person to be around. He loved his “brothers’ Ryne, Bubba and Blake to name a few. He loved playing video games with friends, and hanging out with his brother, Dylan and mom. Brady had a great sense of humor. He had been going through some difficult times and had some health issues that consumed him, but he always bounced back with a smile and a Brady bear hug. He will be sadly missed by his mother, brother, family and friends.

Survived by his mother, Jacquline Decker and stepfather, Dave, brother, Dylan Schmidt, loving aunts, Sharon Young, Susan Stulin, Deb Call, Dianna Jibben, uncles, cousins, stepbrothers and sisters.

Blessed be his memory! You will stay in my heart. You left me way too soon, 28 years was not enough time.

A memorial service will be held at 5:00 PM on Thursday, July 28, 2022 with visitation 1 hour prior to services at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake, MN www.swansonpeterson.com 320-543-3401.

Peltz (Anderson), Muriel Mae

age 85, of Prior Lake, MN went to be with the Lord on Jan. 8, 2022. She was born May 2, 1936 in Hutchinson, MN to Oscar and Elin (Melin) Anderson. Muriel was raised on a farm in Stockholm Township, MN and graduated from Cokato High School class of 1954. She moved to Minneapolis and worked various office and retail jobs. On October 3, 1963 she was united in marriage to Leslie “Les” Peltz. They made their home in Excelsior, MN until Les passed away in 2002, at which time Muriel moved to Prior Lake.

She enjoyed sewing, cooking, crafting, entertaining, and traveling. Muriel was very interested in genealogy and her Swedish heritage. Later in life she was involved in the care of her quintuplet grandchildren, who meant the world to her. She was a loving daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother.

Survived by her son, Eric of Prior Lake, grandsons, Austin, Blake, Clayton, Daniel, and Ethan Peltz. Preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Elin Anderson, husband, Leslie Peltz, sisters, Audrey Carlson and Sandra Anderson, and brother-in-law, Marlowe Carlson. She will forever live on in the lives of her son, grandsons, and the many lives she touched.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM, on Monday, July 18 at Stockholm Lutheran Cemetery in Cokato, MN. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com