Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Joel W. Miller (Joe) passed away unexpectedly on July 29, 2024 at his home north of Howard Lake.

Joe was born on September 29, 1961, to Wilton and Eldora (Dorie) Miller. He attended Howard Lake-Waverly Elementary School and High School, graduating in 1980.

Joe had several jobs in his younger years including working at Broll Fertilizer, American Feeds, fishing in Alaska with the Schmitz boys, training racehorses with his good friend, Derek LaZarre, and working for area farmers. On April 1, 1989, he began his career as a well driller at Mattson Well Co. just across the road from his home. Joe drilled many, many wells and he remembered every one.

He is survived by his daughter, Jessica Tack of Austin, TX, his mother, Dorie Miller of Howard Lake, his siblings Julie McSweeney (Terry Alverez) of Plymouth, Ann Sheahan (Randy) of De Pere, Wisconsin, Donna Brezinka (Tony Austinson) of Maple Grove, Alan Miller of Howard Lake, and Ruth Oestreich (Dave) of Howard Lake.

He is further survived by his nieces and nephew, Lindsay McSweeney of Maple Grove, Caitlin Leggitt (Kyle) of Dayton, Madison Canizales (John) of Minnetonka, Mackenzie Brezinka of Maple Grove and Drew Oestreich of Marquette, Michigan. Great niece and nephew, River and Noah Leggitt.

Joe had many friends that he considered family including the Schmitz’s, Lazarre’s, Heuer’s, Sawatzke’s, the Yager Farm gang and many more.

He was preceded in death by his dad, Wilton Miller.

A memorial service will be held at Swanson Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake from 1-2:30 pm on Saturday, August 3, 2024 followed by a luncheon and beers at the Howard Lake American Legion. We would have had a more elaborate memorial for Joe, but he spent all his money at Canterbury.

Joe’s family wishes to thank you for your kind expression of friendship, sympathy, and support. No acknowledgements will be sent.

We will all miss Joe’s laugh, his stubbornness and sarcasm.

And as Joe would say “GO PACK GO”.

James Grogan of Howard Lake, MN died July 20,2024.

Jim is survived by son Brian (Carolyn) of San Antonio, TX, long time partner Sandee Gould, sister Marilyn Peterson of New Richmond, WI and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in by his parents Maybelle and Malcom Grogan, sister Arlene Quarderer, Rosalie Hoff, brothers Ed and Alvin (Bud) Grogan.

Jim was a veteran of the Korean War. He worked and retired from the Minneapolis VA.

He was a quiet, mild mannered man with a dry wit. He thrived on playing chess and working any type of puzzle. He did photography, drawing and self-taught woodworking in retirement.

The family would like the thank the staff at Cokato Manor for the care Jim received over the last three months.

No services will be held.

Marilyn Jean Dahlquist, age 87, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 14, 2024 at the Cokato Manor in Cokato, MN. She was born to Godfrey and Faith Norling (Breffel) on August 13, 1936 in Mora, MN. She was baptized on May 11,1952 at the First English Lutheran Church. Marilyn graduated from Redwood Falls High School in June 1952.

Marilyn married LaGrand Wegner on April 9, 1955, at the Evangelical United Parsonage. They were blessed with three children, Randall, Robert and Lori. Marilyn operated a daycare for small children for many years while raising her children. Marilyn and LaGrand enjoyed going to Marilyn’s parents’ cabin on Sturgeon Lake, fishing, ocean destination cruises, other vacations, and being active members at the Bloomington American Legion. After LaGrand’s passing Marilyn continued to live in Bloomington, MN and stayed close to her family. Marilyn worked at Kirsch Company until 1985. Then she started to work in the office for Holt Motors in Cokato, MN until 2001.

Marilyn married Leighton Dahlquist on February 29, 1984 in Las Vegas, NV. They moved to a hobby farm in South Haven, MN in June of 1984. Marilyn raised wonderful produce from her vegetable garden, endless flower gardens and decorative flower pots. She was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary for many years. She also enjoyed quilting at the church and visiting with others. She had a talent for crocheting and sewing many wonderful useful items from her home to give as gifts for family. Marilyn loved her grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them. If life got busy, the grandchildren were always in her thoughts and loving, caring heart. Marilyn and Lee enjoyed camping fun during the summer months for many years. They parked their camper at a site and would go there as time permitted.

In their later years they downsized a couple of times and eventually found their amazing townhome in Cokato, MN.

The casino get-aways were something that Lee & Marilyn enjoyed, especially when family and friends could join them. They also met many new people there that grew into friendships.
Marilyn is survived by her sons Randall (Marie) Wegner and Robert Wegner; stepdaughters Kathryn (Ken) Beckers and Karen (Steve) Miller; siblings Diane (Dick) Kaitz and Barbara (Jack) McNamara; eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents Godfrey and Faith Norling (Breffel); daughter Lori Wegner; spouses LaGrand Wegner and Leighton Dahlquist; siblings: Charlou Walser and Lynn Fallen.
A funeral service will be held at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 280 3rd St SE, Cokato, MN on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 11:00 AM, with gathering of family and friends beginning at 10:00 AM. Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN on August 2, 2024, at 10:30 am.

Memorials are preferred to the donor’s choice.

Jessie Lea (Cochran) Holt, age 52 of Cokato, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 7, 2024.

Jessie was born in Litchfield, MN on June 5, 1972 to Barbara & Craig Cochran.

Jessie loved being with family and friends.

She had a passion for landscaping and gardening. She could spend weeks working on just one spot of her expansive gardens. She inherited her love for gardening from her mother, Barb.

Jessie had a love of music, riding motorcycle, visiting Texas, walking the beaches looking for shells and hanging out at the pool with family.

Jessie is preceded in death by her mother, Barbara Cochran.

She is survived by her father Craig Cochran, spouse Mitchell Holt, Children: Trevor (Amanda) Weibel, Kerstin Weibel (Zachary), Logan Holt and Johanna Holt. Siblings: Tammy Cochran and Nicky (John) Gutormson, grandson: Grayson, nieces and nephews and special friend, Lee Steinbach.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Friday, July 12, 2024 at 2 pm at Living Stones Church, Cokato – 405 Broadway Ave S, Cokato MN 55321. Dress attire is open to colorful clothing.

Flowers gratefully declined; donations preferred to the Go Fund Me account to help towards funeral cost. https://gofund.me/6d2dc471

Barbara Mary Kaczmarek was born June 8, 1928 to Conrad and Minnie Smith. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Church in Waverly, Minnesota. Barb attended St. Mary’s School for 12 years. After graduation, she and a friend, Roseann Hessel, attended teacher training in Litchfield, Minnesota. She taught one year at Melquist School north of Cokato and three years at Waverly Public School. While teaching at Cokato she met her future husband, Raymond Kaczmarek. Ray was a school bus driver and picked her up every morning and brought her back home at the end of the day. They were married June 13, 1951 and celebrated 62 years of marriage. After Ray bought Cokato Implement, John Deere, she balanced her day doing the bookwork at the shop and raising their five children.

She enjoyed bowling, baseball, golf, flower gardening, hand work and cooking. After the children were in school, she and Ray were kept busy attending school activities. She and Ray traveled to 6 European countries, Australia, New Zealand, and Alaska. They especially enjoyed being up north at the cabin fishing, beautiful sunsets and new friends. Barb called it the best therapy.

Preceded in death by husband Ray, daughter Jayne and her husband Jerry, and brother Don. Survived by Jeff (Suzanne), Deb (Mark), Cindy, John (Jody), grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 9-10:15 am. Mass services will be at 10:30 am on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waverly, MN.