Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes

Marie Kathryn Ranfranz was born October 16,1937 to Hugh and Blanche (Freml) McCullough in Ida Grove, Iowa. The family lived in Iowa, South Dakota, California and then moved back to Watertown, SD, where Marie graduated from Watertown High School. Marie attended Radiology Technician training in Minneapolis, MN in 1955 at Minneapolis General Hospital. She married Carl W. Ranfranz Jr. in 1960 and moved to Rochester, MN where she has lived for the past 60 years. She worked as a Radiology Technician at the Mayo Clinic specializing in mammography. Marie enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, gardening and learning about her family's ancestry. Marie is...

Barbara J. Vinz, 89, of Rochester, MN, passed away peacefully at her home with her family by her side on Friday, November 3, 2023. Barbara Jean (Parr) Vinz was born on July 31, 1934 in La Crosse, WI, to parents Gordon and Freida (Stoikes) Parr. After graduating high school, Barb married Myron G. Vinz on October 4, 1952, and the couple had three children, Steve, Mike and Lori. Barb spent time working at Waters Instruments as well as Dayton's. Barb had many hobbies, including playing cards with her friends, but most importantly she loved spending time with her kids and grandkids. Family was everything to her. Barb is survived by her children Steve (Cally) Vinz, Mike (Becky) Vinz, and Lori...

Marilyn O'Brien, age 89, of Mazeppa, Minnesota has seen her cardinals, and passed away on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at the Zumbrota Care Center. Born in Hamilton County, Iowa to Rayner and Eva Nickles, she was raised on a family farm. She graduated in 1951 from Lincoln High School, Webster City, Iowa. Upon graduation, she worked a split shift as a telephone operator. She also worked at Beam Manufacturing to make washing machines. On July 25, 1954, she married Dennis O'Brien at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Webster City, Iowa. Marilyn was strongly dedicated to her loving husband for 69 years. They rented farmland in the Kasson and Dodge Center, Minnesota area from...

Shirley Elwayne (Glarner) Hall, 96, was taken on September 29, 2023 to be reunited in heaven with her husband, Kenneth Hall, 98, who passed away on March 30, 2023. They were married for 77 years on February 9, 2023. Together they had four children. Shirley was born in Mantorville, MN to Virgil and Aletha Glarner. She was full of life and loved by everyone she met. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Pine Island and a member of the Methodist Church, Pine Island. She enjoyed square dancing, gardening, canning vegetables, tomatoes and strawberry jam. Shirley loved her family very much and enjoyed spending as much time as she could with them. Shirley is survived by her...

Twyla B. Sharpnack, 101, of Rochester, MN passed away on September 28, 2023 at The Homestead of Rochester with family by her side. Twyla B. (Miller) Sharpnack was born on September 21, 1922 to parents Franklin and Kathryn (Swallow) Miller, in Cumming, IA. For the first 12 years of life, she greatly enjoyed living on the family farm where she had a horse named Dynamite and a dog named Felix. They later moved to Des Moines where she attended Valley High School and began her career as a Bookkeeper with the United States Department of Agriculture. In 1940, Twyla married the love of her life, Richard (Dick) Sharpnack. Richard served in the United States Army during World War II and was...

Kathleen (Kathy) Marjorie Olson of Mazeppa, passed away on Sunday morning, September 17th, 2023, with her loving family surrounding her. Kathleen Marjorie Hanson was born on September 26, 1941 to George and Myrna (Partner) Hanson. Kathy graduated from John Marshall High School in June of 1959 and then attended junior college before starting her career at Mayo Clinic in 1961. On June 9, 1962 she married Loren Olson and they made their residence in Mazeppa. They were blessed with four children, Robert Olson, Christine (Allen) Heitman, Brian (Jolene) Olson, and Molly Ryan. Kathy (also known as Grammy) was beyond proud of her nine grandchildren. Her love and support for Tyler, Brandon,...

Charles Martin Remes "Chuck", former New Prague native, passed peacefully on August 31, 2023, at the age of 57 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Mary's Campus in Rochester, MN. He was born on April 5, 1966, in Minneapolis, MN. Chuck was a devoted and loving husband to Dalaine Remes (Skinner) for nearly 30 years and a proud father to his three daughters: Sara Beth (Grant Soper), Megan Alicia, and Anna Rose Remes. He is survived by his brother, Scott (Liz) Remes, and his father, Richard "Dick" Remes. Chuck was preceded in death by his mother, Deanna Remes. Please help us Celebrate and Honor Chuck's life on Saturday, September 30th from 1 pm - 4 pm at the Remes homestead. (41808 245th St. Delavan,...

Larry "Bear" Monte King, age 69, of Byron, Minnesota died on Monday, August 21, 2023 at Seasons Hospice House in Rochester, MN after a courageous battle with cancer and congestive heart failure. Larry was born on May 6 to Laurance and Iva (Chilson) King in Rochester, MN in 1954. Larry graduated from Byron High School in 1972. Later he graduated from Riverland with a Mechanical Drafting Degree, graduating when his children were in elementary school. He lived in the Byron area and worked at Weiss Construction for some time. He was also honored to do some work with the Hiawatha Children's Home. Larry found great joy in hunting, fishing and wood working. He also enjoyed watching his favorite...

The Very Reverend Michael J. Cronin, IVDei, JCL, 57, a priest of the Diocese of Winona Rochester and former staffer for the United States Congress, died of complications post heart bypass surgery, on August 16, 2023, at 3:57 AM. Born December 7, 1965 to Paul R. and Ann Marie (Puchner) in Rochester, MN, he attended St. Pius X Grade School and Lourdes High School. He then attended St. John's University in Collegeville, MN and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 1988. Having interned in the Washington, DC, congressional office of former U.S. Representative Timothy J. Penny in 1986, he was hired as a permanent staff member in that office upon his graduation,...

Debra (Debbie) M. Balzum, age 61, died on July 27, 2023 at Mayo Clinic Methodist Hospital. Debbie was born on September 21, 1961 in Harvey, ND to Reuben and Adelle (Nordstrom) Hagelie. Debbie attended Bowdon High School and later graduated from Interstate Business College in Fargo, ND. She moved to Rochester in 1986 and worked as an Assistant Supervisor of Pathology Reporting Specialists in Anatomic Pathology at Mayo Clinic for 32 years. She married Timothy Balzum and later divorced. Debbie was a gentle soul who had the biggest heart, a laugh contagious to anyone she would meet, and a smile that could light up the whole room. Her greatest joy was her family, especially her grandchild. She...

Jill Glenna Hanson, 57, of Rochester, Minnesota passed away July 19, 2023, at Saint Mary's Hospital surrounded by family and friends. She was born April 14th, 1966, in Owatonna to Glenn and Mary Lou Hanson. Jill graduated from West Concord High School in 1984. She attended St Cloud State University and Rochester Community College. Jill was currently employed with Rochester Public Schools Student Nutrition Services and was previously employed at Rochester Walmart North for 30 years. She also worked part time at Joelundefineds Greenhouse in Pine Island. Jill was married to Brian Elton on July 31st, 2002. They are blessed with 2 children, daughter Sydney and son Collin. She will be remembered for...

James Lowell Talen, of Rochester, MN, died peacefully at age 88, the morning of July 14, 2023. Jim was born March 4, 1935 in Ogilvie, Minnesota to Clarence and Anne (Minnema) Talen. As a child, he moved to Eyota in 1939 when his father accepted a position with the Farmers State Bank of Eyota. His family later moved to Rochester and, in 1950, to Menomonie, Wisconsin. Jim attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan where, in a Shakespeare class, he met his first wife, Joyce A. Kooi. They married the year he graduated, in 1956. Jim and Joyce moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where Jim attended the University of Michigan Engineering School, earning a MS Electrical Engineering. He then worked...

Jeffery W. Lyman, age 73, of Rochester, MN passed away peacefully on July 3, 2023. Jeffery Ward Lyman was born December 25, 1949, in Duluth, MN the son of John B. and Rosetta Mae (Teal) Lyman. The family moved to Rochester, MN where he graduated from John Marshall High School. He grew up in a family of musicians and in high school he played bass guitar for the Stormy Monday's Band, J.C. and thee Apostles, that won first place in the Battle of the Bands at the Olmsted County Fair. Jeffery enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on May 10, 1967, and was honorably discharged on January 12, 1968. He received the Marksmanship Rifle Badge and National Defense Medal. He married Pamela Cox...

Kenneth Barton Hall, 98, of Pine Island passed away on March 30, 2023, at Pine Haven Care Center. Kenneth Hall was born to Arthur and Beatrice (Mull) Hall on June 12, 1924, in Douglas, Minnesota where he grew up. He graduated from Central High School. On February 19, 1946, Kenneth married Shirley Glarner with whom he celebrated 77 wonderful years of marriage on Valentine's Day of this year. Kenneth and Shirley had four children: Wayne, Michael, Candace and Eddie. Kenneth was in the Navy during WWII and was a proud Navy Veteran. After the service he spent time raising his children and devoted 18 years to working as a custodial engineer for the Rochester Public School System. He was a...

Alexander C. Hall, 29, of Rochester, MN passed away on March 18, 2023 at his home in Rochester. Alexander Champ Hall was born on April 14, 1993 in Macomb, IL to Frank and Jennifer Hall. He moved to Rochester, MN in 1997 with his family. Alex attended school in Rochester and was a beloved member of the autism classroom. After graduation, he joined the PossAbilities Day Recreation Program. Alex also attended Autism Society of Minnesota's Camp Hand in Hand nearly every year. He loved camp and the camp staff loved him. Alex loved to swim, swing, bounce and walk outside. For the past six years he resided at Knotting Hill group home, where the staff were his second family. They loved Alex and...

Jane Elizabeth Faber Rubin, 76, of Maple Grove, Minnesota, peacefully entered the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, February 19, 2023. Jane was born on September 20, 1946 to Dr. John and Bernice (Frey) Faber in Rochester, Minnesota. She was especially fond of her childhood in Rochester, considering it to be her true home. Jane graduated from Rochester John Marshall High School class of 1964 and then attended Ripon College, graduating in 1968. After college, she moved to New York City, where she did breast cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and then taught science at Grace Church School. It was during her time in New York that she met her...

Robert (Bob) Raddatz, 82, of Rochester, Minnesota, formerly of Kasson-Mantorville, and Lake City, passed away Friday, February 17, 2023, and Mayo Clinic Rochester, Saint Mary's Campus. Bob was born April 28, 1940, to Victor and Etta (Stussy) Raddatz in Faribault, Minnesota. He grew up in Mantorville and graduated from K-M High School in 1958. Bob married BernaDene Prescher on May 28, 1960. They have two children, Jeffrey, and Jane. Bob was employed by Kasson Lumber Co. for 43 years before retiring in 2002. Bob and BernaDene moved to Lake City and enjoyed boating on the Mississippi River, all sports, and traveling. Bob enjoyed his years at Kasson Lumber so he continued to help out at...

David Thomas Oxler, 80, of Des Moines, Iowa passed away February 13, 2023 surrounded by family at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri on December 9, 1942, the second son of Joe Oxler & Joyce (Hill) Oxler. Dave grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from Rockhurst High School, Rockhurst College, and UMKC Law School. He married Patricia Doherty and had 3 children, Julia, Brian, and Elizabeth. He enjoyed a long career as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He enjoyed cycling and gardening. He was an avid fan of Notre Dame Football. He rode Ragbrai for over 25 years with Team Not Exactly. But his biggest joy...

Gwen E. Steige, 85, a longtime Rochester, MN resident and retired Registered Nurse, died Tuesday December 27, 2022, at Rochester East Health Services following a lengthy battle with dementia. Gwen was born December 21, 1937, in Owatonna, MN the daughter of Floyd and Fern Behsman. She graduated from Owatonna High School in 1956 and attended Rochester's Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1959. She practiced nursing in Colorado where she met her husband, Harold Steige. The two were married on June 3, 1961, in Greeley, CO. The couple moved to Rochester, MN in 1962 where she continued her nursing career working at St. Mary's Hospital, Methodist Hospital,...

Robert L. Milbrandt, 91, of Rochester, MN passed away on December 27, 2022, at Mayo Clinic Methodist Hospital. Robert Lawrence Milbrandt was born on September 14, 1931, in Elma, IA to parents Lawrence and Louise (Johanns) Milbrandt. After graduation from high school he was inducted into the US Army where he served from 1952-1954 in the Engineers operating heavy equipment to help rebuild the Autobahn in Germany. On June 12, 1954, Robert married Ann Haehn at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Adams, MN. Bob then began his career as a Project Engineer for IBM. After retiring from IBM Bob worked at Sam's Club. The couple had four children, Robert J., Susan, Laurie, and Chris. Bob enjoyed...

Beverly Mae (Jenkin) Richardson, 85, of Rochester, MN passed away peacefully on December 19, 2022, at St. Mary's Hospital. Born on June 5, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York to Arthur Warner and Helen (Micklik) Harms. Beverly received her Nursing Diploma from Illinois Masonic Hospital (School of Nursing) in 1958, worked in various nursing departments in Chicago, Ill; Fredrick, Maryland; Taipei, Taiwan; and Austin, MN. Beverly pursued other career opportunities and returned to nursing in 1979 at St Mary's Hospital in-patient psychiatric unit. During her 25 years at St. Mary's Hospital, she continued her education, graduating from St. Joseph's College in Windham, Maine in 1985 with a BS degree in...