Many New Prague area residents turned out on Saturday, Nov. 13, for a concert by the West Point Glee Club of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. Held at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in New Prague, the concert was done in honor of Veterans Day.

Linda L. Shelton, age 64, of Prior Lake, MN, passed away unexpectedly at her home on November 28, 2021.
Linda was preceded in death by her father, Ralph Malenke; sisters, Diane Hardekopf   and Elaine Borning.  She is survived by her husband, Gary Shelton; mother, Darlene Malenke; sisters, Cheryl Mathias, Pat Hochstein, and Judy Miller; and brothers, Roger Malenke and Dennis Malenke; many nieces and nephews, as well as many friends and colleagues.

Rosalyn “Rosie” Agnes Nelson, age 79, of Jordan, passed away peacefully at her home on November 25, 2021. 
Rosie was born February 2, 1942, to Frank and Verena (Weckman) Lehnen. She attended St. John’s Catholic School in Jordan until eighth grade. While in grade school she was involved in school plays and sang in the church and school choir.  She graduated from Jordan High School in 1961.

A garden hoe, rake, wheel barrow, lawnmower, love of family, land, animals, and music describe Sidney. 
He married Betty Ann Prchal on May 21, 1957, at St. Scholastica Church in Heidelberg. While renting a house in Lonsdale, they purchased a farm south of Lonsdale, spending their first night there on November 6, 1958. Quickly, it became home, and neither of them ever thought of living anywhere else. 
Sidney was born on February 15, 1931, his parents were Mathias and Josephine Vikla (Andrysek). His mother, born in Moravia, came to America at the age of sixteen. 

Robert Steven Jirak, 57, of Elko, MN passed away due to complications of Covid Pneumonia on November 25, 2021 at Saint Francis Hospital. He was born May 12, 1964, in New Prague, MN to Edwin and Rosemary (Srnec) Jirak.
Rob graduated from Northfield High School, Class of 1982. Following graduation, he went on to vocational school for Tool and Die and he worked in that field until 2006. In 2006 he changed his career to financial planning and he worked with Primerica Financial services up until the end.

Gary “The Reaper” Coopman, age 65, passed away at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato on November 24, 2021 following a brief illness.
Please join us for services on December 11, 2021 at the Northview – North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato with visitation from 1 to 3 p.m. and a brief service at 3 p.m. Private family interment will be at Decoria Cemetery in rural Mankato at a later date. The service will be livestreamed and available on Gary’s obituary page at www.mankatomortuary.com.

Daniel R. Bohnsack, age 40, of New Prague, died peacefully with his family at his side on Friday, November 26, 2021 at Rochester Methodist Hospital.  Dan was definitively diagnosed with a very aggressive Stage 4 pancreatic cancer just 13 days prior to his passing.  Dan was born on March 10, 1981 in New Prague to Richard A. and Barbara M.

Polli Edberg, left, was helping daughter Kristin Dorick at the Holiday Boutique at The Depot in New Prague during Small Business Saturday. There were sales and specials at area stores on Saturday, Nov. 27, many on New Prague’s Main Street and on the east and west ends of town. The Holiday Boutique was being held until 4 p.m. and offered a wide range of vendors from clothing to candles to books to decorations. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Wesley Charles Fausch lost his courageous battle with Parkinson’s on November 24, 2021.  Wes was born on August 18, 1946 to Charles and Lucille (Edwards) Fausch in Morristown, MN.  He graduated in 1964 from Southern School of Agriculture in Waseca.  He went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota in Vocational Agriculture and received a Masters of Education.  He taught in West Concord, MN and the University of Minnesota-Waseca.  In 1978 he joined Pioneer Hi-Bred in Johnston, Iowa, where he spent 30 years until his retirement in 2008.  He enjoyed working with farmers and growers in h

Wagner, Geralda Mary, age 86 of New Market, passed away November 21, 2021 at her home. Preceded in death by her parents, Clem and Cecelia Lenzmeier; brother-in-law, Michael Wagner.

Kenneth (Ken) R. Ambroz of Savage, age 68, passed away Sunday afternoon, November 21, 2021 at the Villa in St. Louis Park, MN where he was a resident, after a battle with lung cancer.
 Kenneth was born on February 5, 1953 in New Prague to Eugene S. and Delores E. (Solheid) Ambroz.  He attended St. Wenceslaus School and graduated from New Prague High School in 1972. 

Thomas P. Straiton, age 95, of Waconia, formerly of New Prague, died peacefully with his wife at his side on Sunday, November 21, 2021 at Good Samaritan Society Waconia.  Tom was born on January 30, 1926 in Minneapolis to Raymond and Myrtle (Taklo) Straiton.  Tom graduated from Minneapolis Central High School and was drafted into the US Army Air Corps, where he served in post-war Germany and attended the Nuremberg Trials.  After service, Tom began his future career in education with a degree from Augsburg College.  He met and married the love of his life, Monica S.

Davis “Zach” Zachary, age 74, of New Prague, MN entered heaven peacefully at his home, with his loving wife and family by his side on Thursday, November 18, 2021. He was born on January 7, 1947, in New Castle, IN to Raymond T. and Bernita I. (Davis) Zachary. Zach was raised in Middletown, IN, the oldest of six children. After graduating from Middletown High School, Zach married Gretchen L.

Randy Allen Kuiken, age 62 of Elko, passed away on Wednesday, November 17, 2021.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, November 21, 2021 from 4-7 PM at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 100 6th St W, Jordan, MN 55352. A funeral service will be Monday, November 22, 2021 at 11 AM with a visitation beginning at 9:30 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Randy will be laid to rest at Spirit Hill Cemetery with Pastor Jeremy Glowicki presiding.

Kathleen Miles Schumacher, age 67, passed away peacefully at CT Hospice on November 15, 2021 with her husband and sister by her side.
Born June 5, 1954 in Rochester, NY to the late Laverne and Jean (Kostelnik) Miles. In addition to her parents, her sister, Marilyn, preceded Kathleen in death.
Kathleen is survived by her loving husband of 35 years, John Schumacher, stepson Carlton Schumacher (Casey) and their two children Payton and Jack of NH, stepdaughter Brandi Schumacher of MA, sister Bonnie Miles Perez (Mark), niece Elizabeth Perez of GA and best friend Karen Francis.

New Prague High School’s fall musical is “The Wedding Singer” and begins its five show run this weekend. Based on the hit Adam Sandler comedy of the same name, “The Wedding Singer”, has a sparkling score that does for the 1980s what the musical “Hairspray” did for the 1960s.