Alvina Spaeth

Alvina A. Spaeth, age 99 of Melrose died Saturday, March 6, 2004 at Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 10 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. Rev. Vincent Lieser will officiate with interment following in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 8 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. St. Elizabeth's Society and Christian Mothers will pray at 7 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 8 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Alvina was born February 5, 1905 in Melrose, Minnesota to Bernard and Mary (Klein) Kramer. She was united in Marriage to Theodore J. Spaeth on July 31, 1923 at St. Boniface Church in Melrose. After their marriage, the couple farmed in the Greenwald area for 7 years. They retired from farming in 1930 and moved to Melrose. Alvina was a homemaker until her husband passed away and began working as a housekeeper at the Melrose Hospital. She enjoyed playing cards, reading, crocheting, and craft work. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Elizabeth's Society and Christian Mothers.

Survivors include her daughter, Lorraine VanHavermaet and her husband, Larry of Melrose; grandson, Charles VanHavermaet and his wife, Barbara of Rochester; great-grandsons, Benjamin, Daniel, and Samuel VanHavermaet; brothers and sisters, Louise Spehn, Veronica Wolf, A. J. "Bud" Kramer, and Ted Kramer all of Melrose, and Connie Kampsen and her husband, Ron of St. Paul.

Alvina was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard and Mary Kramer; husband, Theodore Spaeth in September of 1957; brothers and sisters, Henry Kramer, Alma Kramer, Rose Illies, Marie Parish, Ann Uhlenkamp, Leo Kramer, and Ray Kramer, and one infant sister, Helen Kramer.

Serving as casket bearers will be Mike Kramer, Andy Blenker, Barney Hollermann, Don Spehn, Gary Servatius, and Henry Illies. Serving as cross bearer will be Irene Blenker.