Erma Kettler

Erma M. Kettler, age 94 of Melrose, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at the Cura of Melrose Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, November 22nd, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating and Rev. Vincent Lieser and Rev. Mitchell Bechtold concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Friday at the church. The Mass will be livestreamed and can be viewed on the church's YouTube channel: Church of St. Mary Melrose.

Erma Mary Petermeier was born April 30, 1930, in Elrosa, Minnesota to Ignatius and Caroline (Uhlenkamp) Petermeier. On June 27, 1950, she married Elmer Kettler at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. After their marriage, Erma and Elmer farmed on the Kettler Family farm for 30 years. In 1979, they moved to Melrose when their son, Ron and daughter-in-law, Kathy took over the family farm. During the farming years, Erma worked at Fingerhut in Sauk Centre where she represented the workers as a union steward. In her retirement years, Erma was a cook at St. Mary’s School, volunteered for the Mission Group making many quilts, helped with adult foster care and cleaned houses. She loved gardening, flowers and making beautiful flower arrangements. She was an accomplished seamstress, made her own and her childrens’ clothes and later made items for sale at her daughters’ gift shop. She enjoyed bowling, quilting and playing cards.

Erma was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church where she volunteered as a sacristan and was a member of the Christian Mothers. She was also a member of National Farmer’s Organization (NFO).

Survivors include her children, Diane (Tom) O'Connor of Cumberland, Wisconsin, Karen (Mark) Kettler-Tepley of St. Louis Park, daughter-in-law, Kathy Kettler of Melrose, Pam (Dan) Rolfes of St. Joseph and Barb Kettler of St. Joseph; ten grandchildren, Amy (Rob), Betsy (Jim), Megan, Michael (Rachel), Mara (Mike), Lola (Mike), Ben, Uriah, Jesse (Bryce) and Abby (Travis); 15 great-grandchildren; brothers, Roman (Tillie) Petermeier and Eddie (Dorothy) Petermeier; sisters-in-law, Pudge Kettler and Marlene Kettler; and brother-in-law, Don Kettler.

Erma was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elmer Kettler, on June 2, 2016; son, Ron Kettler, on May 25, 2016; brothers and sisters, Al (Evelyn and Lucille) Petermeier, Evelyn (Henry) Jansen, Tony (Ella) Petermeier and Florentine (Leonard) Schmiesing; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, George (Jenny) Kettler, Roman (Pat) Kettler, Leander (Julianna) Kettler, Herb (Rose) Kettler, Francis Kettler, Richard (Evelyn) Kettler, Rosemary (Richard) Swanson, Lou Kettler and Connie Kettler. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose.