Erma Walz

Erma M. Walz, age 93 of Melrose, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 28, 2016 at the CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, April 1 at the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Meire Grove with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Melrose, Minnesota.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. The Melrose VFW Auxiliary will pray at 6 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.

Ermalinda Mary Van Beck was born March 8, 1923 in rural Greenwald, Minnesota to Albert and Mary (Kolb) Van Beck. Erma went to grade school in Greenwald and graduated from Melrose High School. After school she helped her brothers on the farm and later worked at the Melrose Hospital. She married Leonard "Ervin" Walz on June 14, 1948 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. Together they raised their 3 children in Melrose. Erma did bookwork for Erv's Skelly Station while Erv owned and operated it. After Erv's death she worked in the cafeteria at the Melrose High School from 1981 until 1998. Erma enjoyed playing cards, bingo, dancing, her morning coffee and walking group, and her family, especially her grandchildren and great-granddaughter.

She was member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Catholic Order of Foresters, St. Elizabeth Society, Christian Mothers, and Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 Auxiliary.

Survivors include her children, Gary (Mary Lou) of Melrose, Chuck (Sue) of Melrose, and Steven Walz of Melrose; brothers and sister, Adam Van Beck of Melrose, Katherine "Kitty" Gruber of Melrose, and Reuben (Arlene) Van Beck of Cold Spring; grandchildren, Erica Walz of Monticello, Adam Walz of Fargo, ND, and Andrew (Jill) Walz of Eagan; and great-grandchild, Liliana Erma Walz-Seviour.

Erma was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leonard "Erv" Walz on August 20, 1979; and brother and sisters, Edwin Van Beck, Monica Ehlert, and Beata Brang.

Serving as casket bearers will be Erma's grandchildren, Erica Walz, Adam Walz, Andrew Walz, and Jill Walz. Serving as cross bearer will be Erma's great-granddaughter, Liliana Erma Walz-Serviour and serving as scripture bearer will be Jan Schwieters-Baltes.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Melrose.