Ermalinda Poepping

Ermalinda G. “Erma” Poepping, age 89 of New Munich, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at the CentraCare – Melrose Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 18 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating.  Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose.  Parish prayers will be held at 5 p.m. followed by the Christian Women and the American Legion Auxiliary at 7 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Ermalinda Gertrude Dickhaus was born December 15, 1929 in Melrose, Minnesota to Joseph and Mary (Herzog) Dickhaus. Erma attended a one room country schoolhouse through the eighth grade and earned her G.E.D. in 1995. Erma worked at the hotel in Melrose, Honeywell in Minneapolis, and the old Melrose Hospital. She was united in marriage to Melvin Poepping on May 27, 1952 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose, Minnesota.  The couple raised their family and farmed until retiring in 1984 and moved into New Munich. After retiring from the farm, Erma went back to work at the Melrose Hospital and retired at the age of 70.

She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich, St. Ann’s Christian Women, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 101, St. Valeria Mission Group, and the Homemaker’s Group. Erma enjoyed crocheting doilies and afghans, embroidering and tatting, sewing, quilting, playing cards, especially Smear, 500, and Rummy. Erma loved gardening in her flower and vegetable gardens, cooking and baking, traveling, going on casino trips, and ceramic painting.

Survivors include her children, Ann (Mike) Barten of Greenwald, Donna (Lee) Loehr of Sauk Centre, Toby Poepping (special friend, Sharon Brumbaugh) of Melrose, Phil (Bonnie) Poepping of New Munich, and Tim (Dawn) Poepping of Cheyenne, Wyoming; 14 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren; brothers and sister, Lorraine Borgerding of Sauk Centre, Richard (Pat) Dickhaus of Melrose, and Walter Dickhaus of Arkansas; and brother-in-law, Leo Kantor of Sartell.

Erma was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Poepping on November 7, 2013; parents; son, Dennis Poepping; sisters, Betty Kantor and Rita Massmann; and an infant sister, Donna Mae Dickhaus.

Serving as casket bearers will be Josh Poepping, Preston Poepping, Greg Poepping, Darrin Loehr, Joel Barten, Jason Barten, and Chris Barten. Cross bearer will be Donna Loehr and scripture bearer will be Ann Barten.  Gift bearers will be Jody Waltzing and Nicole Poepping and readers will be Missy Frieler and Cindy Hoffman. Honorary bearers will be St. Ann’s Christian Women.