Ione Walz

Ione L. Walz, age 81, of Melrose died Thursday, October 30, 2003 at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 1 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vincent Lieser officiating. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Christian Mothers and the Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 Auxiliary will pray at 6:45 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Ione Walz was born on September 28, 1922 in Melrose, Minnesota to Bernard and Rose (Inderrieden) Wessel. She married Norbert J. Walz on December 26, 1942 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. The couple resided in St. Cloud, where she was a clerk at Sears, and they later moved to Melrose. Ione's holiday meals consisted of ham, potatoes, creamed corn, carrots and cauliflower with dill dip. She had an unlimited supply of cashew halves, Almond Joy bars, Nestle Crunch bars and chocolate covered peanuts on hand for visitors. She also had jars of frosting that the grandchildren helped themselves to. Ione enjoyed playing Yahtzee, Spike & Malice and crocheting. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, Christian Mothers and the Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 Auxiliary.

She is survived by her children, Ron Walz and his wife, Karen of Elk River; Mike Walz and his wife, Shirley of Hastings; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Clara Conrad of Milwaukee, WI, Alvina Woeste and her husband, Ves of Melrose and Eileen Dold of Sauk Centre.

Ione was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard and Rose Wessel; husband, Norb Walz on Jan. 3, 1983; brothers and sisters, Joseph, Aloys, John, Rose, Mary, Frances, Ann, Catherine, Irene and Josephine.

Serving as casket bearers will be Jack Mayers, John Fuchs, Chuck Walz, Jim Woeste, Ken Dold and Roger Walz. Serving as cross bearer will be Kellie Walz and scripture bearer will be Ryan Walz. Honorary bearers will be Jamie Walz and Tara (Walz) Johnson.