Loretta Middendorf-Gieske

Loretta C. Middendorf-Gieske, age 94 of Melrose, died on Saturday, July 26, 2003 at Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am on Wednesday, July 30 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vincent Lieser officiating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call Tuesday from 4 to 9 pm and Wednesday from 8 to 10:30 am at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. American Legion Post 101 Auxiliary and the Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 Auxiliary will pray at 7 pm, Christian Mothers and the St. Rosa Lions will pray at 8 pm with parish prayers immediately following Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Loretta Middendorf-Gieske was born April 1, 1909 in Millwood Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to George and Bernadine (Albers) Toenyan. She was united in marriage to Henry Middendorf in November of 1925. Henry passed away March of 1967. She married Joseph Gieske and he passed away in August of 1997. Loretta was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, Christian Mothers, American Legion Post 101 Auxiliary and Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 Auxiliary.

Loretta is survived by her nine children, Mary Ann Butkowski (Jerome) of Melrose, Viola Meyer of Freeport, Wilfred Middendorf (Dorothy) of Melrose, Edward Middendorf (Vicki) of Melrose, Arlene Arnzen (Gerald) of St. Rosa, Lawrence Middendorf (Joyce) of Melrose, Kathleen Thomes (Kenneth) of Melrose, Harriet Froelich of Melrose, David Middendorf (Jan) of Melrose; daughters-in-law, Sonja Middendorf of Sauk Centre and Ethel Middendorf of Freeport; 60 grandchildren, 109 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren; step children, Val Gieske, Doreen Sunderman, Jim Gieske, Joan Nathe, Marian Goerdt, Chuck Gieske; numerous step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.

Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, George and Bernadine Toenyan; husbands, Henry Middendorf and Joe Gieske; sons, Walter Middendorf and Conrad Middendorf; daughters-in-law, Rosemary Middendorf and Rosie Middendorf; son-in-law, Edwin Meyer; 6 grandchildren, Steve, Jim, John, Bob, Judy and John; 3 great grandchildren, Shane, Eric and Amy; brothers and sisters, Mary Bruggenthies, Amanda Boeckermann, Veronica Middendorf, Norbert, Edward, Robert, Lawrence and George Toenyan and Walburga Wiechmann.

Serving as casket bearers will be Jeff Middendorf, Gary Middendorf, Bruce Middendorf, Paul Middendorf, Fred Arnzen, and Deb Miner. Cross bearer will be Janet Ostendorf and scripture bearer will be Ron Butkowski. Honorary bearers will be the Christian Mothers. Ron Butkowski and Tim Middendorf will be lectors. Serving as gift bearers will be Jennifer Mueller and Brenda Stangler. Karen Wensmann and Kim Thomes will give eulogies.In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Michael's Hospice and/or American Diabetes Association.