Sylvester Stroeing

Sylvester J. "Ves" Stroeing, age 92 of Freeport, died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Sunday, December 13, 2015 at the Quiet Oaks Hospice House in St. Augusta, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 17 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating and Rev. Ken Thielman concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the church. Parish prayers will be at 5 p.m. followed by St. Joseph's Men's Society at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Sylvester John Stroeing was born November 8, 1923 in St. Martin Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Frank and Anna (Buettner) Stroeing. He attended Country School south of Freeport through 7th grade. After school, Ves worked on various farms doing various jobs. On May 14, 1951 Ves married Anna Mae Wensmann at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. They moved to St. Paul where Ves worked at Whirlpool. In 1960 they moved back to Freeport and took over his father-in-law's business as a Standard Oil bulk agent until his retirement in 1985. Throughout his entire employment career, he worked as a mechanic at various shops. He resided in his home in Freeport for 54 years until May of 2015 when he moved to Parkview in Melrose.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport; belonging to the usher's club for many years, a member of St. Joseph's Men's Society, and the Freeport Commercial Club. Ves enjoyed fishing with his buddies and family, coffee clutching at Charlie's Café, gardening, lawn care, playing cards, woodworking including remodeling his house with son, Glenn and making various pieces of furniture for family and friends. Ves also made the rosary that is on display at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Survivors include his children, Glenn (Bev) Stroeing of Alexandria, John (Sharon) Stroeing of New Ulm, Kathy (Ken) Luethmers of Freeport, Lori Ann (Mike) Pohlmann of Melrose, Lisa (Garron) Orton of Foley, and Amy Stroeing of Sauk Centre; 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; special friend, Rose Pundsack of Melrose; brothers and sisters, Leora (Pete) Honer of St. Joseph, Vernon (Margie) Stroeing of Freeport, Marvin (Marlene) Stroeing of Freeport, and Rita (Fred) Stang of Minneapolis.

Ves was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Mae Stroeing on April 5, 2000; son, Tim Stroeing on July 28, 1963; parents; brother and sisters, Wilfred Stroeing, Celestine Stroeing, Dorothy Stroeing, Mary Ellen Rosen, and Evelyn Voller.

Serving as casket bearers will be Eric Luethmers, Dan Luethmers, Brad Luethmers, Cari Altmann, Adam Stroeing, Jamie Pohlmann, Timothy Stroeing, and Heather Orton. Cross bearer will be Cole Stroeing and scripture bearer will be Chloe Orton. Readers will be Emily Orton and Craig Stroeing and serving as honorary bearers will be Ves's fishing buddies.