Sylvester Woeste

Sylvester G. "Ves" Woeste, age 88, of Melrose, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 in Pine Haven at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 26 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Ken Thielman officiating and Deacon Ernie Kociemba concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Knights of Columbus will pray at 6:00 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7:00 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Sylvester G. Woeste was born March 30, 1919 in Getty Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to John and Anna (Deters) Woeste. On January 13, 1942 he married Alvina B. Wessel at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. The couple lived and farmed near Greenwald until moving to Melrose in 1978. Sylvester resided at his home until he moved to Park View in 2002. He then moved to Pine Villa Care Center in 2005. His hobbies included fishing, woodworking, playing cards and dancing. Ves was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose and the Knights of Columbus, Council #1633.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Alvina; children, Jim (Kathy) Woeste of Sauk Centre, Jane (Dale) Rademacher of Sauk Centre, Dan (Rita) Woeste of Melrose, Rick (Jan) Woeste of Greenwald, Mary Kay (Bruce) Pederson of Osakis, Shar (Dan) Goihl of Little Birch Lake, Ann (Dave) Terwey of St. Joseph, Kathy (Ron) Kettler of Melrose, Duane Woeste of Roseville, Peg (Mark) Zimmer of St. Joseph, and Mark (Patti Holland) Woeste of Grey Eagle; 33 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Donald Woeste in 1942; grandsons, Tom Roach and William Majerus; brothers, Frank, John, Joseph, Casper Bill and Anton Woeste; sisters, Ann Weinmann, Elizabeth Voit, Tille Ostendorf, Dorothy Marthaler, Ceil Lieser, Josephine Huismann, Sally Voit, Clara Woeste, and Gertrude Walz.

Serving as casket bearers will be Kevin Woeste, Jon Withers, Jodie Woeste, Paul Roach, Pam Lammers, Cate Weber, Jason Terwey and Kent Rademacher. Cross bearer will be Cory Goihl, scripture bearer will be Steven Woeste, and flower bearers will be Tori Majerus and Mara Frieler.