Veronica Finken

Veronica E. "Vern" Finken, age 85 of Freeport died on Thursday, September 25, 2003 at the Melrose Area Hospital from complications of a stroke.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am on Monday, September 29 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Roger Klassen, O.S.B. officiating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 pm on Sunday and from 10 to 11 am on Monday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. Christian Mothers, Golden Years Senior Citizens and the National Society of Catholic Order of Foresters, Court 532 will pray at 4 pm followed by parish prayers at 8 pm Sunday evening.

Veronica Finken was born on April 26, 1918 in Albany Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Henry and Anna (Knebel) Wittkop. She was united in marriage to Conrad H. Finken, Jr. in Albany. The couple farmed all their lives and Veronica continued farming after her husband's death in 1955. Veronica was a waitress at the New Munich Ballroom. She worked at Melrose Produce, Laing Food Store in Freeport and at Fingerhut in Sauk Centre. In 1967 she became a nursing assistant at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose. In 1973 she continued her career as a nursing assistant at the Albany Area Hospital which she truly enjoyed until she retired. Veronica was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport, Christian Mothers, Golden Years Senior Citizens and the National Society of Catholic Order of Foresters, Court 532. She was involved with different mission groups, the Young at Heart Club, quilting circle, card club, book club, voter registration and the blood mobile. She was an adult leader of the 4-H Club and President of Central Minnesota Region Senior Federation. Veronica was an avid card player, quilt sewer and crocheter. She enjoyed watching the Twins on TV, doing crossword puzzles, playing scrabble and her flowers.

Survivors include her children, Rose Mary Rohe and her husband, Harvey of St. Rosa, Alice Klasen and her husband, Richard of Melrose, Marge Engelmeyer of St. Rosa, David Finken and his wife, Linda of Albany, and Ronald Finken of Upsala; 22 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; sister, Mary Wittkop of Freeport.

Veronica was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Wittkop in 1951 and Anna Wittkop in 1952; husband, Conrad H. Finken, Jr. on December 29, 1955; son-in-law, Art Engelmeyer on October 22, 2001; brother and sisters, Francis Zimmerman in 1990, Frank Wittkop in 1984, Christine Finken in 1988, Hildegarde Wittkop in 1987, and 3 infant brothers and sisters.

Serving as casket bearers will be Jamie Engelmeyer, Jay Engelmeyer, Mel Rohe, Marvin Rohe, Kurt Klasen and Chad Finken. Serving as cross bearer will be Kim Finken and scripture bearer will be Kristi Finken. Honorary bearers will be the Christian Mothers.