The following obituaries are from the May 15, 2008 print edition of the Jordan Independent newspaper:
Kathryn Stenso Miller
Kathryn Miller, 49, of Maple Plain, died Thursday, April 24, 2008.
She is survived by her husband of 25 years, Rick; daughters, Eli, Paula and Grete Miller; parents, Charles and Diane Stenso; parents in-law, Jerrold and Mary Miller of Eden Prairie; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 6, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Maple Plain.
Kenneth L. Wendorff
Kenneth “Ken” Wendorff, of Braham and formerly of Jordan, passed away Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at his home, surrounded by his family, after a long battle with cancer. He was 56 years old.
Funeral service was held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Rock-Ingebrand Funeral Chapel in Braham. Visitation was held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday prior to the service. The Rev. Rich Chronis officiated at the service.
Ken was born June 19, 1951 in Arlington, Minn. to Lowell and Velma (Winter) Wendorff. He married Cheryl Doerr on May 9, 1970 and had three children. Ken was a private man who was easy-going and a friend to all he met. He never failed to help another person when the need was there. Ken had a great love for his family. He loved the outdoors, fishing and hunting. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Lowell and Velma; brother-in-law, Jim Hartman.
Ken is survived by his wife of 38 years, Cheryl; children, Paul (Melanie) of Pine City, Brian (Ramona) of Braham and Julie (Todd) Paulsen of Rockford; grandchildren, Bailey and Christopher Paulsen and Ava Wendorff; brothers, Richard of Elburn, Ill. and Greg (Kris) of Prior Lake; sisters, Jan Hartman of Jordan, Bonnie (Bob) Halver of Grand Rapids and Diane (Mike) Seifert of Jordan; mother-in-law, Sylvia Doerr of Lakeville; brothers-in-law, Bob (Mary) Doerr of Apple Valley, Mark (Pam) Doerr of Prior Lake, Gary (Peggy) Doerr of New Prague; sisters-in-law, Connie (Russ) Yorek of Montgomery, Mary Kay Doerr (Richard Thorn) of Jordan, Margaret (Patrick) Sames of Prior Lake; godchild, Tara Robinson of Montgomery; and many loving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Father Elstan (James) Coghill OFM
Father James Coghill, 85, of Springfield, Ill. and formerly of Jordan, died Friday, May 9, 2008 in Loretto Home at the Motherhouse of the Hospital Sisters of Saint Francis in Springfield.
Father Elstan Coghill
James Coghill was born Aug. 27, 1922 in Jordan, the son of Donald and Elizabeth (Smith) Coghill. On Aug. 19, 1942, he entered the novitiate of Sacred Heart Province of the Order of Friars Minor and received the religious name “Elstan,” which he kept for the rest of his life. Making solemn profession in 1946, he was ordained a priest on June 24, 1949.
After the first practicum year for preaching after ordination, Elstan spent the rest of the priestly career in parish work, except for one year of continuing education in 1972-73. He made the circuit of almost the whole province; eight years in Chaska, two years in St. Paul, one year in Memphis, Tenn., six years in Columbus, Neb. at St. Bonaventure’s, five years at Harbor Springs, Mich., seven years in Bastrop, La., three years in Memphis at St. Mary’s, two years in Chanhassen, 11 years in Victoria, six years at Cross in the Woods in Indian River, Mich. as senior associate. He retired to Our Lady of Angels Friary in Villa West in Sherman, Ill. in 2002 and eventually moved to Loretto Home where he passed away.
He was known as a genial and entertaining story teller all of his life. During the years he was stationed in Victoria, he regularly wrote columns for the “Victoria Gazette” which were collected into a book entitled Prints of a Priest. His sense of hope, spirit of joy, and genuine authenticity endeared him to many people. As one young adult said about him, “There was an ‘air’ about him that I have never felt with anyone else. Transcendent comes to mind...”
Father Coghill is survived by his brother, Jesse (LaVerne) of Jordan; sisters, Mary Barry of Shakopee and Joan Lyrek of Chetek, Wis.; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Blanch Fahey, Helen Coghill and Barbra Polingo; brother, Joseph who died at birth; brothers-in-law, Joe Fahey and Edward Polingo.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, May 15, at 10:30 a.m. from St. Victoria Church in Victoria with Father Robert White and Father John Doctor officiating. Visitation is Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. from the Wagner Funeral Home in Jordan and also one hour prior to the funeral Mass on Thursday at the church. Pallbearers are Bruce Coghill, Donald Barry, Joe and Terry Fahey. Burial will be at the St. Victoria Catholic Cemetery, Victoria.
Funeral arrangements with the Wagner Funeral Home of Jordan. 952-492-3366.