Howard L. Hauer, age 72 of Eden Prairie, died unexpectedly December 19, 2022 at Minneapolis Veterans Hospital with his family at his side. He battled cancer for several years. A memorial Mass will be held on January 20 at St. Hubert Catholic Community, 8201 Main St., Chanhassen. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. and Mass at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Fort Snelling at a later date.

Dorothy Marie Loney, age 88, of New Prague, died unexpectedly at her home on Thursday, December 29, 2022.  Dorothy was born on February 15, 1934 in St.

Robert ‘Bob’ Hanzel of New Prague, died with his children at his side on December 26th at Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague. Born on October 4th, 1928, he was the only child of John C. and Mayme Hanzel. Bob attended St. Wenceslaus Catholic School, speaking only Czech upon entering.  Czech heritage remained important to him throughout his life.  He proudly recited Czech poems and sayings, sang Czech songs, and spoke in Czech to his family at every opportunity. 

Delores Krenik, 95, of Montgomery passed away Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at Villages of Lonsdale. Visitation will be held at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home on Friday, January 6, 2023 from 9 a.m. to Noon. Burial will be held in the spring at Bohemian National Cemetery in Montgomery.

Robert J. “Bob” Hanzel, age 94, of New Prague died unexpectedly on Monday, December 26, 2022 at MCHS Hospital in New Prague.
Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, December 30, 2022 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Father Eugene Theisen officiating.  Visitation will take place that morning from 9-10:30 a.m. at Bruzek Funeral Home.  Burial will follow Mass at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery.  
bruzekfuneralhome.com
Full obituary to follow.

Thomas L. Fahey, age 50 of rural New Prague, died at Methodist Hospital in Rochester on Friday, December 23, 2022 after a very short illness.  Memorial Mass will be on Thursday, December 29, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Union Hill.  Visitation will be at the Kolden Funeral Home in Belle Plaine on Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. ~ 7:00 p.m. and will continue the morning of the Mass at the Funeral Home from 8:30 a.m. ~ 10:30 a.m.  We will then leave Belle Plaine in procession for the 11:00 a.m.

Elizabeth D. “Betty” Tupy, age 66, of New Prague, died peacefully with her family at her side on Thursday, December 22, 2022 at her home at Praha Village.   True to Betty’s nature, she timed her death to occur in the window of an impending storm, between the falling snow and the high winds that would create blizzard conditions! She was always considerate of others and would not have wanted them to drive in unsafe conditions.

Phyllis Maria Swidorski, age 83, of Montgomery, died on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at Mayo Systems Hospital in New Prague. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with funeral service at 11:00 a.m., all held at St. John Lutheran Church in Montgomery with Pastor Jason Pollington officiating. Interment will be at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Montgomery at a later date.

John Michael Jirak, age 68, of New Prague, passed away Thursday, December 15, 2022 at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital, surrounded by his family.  John was born December 18, 1953 in New Prague, to Eugene and Marcella (Kocina) Jirak.  He grew up in rural New Prague and attended New Prague Schools.  He married Cindy Beer on August 30, 1983 and was later divorced.  John spent many years as a dairy farmer on the family farm.  John worked for Terry Fredrickson Landscaping for some years and became a Master Gardner.