Obituaries

Recent Deaths in Northfield, Week of Aug. 31, 2013

Four people with connections to died over the last seven days.

Joyce Marguerite Madole died on Aug. 30, 2013 at the age of 87.

She was born in Chippewa Falls, WI, to John and Harriet Olson. Her father died when she was still an infant. When she was 10, the family moved to North Minneapolis. In 1944 she graduated as the valedictorian of Patrick Henry High School. She met her husband, Kenneth A. Madole, as a student at the University of Minnesota. The two were married in 1946. Madole graduated cum laude from the U of M with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. 

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The couple moved to Northfield in 1987. As a Northfield resident, Madole was an active member of Sons of Norway, Northfield Garden Club, the Nordic Arts Group and St. John’s Lutheran Church, where she sang in the choir.  

Madole is preceded in death by her infant son, Eric, and her sisters, Eloise Mattison and Barbara Fallon Hassinger.

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She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Ken; three sons, Steven (Judi) of St. Paul, John (Ellen) Schillace of St. Paul, David of Northfield; three grandchildren; other relatives and many friends. 

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northfield, with visitation one hour prior. Interment will take place at Woodland Hills Cemetery in Mankato. 

Memorials are preferred to St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Eugene Jasnoch

Eugene Jasnoch, a well-known contractor and owner of Jasnoch Construction, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 29, at his home following a long illness. Funeral arrangements pending.

Richard Kasa

Richard Kasa, of Northfield, died on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013 at the age of 74. 

Kasa is survived by his wife, Judy; daughters, Kim (Bruce) Stowe and Bonnie (Tom) Stowe both of Northfield; foster daughter, Samantha (Eric) Gill of Nerstrand; brother, Larry Kasa of Cottage Grove; sister-in-law, Donna Kasa of Northfield; brother-in-law, Lenny Simonson of Nerstrand; four grandchildren; one great-grandson; and many nieces, nephews, and foster children.

A funeral services will take place on 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Northfield. Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, from 4 p.m. to 7 at the Bierman Funeral Home, and at the church one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Kasa will be buried at the Valley Grove Cemetery. 

Brian Heckers

Brian Heckers, of Northfield, died on Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, following a two year struggle with pancreatic cancer. He was 59. 

Heckers was a native of California. He grew up in El Monte, CA, a suburb of Los Angeles. After graduating from Arroyo High School in 1972, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.

In 1982 he married Debbe Hamblin. The couple moved to Northfield in November 1993. Not long after, he started his own company, Heckers Millworks. He also worked as a finish carpenter for College City Homes.

He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Claire Golding.

Heckers is survived by his wife, Debbe; sons, Kyle of Northfield, Curtis of Minneapolis, and Taylor of Northfield; brother, Rob (Diane) Heckers of Claremont, CA; three grandchildren, Kaitlin Heckers, Riley Freund, and Colby Heckers. 

Visitation will be held 5 p.m. to 7 on Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Bierman Funeral Home in Northfield with a reception to follow at the Northfield V.F.W. Club.

Memorials are preferred.


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