Evelyn Dorothy Stelsel, age 91 of Hammond WI, died Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at the American Heritage Care Center in Hammond. Evelyn was born March 22, 1918 in Baldwin WI to parents John and Dora (Helders) Achterhof. After attending school, Evelyn would be united in marriage to Gordon S. DeYoung. After only a year and 9 months, Evelyn became a young widow, as Gordon was a casualty of WWII. Evelyn would later be united in marriage to Anthony Lawrence Stelsel. Their union in marriage would be blessed with two children, Joyce and John.

Evelyn spent 26 years working at St. Croix Central Schools as a baker in the kitchen. Her bread recipe won Wisconsin State Food Service honors and is in the time capsule at St. Croix Central Middle School. Evelyn volunteered her time at the Hammond United Methodist Church, and served as a Sunday School teacher, Bible School teacher, church janitor and the president of the Methodist Women. She also volunteered her time at the American Heritage Care Center, offering rides to the doctor for residents, and helping in any way she could. When she wasn’t working or helping others, Evelyn enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, sewing, playing Bingo, and being with her family.

Evelyn is survived by her daughter, Joyce (Larry) Walen of River Falls WI; son, John (Kay) Stelsel of Danbury WI; grandchildren, Lynn Walen, Angela (Eric) VanGuilder, Tony (Tiffany) Stelsel, and Joe (Randi) Walen; great-grandsons, Riley, Randal, and Ryker; sisters, Myra VanSomeren, and Marilyn (Clarence) Wevers; sister-in-law, Julia Wevers; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Evelyn was preceded in death by her first husband, Gordon DeYoung; second husband, Tony Stelsel; granddaughter, Beth Walen; siblings, Mildred Peabody, Myron Achterhof, and Donna Kiel.

Funeral Services for Evelyn Stelsel will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 6th at the Hammond United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church, and also from 4-7 PM on Friday evening at the O'Connell Family Funeral Home in Baldwin. A private family burial will take place in the Hammond Cemetery. Services have been entrusted to the O'Connell Family Funeral Home of Baldwin WI.

Sherri Yvonne (Maroney) Henderson, 67, Rapid City, died after her brief struggle with stomach cancer on Monday, Feb. 15, 2010, at the Hospice House of the Black Hills, Rapid City, South Dakota.

Sherri Henderson was born August 4, 1942, at Old Cheyenne Agency, South Dakota, on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. She was the daughter of George and Mary (Smith) Maroney. Sherri spent the first few years of her life in Long Beach, California, where both her parents worked in factories supporting the WWII effort. In 1946, the family moved to Lebanon, South Dakota, to her paternal grandfather’s farm. There she went to school in Gettysburg, S.D., through her sophomore year. She then moved with her mother to Eagle Butte, S.D., to complete her high school education, graduating from Cheyenne-Eagle Butte High School in 1960. After graduation, she moved to Minneapolis to first pursue a career in modeling, but instead became one of the nation’s first American Indian flight attendants, working and training for Northwest Orient airline.

On April 28, 1961, she was united in marriage to Richard A. Henderson in Mason City, Iowa. To this union, four children were born: Jeff, Joanne, Julie and John. Following their marriage, they lived in St. Paul, Minnesota for 10 years, and then moved to Hammond, Wisconsin, a small dairy farming community where Richard worked in the insurance industry. Sherri will be remembered as a very loving and empathic mother, grandmother, and friend who loved to play cards, laugh, and share in jokes.

Sherri is survived by her mother, Mary Maroney, Watertown, S.D.; sons, Jeff (Patricia) Henderson, Rapid City, S.D., and John Henderson, Tempe, Ariz.; daughters, Joanne (James) O’Neal, Macon, Georgia, and Julie Cappetta, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; 6 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; four sisters; two brothers; and numerous nieces, nephews, friends and other loved ones. She was preceded in death by her father, George Maroney; and grandson, Brandon Clark.

There will be no public services for Sherri as the family requested.

Friends and family may leave written condolences at: www.osheimschmidt.com. 

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions to support the establishment of a student scholarship program in Sherri’s name may be made to the Black Hills Center for American Indian Health, 701 St. Joseph St., Suite 204, Rapid City, S.D. 57702, or www.bhcaih.org.

Leona A. Vasfaret, age 68 of Hammond, died peacefully Sunday February 21^st, 2010 at the American Heritage Care Center in Hammond.

Leona was born on February 16, 1942, in Pennington County, Minnesota; the daughter of John and Guida (Gordon) Finn. She attended Thief River Falls schools where she graduated from high school. On March 10, 1962, she was united in marriage to Vernon Vasfaret in St. Paul. This union would be blessed with four children.

When she wasn’t tending to her family, Leona worked several years as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). She truly enjoyed her 20 years working for the American Heritage Care Center in Hammond. From making friends with co-workers or becoming extended family of their residents, her time spent there was very rewarding. She enjoyed cooking and baking for her family. Her orange cinnamon rolls where their favorite. She also liked to sew; making or mending clothes for her family. Their vegetable gardens included 100 feet rows of bountiful vegetables and her flower beds gave her great satisfaction.

Although she could be stubborn, Leona had a kind and gentle heart on the inside. She was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church Women’s Guild and knew who her savior Jesus Christ was.

Leona is survived by her husband Vern, children Jerome Vasfaret, Brenda Vasfaret, Christine Vasfaret, Jason (Holly) Vasfaret and her granddaughter Brianna. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Esther, and a grandchild.

Funeral services for Leona will be 2:00PM Saturday, February 27th at Peace Lutheran Church in Baldwin with Pastor John Hanson officiating. Burial will be in the Peace Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from 3 until 6PM at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Baldwin as well as one hour prior to the service at church on Saturday. Memorials preferred.  

Rena Floreen Sandfort, a life-long resident of Baldwin passed away on February 14, 2010 at Birchwood Apartments where she had been a resident for a little over two years.

She was born east of Baldwin on January 28, 1916. She attended Three Willow School through the 3^rd Grade and then attended the Hammond Christian School through the 8^th grade.  At 13 she began working in other people’s homes doing housework.  She met George Sandfort through their church and they were married on June 20, 1940.  They lived south of Baldwin until 1944 when they bought their farm on the west side of Baldwin.  Along with the efforts of working on the farm she also worked for VandeBerg Ace Hardware for over 25 years and for the Ben Franklin store for 4 years.  They sold the farm to the Baldwin School District in July of 1968.  It became the area known as King Field and Greenfield School.  Her husband, George passed away in January of 1984.

She volunteered for many years at the Care Center helping with Bingo on a regular basis.  She also helped with quilting projects there, and each of her Children, Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren received a “special quilt”.  She also crocheted many items and created Afghans for donations and gifts to many people.  She stated many times that “she just had to keep busy”.  “I can’t just sit still and do nothing” was heard repeatedly as she described her efforts in the community.  She also sold items she made at area craft sales for many years.

She also volunteered for several years at Treasures of the Heart in Baldwin.  Funds raised there help fund Adoray Home Care Network which provides home health care and hospice services to area residents.  She especially enjoyed the social atmosphere while working with the “girls”. 

During the summer she volunteered at the Baldwin Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, located in a replica of a Dutch windmill, connecting with her own heritage.  For several years she also “washed the streets” as part of the “Dutch Days” celebrations.  She was a dedicated member of the Ladies Auxiliary at both the Baldwin Area Medical Center and the Baldwin Care Center for at least 20 years.  She also contributed her time with the Ladies Aide Society of the Christian Reformed Church of which she was a member for her entire life.

According to the Wisconsin Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, where she was nominated for a state award in 2003 and was the regional winner.  “Rena not only enhances the quality of life for the residents of the Baldwin Care Center, but touches many other lives both inside the community and out through her volunteer efforts.  One of the qualities that makes Rena special to the many people she touches is her unassuming attitude.  She doesn’t think that what she does is special.  She just thinks it is something people should do.  She makes everyone she is around feel warm, comfortable and needed.  She never seemed to run out of energy and seemed to have more “pep” than folks half her age and seems able to accomplish twice as much.”

She also received Honorable Mention from the Saint Croix County Department of Aging in 2008 for her extensive volunteer efforts in her community.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father Alma and John VanSomeren, her step-father Henry Rens, and three brothers, Jim, Peter and Earl VanSomeren.  She is survived by two sisters, Rosella Fern, Vi Gordon, two brothers Leslie and Lester Rens, her sons Ronald (Joan) of Menomonie, James (Marge) of Hudson, and Randall (Joyce) of Wausau, eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.  No mother, grandmother or great-grandmother was ever more loved.

Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, February 17^th at the Christian Reformed Church of Baldwin, 893 Hwy 63, with Rev. Anson Veenstra officiating. Interment will follow in the Baldwin Cemetery with her grandchildren as active casketbearers and great grandchildren as honorary casketbearers. Visitations will be one hour prior to the service at church and on Tuesday, Feb. 16^th from 5 until 8:00 PM at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Baldwin, 1010 Newton St, 715-684-3434.