HANSKA


Virgil B. Schmiesing, 93, of Hanska died Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at the Oak Hills Living Center in New Ulm. Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 14, 2015 at the Nora Unitarian-Universalist Church in Hanska with Reverend Lisa Doege officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. Pisqua Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 – 7 p.m. Friday, February 13, 2015 at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home, SOUTH CHAPEL, in New Ulm and will continue for one hour prior to the time of service at the church on Saturday, February 14 th. Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in Hanska is in charge of the arrangements.


Virgil is survived by his wife, Arline Schmiesing of New Ulm; children, Susan (Duane) Leske of Plymouth, Stephanie (Douglas) Kolbe of Owatonna, Linda (Larry) Kraus of White Bear Lake, Thomas Schmiesing of Minneapolis, Mark (Karee) Schmiesing of Hanska, Lane (Jody) Schmiesing of Eden Prairie, Scott (Tracey) Schmiesing of Hanska, Gretchen (Mike) Peppin of Dayton, Kim (Matt) White of Wayzata; grandchildren, Amy (Tim) Hubbard, Jason Leske, Justin (Amy) Kolbe, Erin (Mike) Krause, Heather (Doug) Youngblood, Jacob (Ana) Schmiesing, Jobeth (Jacob) Sheldon, Riley Schmiesing, Alana Schmiesing, Amber Schmiesing, Brandon (Nikki) Schmiesing, Britta Bauer, Matthew (Alyssa) Peppin, Thomas (Stephanie) Peppin, Joseph Peppin, Gina Peppin, Preston White, Ethan White; great grandchildren, Adelaide and Lydia Hubbard, Ryder, Rowan, and Elin Kolbe, Seth, Sadie, and Sommer Krause, Zoey Youngblood, Juddson Schmiesing, Grant Sheldon, Bodee, Teegan, and Reese Schmiesing, Eden and Mason Morrison, Zaiden and Grace Peppin; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Muriel Frederickson, Algot and Bonita Blomquist, Richard and Yvonne Blomquist, Alice Blomquist, Warren and Yvonne Blomquist, Rebecca Johnson; nieces; and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Mary (Frederickson) Schmiesing; granddaughter, Hannah Bauer; son-in-law, Terry Locher; sisters, Adelia Olstad, Minnie Broste, Clarice Meyer; brothers, Felix, Russell, Floyd Schmiesing; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Algot and Evelyn (Ouren) Blomquist; sisters-in-law, Doris, Orlean and Nina Schmiesing, Rose Marie Hanson; brothers-in-law, Porter Olstad, Melvin Broste, Wilbert Meyer, Hilmer Hanson, Lee Frederickson, Dennis Blomquist, Maurice Blomquist, and Allen Johnson.



Virgil Byron Schmiesing was born on July16, 1921, in Lake Hanska Township to Fred and Mary (Frederickson) Schmiesing. He attended country school District 67, two years at Sleepy Eye High School, and graduated from Hanska High School in 1939. On January 8, 1944, he was united in marriage to Arline M. Blomquist, the love of his life. Virgil and Arline farmed and raised their nine children on their farm seven miles west of Hanska. He took pride in his crop and dairy farming operation. He served on the creamery board. Virgil and Arline encouraged their family in 4-H, Boy Scouts, school academics and sports, were strong advocates of good education, and supporters of NAMI. In 1998 a tornado devastated their farm. They moved to Hanska in 2002 and in 2009 he became a resident of the Divine Providence Community Home in Sleepy Eye, and then in 2013 he became a resident of the Oak Hills Living Center in New Ulm. Virgil loved farming and being outdoors. In 1980 he sold his dairy cows and they purchased a cabin on Pelican Lake, where he enjoyed fishing, sailing, and watching his children and grandchildren play and grow. Virgil was an accomplished wood craftsman and made shelves, trunks, rocking horses, and many heirloom gifts for his wife, children and grandchildren. He and Arline enjoyed traveling to their ancestral homes in Norway & Sweden, to Hawaii, Texas, Mexico, and Canada. Virgil was a member of Nora Church in Hanska and had created picture frames and benches for the church. Virgil and Arline dedicated their lives to their family and to each other. He was a well-loved man, respected by his entire family…'a strong, hard-working, fair, loving, quiet, kind man with a soft heart. Even in the nursing home, Virgil often said, "We've had a pretty good life."
Memorials are preferred to: Nora Church or NAMI. www.mvfh.org