Richard Mielke, age 74, of Courtland, passed away Friday, November 4, 2022, at the Sleepy Eye Care Center after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Funeral Service will be 11am, Thursday, November 10, 2022, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Courtland with Pastor Wayne Bernau officiating.

Visitation will be Wednesday, November 9, 2022, from 4-7pm at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home South Chapel in New Ulm, and one hour prior to service at the church.

Richard is survived by his wife of 49 years, Donna; daughter Christina (Jason) Marth of Courtland; son Jon (Erin) Mielke of Courtland; grandchildren Riley (Olivia) Marth of Mankato, Spencer Marth of Mankato and Olivia Marth of Courtland; sisters Janet (Ken) Malmberg of Oakdale, and Ronda (Gary) Robinson of Daytona Beach FL; brothers Robert (Shirley) Mielke of New Ulm and James (Patricia) Mielke of Onalaska WI; mother-in-law Lois Bode, Mankato, sisters-in-law Mary Herlick of Duluth, Ruth (Mark) Hansen of New Ulm, and JoAnn Bode of Mankato; brothers-in-law James (Kelly) Herlick of Grand Island, NE.  Charles (Deborah) Herlick of Courtland and Troy (Rachel) Bode of New Ulm and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-law Rita Herlick, and brother-in-law Tom Bode.

Richard Samuel Mielke was born November 27, 1947, to Ernest and Cornelia (Bode) Mielke in New Ulm.  He graduated from Nicollet High School in 1965.  Richard worked at the Courtland Creamery in early years, then later at Hewitt Manufacturing, while also farming.

He was united in marriage to Donna Herlick March 10, 1973, and together they raised their two children in the home where he grew up.  He continued to farm after retirement until he was unable due to poor health.

Richard enjoyed life and had many hobbies over the years.  He bowled, played softball and sand volleyball.  He was very proud of his tractor pulling trophies and loved to go fishing up north.  He enjoyed his grandchildren, family and friends.  He will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to New Ulm Allina Health Cancer institute, the Sleepy Eye Care Center or Immanuel Lutheran Church of rural Courtland.

We would like to thank Emily, Laci and the hospice teams of New Ulm and Sleepy Eye for their care the last 6 months, and the New Ulm Medical Center oncology department who became his second family for 3 years of chemo treatments.  Thank you to the staff of Sleepy Eye Care Center for watching over him the last two months.