The following obituaries are from the Aug. 21, 2008 print edition of the Chaska Herald newspaper:

Carolyn Mildred Nelson

Carolyn Nelson, 63, of Shakopee, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008 at Fairview Southdale Medical Center in Edina.

Funeral service was held Monday, Aug. 18, at 1 p.m. at the Bertas Funeral home in Chaska with the Rev. Martin Cloeter from St. John’s Lutheran Church, Chaska, officiating.

Carolyn was born March 31, 1945 to Otto and Mabel (Morschen) Gnade. She was one of two children. Carolyn was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Chaska. She also attended school at St. John’s Lutheran School in Chaska. Carolyn was a very loving and caring person. She enjoyed playing cards, cribbage and bird watching.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her son, Tracy Heinrich; parents, Otto and Mabel Gnade; brother, Arvin Gnade.

Survivors include her fiance’, Roger Motz of Shakopee; sister-in-law, Beverly Gnade of Carver; cousin, Lorraine Olsen and husband Vernon of Carver; many special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral arrangements were with the Bertas Funeral Home of Chaska, 952-448-2137.

David Philip Thompson

David Thompson, 68, of Spring Lake Township/Prior Lake, died quietly at a local hospital surrounded by family and friends on Wednesday evening, Aug. 13, 2008.David Thompson

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Sharon; daughter, Melissa; son, Matthew; daughter-in-law, Tracy; grandsons, Dylan, Nick and Sam; uncle, John Lambert; many other beloved family and friends.

David was proceeded in death by his father, Philip; mother, Elsie; older brother, Daniel.

With a deep love for Jehovah God and Christ Jesus, David understood the Bible’s explanation of death as an unconscious/unknowing state of sleep (Ec 9:10), putting his hope in God’s heavenly Kingdom and a resurrection to life on a paradise earth. (John 5:28-29. Psalms 37:9-11, 28-29)

There will be a memorial service in David’s honor at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Shakopee (County Road 69/ Old Brickyard Road and County Road 78) on Saturday, Aug. 23, at 3 p.m.

Lynette Kay Mellgren

Lynette (Abraham) Mellgren, 47, of Cologne, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008 at St. Francis Regional Medical Center after a year-long battle with breast cancer.

Funeral service was held Saturday, Aug. 16, at West Union Lutheran Church in Carver with the Rev. Dave Knox officiating. Casketbearers were Jim Olson, Russell Anderson, Larry Jeurissen, Jon Mellgren, Curtis Galles, and Bill Halquist. Interment was at the West Union Lutheran Cemetery in Carver.

Lynette was born March 12, 1961 in Shakopee to Arthur and LaVerne (Lenzen) Abraham. Lynette was one of three children. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Chaska. Lynette graduated from Chaska High School in 1979. On May 21, 1983, Lynette married Matt Mellgren at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Chaska. They had two daughters.

Lynette loved gardening, working in the yard, going to the lake to catch sunfish, tubing or just to cruise around the looking at scenery. She loved her pets, her job, working and traveling to different place to see new things. Most all she loved God, family and her many, many friends.

Lynette is preceded in death by her brother, Keith Abraham, and father-in-law, LeRoy Mellgren.

Survivors include her husband of 25 years, Matt; daughters, Ashley and Janelle of Cologne; parents,, Art and LaVerne Abraham of Carver; mother-in-law, Myrna Mellgren of Cologne; brothers, Jim Abraham and wife Rosemary of Cologne, Kevin Abraham and wife Joan of Cologne; sisters-in-law, Heidi Schmidt and husband Glenn of Cologne, Wanda Houska of LeSeuer; many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Funeral arrangements were with the Bertas Funeral Home of Chaska, 952-448-2137.

Kirk Thomas Anderson Jr.

Kirk Anderson, affectionately known by his family as “JR,” 33, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008 in Minneapolis.Kirk Anderson Jr.

Kirk was born Feb. 22, 1975 in Lincoln, Neb., the son of Kirk Thomas Anderson, Sr. and Carol (Wells) Anderson. He was a resident of Chaska. Kirk attended schools in Eagle, Neb. and then Waverly, Neb., where he graduated from high school. Kirk grew up on acreage at the edge of town with horses and other animals which helped foster his love of the outdoors. His love of the outdoors grew to include fishing and hunting, but especially fishing. A bonus of his move to Minnesota was that there were so many lakes nearby. In keeping with his love of the outdoors, Kirk was an avid ATV “four-wheeler” as well. He always liked to be out there riding with his buddies. He was also a huge Nebraska Cornhusker fan, so much so that he named his dog “Husker.” His other pastimes included working on his truck, listening to music and hanging out with his friends.

Kirk was employed with Mueller Pipeline in the Lincoln area and transferred to the Twin Cities area with Mueller about 12 years ago. Most recently, he was employed with Lakeview Industries in Minnesota. Kirk will be fondly remembered for being fun-loving and free-spirited. He had a big heart for others around him and is already deeply missed by his family and friends.

Kirk is survived by his daughter, Jersey Rain Anderson of Coon Rapids; father, Kirk Thomas Anderson Sr. and wife Sheri of Rio Rancho, N.M.; mother, Carol A. Anderson of Lincoln; sister, April Barry-Roth and husband Chad of Lincoln; grandparents, Robert D. and Betty Anderson also of Lincoln.; nieces and nephew, Mercedes, Shiloh and Creed all of Lincoln. Kirk was recently engaged to Sheree Bermel and is also survived by his uncles and aunts, Bob A. Anderson of McKinney, Texas, Lori Barnard of Bolivar, Tenn., Julie Kinsman of Peoria, Ariz., Tom and Kurtis Anderson both of Lincoln, Bruce Anderson of Crete, Neb. and a host of cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents Wendell and Anna Wells.

Visitation was Friday, Aug. 15, from 2-9 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home in Lincoln, Neb. A gathering to celebrate Kirk’s life took place at 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16, at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home. Private interment followed at Lincoln Memorial Park. Honorary pallbearers were Ryan Anderson, Adam Eurich, Justin Dillon, Zack Dillon, Chad Roth and Bruce Anderson. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jersey Rain Anderson Educational Fund, c/o The Daniels Company; 3777 The American Road N.W., Albuquerque, N.M. 87114.