The following obituaries are from the May 15, 2008 print edition of the Chaska Herald newspaper:

Irene Marie Schmitz

Irene Schmitz, 55, of Carver, died Thursday, May 8, 2008 at her home.Irene Schmitz

Funeral service was held Tuesday, May 13, at 11 a.m. at the East Union Lutheran Church, East Union, Minn. with the Rev. David Lechelt officiating. Casketbearers were Chuck Schmitz, Dylan Schmitz, Bob Roe, Jeff Rickaby, Roy Rickaby and Jason Schoenbauer. Honorary casketbearers were Jaycob and Cody Schmitz. Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery, Carver.

Irene was born Nov. 21, 1952 in Minneapolis, to Fredrick and Ethel (Harmsen) Rickaby. She was one of four children. Irene attended grade school at East Union and graduated from Chaska High School. On March 13, 1971, Irene married Kenneth Schmitz in Chaska. They have one son.

Irene and Kenny enjoyed sightseeing and traveling together. She has a countless number of cookbooks, loved watching movies and never missed any of her grandchildren’s events. Most of all she loved being a wife, mother and grandmother.

Irene is preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Ethel Rickaby and niece, Jodi Rickaby.

Survivors include husband Kenny of 37 years; son, Chuck and wife Rachel, their children, Dylan, Jaycob and Cody of Waconia; brothers, John (Lois) Rickaby of Prior Lake, Richard (LaVonne) Rickaby of Chaska; sister, Betty (Bob) Roe of Prior Lake; stepdaughters and sons-in-law, Luanne (Bob) Caskey of Duluth and their children, Vicki, Adam and Cyle, Roxanne (Steve) Jarve of Cloquet and their children, Nicole, Crystal and Travis; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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

Father Elstan (James) Coghill OFM

Father James Coghill, 85, of Springfield, Ill. and formerly of Jordan, died Friday, May 9, 2008 in Loretto Home at the Motherhouse of the Hospital Sisters of Saint Francis in Springfield.Father Elstan Coghill

James Coghill was born Aug. 27, 1922 in Jordan, the son of Donald and Elizabeth (Smith) Coghill. On Aug. 19, 1942, he entered the novitiate of Sacred Heart Province of the Order of Friars Minor and received the religious name “Elstan,” which he kept for the rest of his life. Making solemn profession in 1946, he was ordained a priest on June 24, 1949.

After the first practicum year for preaching after ordination, Elstan spent the rest of the priestly career in parish work, except for one year of continuing education in 1972-73. He made the circuit of almost the whole province; eight years in Chaska, two years in St. Paul, one year in Memphis, Tenn., six years in Columbus, Neb. at St. Bonaventure’s, five years at Harbor Springs, Mich., seven years in Bastrop, La., three years in Memphis at St. Mary’s, two years in Chanhassen, 11 years in Victoria, six years at Cross in the Woods in Indian River, Mich. as senior associate. He retired to Our Lady of Angels Friary in Villa West in Sherman, Ill. in 2002 and eventually moved to Loretto Home where he passed away.

He was known as a genial and entertaining story teller all of his life. During the years he was stationed in Victoria, he regularly wrote columns for the “Victoria Gazette” which were collected into a book entitled Prints of a Priest. His sense of hope, spirit of joy, and genuine authenticity endeared him to many people. As one young adult said about him, “There was an ‘air’ about him that I have never felt with anyone else. Transcendent comes to mind...”

Father Coghill is survived by his brother, Jesse (LaVerne) of Jordan; sisters, Mary Barry of Shakopee and Joan Lyrek of Chetek, Wis.; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Blanch Fahey, Helen Coghill and Barbra Polingo; brother, Joseph who died at birth; brothers-in-law, Joe Fahey and Edward Polingo.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, May 15, at 10:30 a.m. from St. Victoria Church in Victoria with Father Robert White and Father John Doctor officiating. Visitation was Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. from the Wagner Funeral Home in Jordan and also one hour prior to the funeral Mass on Thursday at the church. Pallbearers are Bruce Coghill, Donald Barry, Joe and Terry Fahey. Burial will be at the St. Victoria Catholic Cemetery, Victoria.

Funeral arrangements with the Wagner Funeral Home of Jordan. 952-492-3366.