Individual Details
Joseph Meinulf Wielenberg Sr.
(May 8, 1923 - December 10, 2005)
Joseph Wielenberg
Joseph M. Wielenberg, Sr., age 82, of Melrose died Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005, at his home in Melrose Township, Stearns County. Mass of Christian Burial was at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vince Lieser, Rev. Dale Ettel and Rev. Richard Walz concelebrating. Burial followed in the parish cemetery.
Joseph Wielenberg was born May 8, 1923, in Melrose Township, Stearns County, to Frank and Elizabeth (Gramke) Wielenberg. He was united in marriage to Marie E. Herdering at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa. They farmed in Melrose Township. He was a beekeeper and loved nature. Joe loved his grandchildren and enjoyed dogs and reading books. Joseph was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and St. Bernard's Catholic Aid.
Survivors include his children, Joseph Wielenberg, Jr. (Magdalen) of Burtrum, Kathleen Bauer of Melrose, Melvin Wielenberg (Jane) of Long Prairie, Dennis Wielenberg (Mary) of Upsala, Lawrence Wielenberg of Grey Eagle, Bernadette Holdvogt (Alvin) of New Munich, Vincent Wielenberg (Bernadette) of Grey Eagle, Mary Wielenberg of St. Cloud, Bonita Haugrud (Keith) of Pelican Rapids; brothers and sisters, Henry Wielenberg of Holdingford, Magdalen Soenneker of Melrose, Bertha Fuechtmann of Grey Eagle, Alvina Strom of Melrose, Marie Bosl of Sauk Centre and sister-in-law, Gertrude Wielenberg of Sauk Centre; 24 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marie Wielenberg; son, Patrick Wielenberg; sisters, Anna and Agnes Kemper; brother, Edwin Wielenberg, and one infant grandson. Casket bearers were Wayne Herdering, David Wielenberg, James Wielenberg, Henry Fuechtmann, Sarah Wielenberg and Amy Wielenberg. Cross bearer was John Johnson. Scripture bearer was Judy Jensen. Honorary bearers were the neighbors.
Memorials are preferred
3 found dead in
by Carol Moorman carol@saukherald.com
Rural Melrose--Although the names had not been released Sunday, people in the Melrose area knew who the three people were found dead the day before north of town. Prayers were offered during Sunday morning mass at St. Mary's Church in Melrose where they were parishioners.
On Sunday the Stearns County Sheriff's Office confirmed it. Joseph Meinulf Wielenberg, 82, his 77-year-old wife, Marie Elizabeth Wielenberg, and their 43-year-old son, Patrick, were found dead in their rural Melrose Township home.
A Stearns County report said deputies were called to the dairy farm Saturday morning just before 11:30 a.m. after a family member found the bodies.
"It either happened early Saturday morning or late Friday night," said Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner. "Preliminary reports from the medical examiner's officer and evidence left at the scene are consistent with mom and dad being shot in their beds.
The 43-year-old son was found dead in an adjacent room from a self-inflicted gunshot wound." Patrick lived on the farm with his parents.
Sanner said investigators found a .22 caliber rifle at the scene. They also found a handwritten note but cannot determine from the scribblings on the piece of paper if it is a suicide note. "It is unclear by the content if it is even related to the event," said Sanner. He said from the start sheriff's detectives investigated this case as a double homicide/suicide.
They have been talking with family members, friends and neighbors to help determine a motive. "This family is pretty to themselves. There is not a lot of information neighbors and friends can help us with. Even the family is stymied," he said.
Sanner added, "Patrick is the only person who truly knows why this really happened. That leaves surviving family members and law enforcement trying to piece together all of the factors that could possibly contribute to a tragedy of this nature."
Sanner said Stearns County's detective unit is finishing up their investigation as they wait for the final autopsy results from the Ramsey County Medical Center, which he said, "Won't be released for quite some time." The sheriff's office was assisted in this case by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Joseph M. Wielenberg, Sr., age 82, of Melrose died Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005, at his home in Melrose Township, Stearns County. Mass of Christian Burial was at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vince Lieser, Rev. Dale Ettel and Rev. Richard Walz concelebrating. Burial followed in the parish cemetery.
Joseph Wielenberg was born May 8, 1923, in Melrose Township, Stearns County, to Frank and Elizabeth (Gramke) Wielenberg. He was united in marriage to Marie E. Herdering at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa. They farmed in Melrose Township. He was a beekeeper and loved nature. Joe loved his grandchildren and enjoyed dogs and reading books. Joseph was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and St. Bernard's Catholic Aid.
Survivors include his children, Joseph Wielenberg, Jr. (Magdalen) of Burtrum, Kathleen Bauer of Melrose, Melvin Wielenberg (Jane) of Long Prairie, Dennis Wielenberg (Mary) of Upsala, Lawrence Wielenberg of Grey Eagle, Bernadette Holdvogt (Alvin) of New Munich, Vincent Wielenberg (Bernadette) of Grey Eagle, Mary Wielenberg of St. Cloud, Bonita Haugrud (Keith) of Pelican Rapids; brothers and sisters, Henry Wielenberg of Holdingford, Magdalen Soenneker of Melrose, Bertha Fuechtmann of Grey Eagle, Alvina Strom of Melrose, Marie Bosl of Sauk Centre and sister-in-law, Gertrude Wielenberg of Sauk Centre; 24 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marie Wielenberg; son, Patrick Wielenberg; sisters, Anna and Agnes Kemper; brother, Edwin Wielenberg, and one infant grandson. Casket bearers were Wayne Herdering, David Wielenberg, James Wielenberg, Henry Fuechtmann, Sarah Wielenberg and Amy Wielenberg. Cross bearer was John Johnson. Scripture bearer was Judy Jensen. Honorary bearers were the neighbors.
Memorials are preferred
3 found dead in
by Carol Moorman carol@saukherald.com
Rural Melrose--Although the names had not been released Sunday, people in the Melrose area knew who the three people were found dead the day before north of town. Prayers were offered during Sunday morning mass at St. Mary's Church in Melrose where they were parishioners.
On Sunday the Stearns County Sheriff's Office confirmed it. Joseph Meinulf Wielenberg, 82, his 77-year-old wife, Marie Elizabeth Wielenberg, and their 43-year-old son, Patrick, were found dead in their rural Melrose Township home.
A Stearns County report said deputies were called to the dairy farm Saturday morning just before 11:30 a.m. after a family member found the bodies.
"It either happened early Saturday morning or late Friday night," said Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner. "Preliminary reports from the medical examiner's officer and evidence left at the scene are consistent with mom and dad being shot in their beds.
The 43-year-old son was found dead in an adjacent room from a self-inflicted gunshot wound." Patrick lived on the farm with his parents.
Sanner said investigators found a .22 caliber rifle at the scene. They also found a handwritten note but cannot determine from the scribblings on the piece of paper if it is a suicide note. "It is unclear by the content if it is even related to the event," said Sanner. He said from the start sheriff's detectives investigated this case as a double homicide/suicide.
They have been talking with family members, friends and neighbors to help determine a motive. "This family is pretty to themselves. There is not a lot of information neighbors and friends can help us with. Even the family is stymied," he said.
Sanner added, "Patrick is the only person who truly knows why this really happened. That leaves surviving family members and law enforcement trying to piece together all of the factors that could possibly contribute to a tragedy of this nature."
Sanner said Stearns County's detective unit is finishing up their investigation as they wait for the final autopsy results from the Ramsey County Medical Center, which he said, "Won't be released for quite some time." The sheriff's office was assisted in this case by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Events
| Birth | May 8, 1923 | Melrose, Stearns Co., MN | |||
| Death | December 10, 2005 | Melrose, Stearns Co., MN | |||
| Marriage | St. Rosa, MN - Marie Elizabeth Herdering |
Families
| Spouse | Marie Elizabeth Herdering (1928 - 2005) |
| Child | Joseph Wielenberg Jr. |
| Child | Kathleen Wielenberg |
| Child | Melvin Wielenberg |
| Child | Dennis Wielenberg |
| Child | Vince J. Wielenberg |
| Child | Lawrence Wielenberg |
| Child | Mary Wielenberg |
| Child | Patrick Wielenberg (1962 - 2005) |
| Child | Bonita Wielenberg |
| Father | Frank Wielenberg (1878 - 1961) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Gramke (1880 - 1962) |
| Sibling | Anna Wielenberg (1904 - 1935) |
| Sibling | Agnes Mary Wielenberg (1906 - 1944) |
| Sibling | Henry F. Wielenberg (1908 - 2007) |
| Sibling | Magdalen Wielenberg (1911 - 2007) |
| Sibling | Bertha B. Wielenberg (1913 - 2008) |
| Sibling | Edwin H. Wielenberg (1915 - 1971) |
| Sibling | Alvina Wielenberg (1918 - 2008) |