Erma M. Kettler

Erma M. Kettler

Erma M. Kettler, 94, of Melrose, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, Nov. 17, 2024, at Cura of Melrose Care Center in Melrose.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with the Rev. Mitchell Bechtold officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be 10-10:45 a.m. Nov. 22 at the church.

Erma Mary Petermeier was born April 30, 1930, in Elrosa, Minnesota, to Ignatius and Caroline (Uhlenkamp) Petermeier. On June 27, 1950, she married Elmer Kettler at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. After their marriage, Erma and Elmer farmed on the Kettler family farm for 30 years. In 1979, they moved to Melrose when their son, Ron and daughter-in-law Kathy took over the family farm. During the farming years, Erma worked at Fingerhut in Sauk Centre where she represented the workers as a union steward. In her retirement years, Erma was a cook at St. Mary’s School, volunteered for the Mission Group making many quilts, helped with adult foster care and cleaned houses. She loved gardening, flowers and making beautiful flower arrangements. She was an accomplished seamstress, made her own and her children’s clothes and later made items for sale at her daughters’ gift shop. She enjoyed bowling, quilting and playing cards.

Erma was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she volunteered as a sacristan and was a member of the Christian Mothers. She was also a member of National Farmer’s Organization.

Survivors include her children, Diane (Tom) O’Connor of Cumberland, Wisconsin, and Karen (Mark) Kettler-Tepley of St. Louis Park, daughter-in-law Kathy Kettler of Melrose, Pam (Dan) Rolfes of St. Joseph and Barb Kettler of St. Joseph; 10 grandchildren Amy (Rob), Betsy (Jim), Megan, Michael (Rachel), Mara (Mike), Lola (Mike), Ben, Uriah, Jesse (Bryce) and Abby (Travis); 15 great-grandchildren; brothers Roman (Tillie) Petermeier and Eddie (Dorothy) Petermeier; sisters-in-law Pudge Kettler and Marlene Kettler; and brother-in-law Don Kettler.

Erma was preceded in death by her parents; husband Elmer Kettler June 2, 2016; son Ron Kettler May 25, 2016; brothers and sisters Al (Evelyn and Lucille) Petermeier, Evelyn (Henry) Jansen, Tony (Ella) Petermeier and Florentine (Leonard) Schmiesing; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law George (Jenny) Kettler, Roman (Pat) Kettler, Leander (Julianna) Kettler, Herb (Rose) Kettler, Francis Kettler, Richard (Evelyn) Kettler, Rosemary (Richard) Swanson, Lou Kettler and Connie Kettler.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.