DOLORES E. MECHTEL Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Interment for Dolores will be at 4 PM, Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at Calvary Cemetery, located on County Hwy 249, Caledonia. Everyone is welcomed. .Dolores E. Mechtel died peacefully on July 3, 2022 at the LaCrescent Health Services in LaCrescent, Mn. Dolores was born at her grandparents’ home near New Albin, IA on March 16, 1927. Her parents were Carl and Winifred Fruechte. She spent the first 5 years of her life on her grandparents’ farm. At age 5 it was decided that she needed to go live with her mom and dad on a little farm outside of Caledonia, MN. Much of her growing-up years were spent helping her dad farm, singing on the front porch with her sisters and learning to yodel off the radio. After the family moved into the town of Caledonia, she worked as a telephone operator. In August of 1949 she met Norman Mechtel while he was home on leave from the Army and 3 weeks later they were married. During the rest of Norman’s 22 year military career, they had 3 children. Jacolyn was born in 1950 at Fort Benning, GA. Jeannette was born in 1954 in Heidelberg, Germany and Daniel was born in 1957 in Highland Park, IL. After Norman retired from the Army in 1962 from Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX the family moved to Cedar Falls, IA. While in Cedar Falls Dolores was in many Hospital Auxillary fund raising shows, sang with the local Sweet Adelines and sang Lead in a women’s Barbershop Quartet. She also was employed at a local flower shop where she was a highly sought after floral arrangement designer. In 1975, Dolores and Norman moved again, this time returning to their hometown Caledonia when Norman was asked to assume the job of City Clerk. Dolores volunteered time with the Red Cross blood drives, worked with the Founder’s Day Committee and several times directed the authentic period melodramas performed during the Founder’s Day celebrations. Singing and entertaining were a major part Dolores’s life. She often sang at Elmer’s Supper Club with The Tyrolleans, at nursing homes in Houston Co with her friends Rudy and Catherine Klinski and later with her daughter and the group Highland Voices. In 1986, Dolores became the 2nd Apple Annie. She loved performing at the many community parades and celebrations to which the Apple Fest Royalty was invited in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Dolores is survived by her 2 daughters Jacolyn Mechtel(Bruce Kuehmichel) and Jeannette(Hal) Barber, 2 sisters Janice(Loyd) Renslo and Barbara Oakes, 4 grandchildren, Chris Barber, Patrick(Amber) Barber, Aaron Kuehmichel, Leah(Matt) Garry, one great granddaughter Orla Garry and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Norman, her son Daniel, her sisters Shirley McGinnes and Marlys Grande and her brother Aldred Fruechte. Interment will be at 4 PM, Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at Calvary Cemetery, located on County Hwy 249, Caledonia.. There will be no previous service but anyone is welcome to attend the internment and share sentiments if you wish to do so. The family wishes to thank Dr. Carrie Gerhard of the LaCrescent Clinic, all the LaCrescent Health Services staff and the members of the St Croix Hospice organization for the wonderful care and comfort they gave Dolores during the last months of her life.

DOLORES E. MECHTEL

March 16, 1927 - July 3, 2022