Matthew H. Tholkes

Matthew Tholkes, age 89 of Buffalo, formerly of the Belle Plaine area died on Friday, October 31, 2014 at the Parkview Care Center in Buffalo, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11a.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2014 at Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church in Belle Plaine. Visitation will be from 9-11a.m. at the church prior to the service. Interment will be in Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery in Belle Plaine. Memorials are preferred. Matt was born in St. Leo, MN on April 22. 1925 to Mathias and Anna (Nosbush) Tholkes. On February 14, 1946 he married Agatha Steyaert at St. Edward's Catholic Church in Minneota. They moved to Belle Plaine from Glenwood in 1950. They purchased Taddi's Variety Store and renamed it Matt's Variety. They owned and operated the store until their retirement in 1986. Agatha passed away February 3, 1992. Matt later married Joan Vetsch on September 7, 2000 in Winsted. Matt was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Belle Plaine and a Parish Lay Minister. Matt is survived by his wife, Joan of Buffalo, Children, Sister Pam Tholkes, (PHJC) of East Chicago, IN, Janel (Charles) Schlichting of Cross Lake, Peggy (Joseph) Faiola of Eden Prairie, Mark M. Tholkes of Roseville, Step-Children, Brian (Marilyn) Vetsch of Monticello, Bruce (Bonnie) Vetsch of Elk River, Bill (Pat) Vetsch of St. Michael, Julene Hirsch of Howard Lake, 4 Granddaughters, 5 Great-Grandchildren, 1 Great-Great-Grandson, 18 Step-Grandchildren, 35 Step-Great-Grandchildren Siblings, Jim (Carol) Tholkes of Estherville, IA, Sister Anne Marie Tholkes (SSND) of Mankato, Rose Ann Weiskircher of Spencer, IA, Delphine McMahon of St. Louis Park, Many Nieces and Nephews. He is preceded in death by his first Wife, Agatha, Great-Grandson, Jacob, Step-Sons, Keith and Kevin Vetsch, Siblings, Lambert, Cyril, Fabian &Cletus Tholkes, Regina Lanners and Odela Schommer.

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