Author: <span>Mary Pat Kleven</span>

Pat Green’s chili recipe from Wendy’s Restaurants and Sandy Meglic’s cornbread with kernel corn took top honors at the First Congregational Church Chili Feed, Sunday, October 27th, 2019.  Attendees sampled various chili and cornbread recipes brought in by church members along with desserts and coffee.  After the feed, participants “voted” for their favorites by making cash donations.  The winners were determined by the most cash raised.  Over $560 was raised for Feed My Starving Children, and will be used for the packing event planned for November 23rd, 2019.  Emery Kleven announced the winners (pictured above) with their winning entries.

David Russell Bremer, age 78 of Cannon Falls, MN, passed away in the early morning hours of October 21, 2019.

Dave was born the eldest of five children on May 4, 1941 in Northfield, MN, to Russell E. and Grace (Carlson) Bremer. David grew up in Cannon Falls, graduating with the class of 1959. Following that, he attended Winona State University.

Dave served in the United States Air Force from October 1962 to October 1966. In 1964, he left for an overseas tour of duty in Vietnam until 1965. On April 4, 1970 David was united in marriage to Marianne K. Hutchinson in Garden City, SD. They eventually settled down in Cannon Falls. In May of 1974, Dave was hired as a full-time member of the MN Air National Guard until his retirement in March of 1996 as a Master Sergeant.

Upon his retirement, David attended MN State College Southeast, graduating with a degree in accounting. After receiving his degree, Dave went to work at Dakota County Technical College until his full retirement in 2008.

David was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ, Cannon Falls VFW since 1965, American Legion since 1976, and DAV (Disabled American Veterans) since 2005.

David is survived by his wife, Marianne; son, Mark (Sangrail Deal) of Thomasville, GA; daughter, Dianne (Truman) Tucker of Rochester; granddaughter, Samantha Bremer (Adam Magnuson) of Maplewood; step grandchildren, Collin, Gretchen, Reagan, and Lauren Tucker; brothers, John (Mary Beth) of Northfield, Tom (Bonnie) of Owatonna, and Bob (Toodie) of Sioux Falls, SD; sister, Laura (Bruce) Hemmah of Cannon Falls; honorary family members, Bonnie Knoll of Hastings, Kayla Holthe of Wanamingo, and Kayla Simonson of Maplewood; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Grace; nephew, Joseph Hemmah; brother-in-law, Herb Hutchinson; and sister-in-law, Lois Snyder.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 27 from 2-5 p.m. at Lundberg Funeral Home in Cannon Falls. A memorial service will be on Monday, October 28 at 11 AM, with visitation from 10-11 AM, at the First Congregational Church, 220 W. Main St., Cannon Falls. Interment will military honors will follow at the Cannon Falls Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the loving caregivers with Mayo Clinic Health System – Red Wing Hospice for their compassion and support.

There will be a memorial service for Nathaniel Blaine Emery on Wednesday, October 23rd at the First Congregational Church, 220 W Main Street, Cannon Falls.  Visitation will start at 2:00 p.m. with a service at 4:00 p.m.

Nathaniel Blaine Emery, age 48, of Salt Lake City, Utah, passed away on Sept. 22, 2019. He died fighting a lifelong battle with mental illness. He left behind his parents, Chuck and Carol Emery of Cannon Falls, his sister Elizabeth, his brother-in-law, Neil Budzinski, his nephew Eli, and his niece Sylvie, all of Waltham, MA, all of whom Nathan loved and adored. He also left behind many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and co-workers of all ages. Aunt Janet was Nathan’s special friend and soulmate. Don Hernke was Nathan’s special friend and mentor. Harris Nelson was also instrumental in sharing values of life as he taught Nathan to catch northern pike in the Cannon River by Welch.

Nathan attended Cannon Falls Schools; did his Basic Training in U.S. Navy in Florida; earned a 2 year degree in Diesel Mechanics , Dakota County VoTec; earned BS Degree in Economics (graduated with honors), University of Minnesota, Duluth; earned MBA, U of M, Duluth; and got a Series 7 License.

Nathan’s interests included fly-fishing, mountain biking, camping, wood working, mechanical and auto body repair, watching NASCAR, professional sports and movies, dogs (Snoopy, Tar, Lady and Cooper), and almost anything to do with wheels!  Nathan loved traveling and had been to countries in S.E.Asia (Thailand, Laos, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia),  the length of South America from Columbia all the way down to ‘almost’ the southern tip, and a few countries of Europe.

Nathan’s ashes will be scattered in Minnesota, in the Wasatch Mountains and streams in Utah, and in the Fairview Cemetery , Langdon, Iowa, where his parents, sister, brother-in-law, his Aunt Janet and Aunt Arlene will be. Nathan’s grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents are already buried there.

Scheduled for Sunday, October 27th, 10:45 a.m., 220 West Main Street, this event will help to raise money for the Feed My Starving Children packing event in Cannon Falls slated for November.

Church members will bring crockpots of chili and pans of cornbread for the event. They will be set up with labels (but no names!) for everyone to sample and enjoy. Each crockpot and cornbread pan will have baskets for people to “vote” for their favorites with donations to Feed My Starving Children. The winners will be the folks who have generated the most cash. The prize? Bragging rights for having the best chili or cornbread in Cannon Falls!

The public is welcome to attend; for more information call First Congregational Church at (507) 263-2901 or email the office at fccucc@citlink.net.

Start collecting your recipes for chili and cornbread – the First Congo Chili Feed is back!  Scheduled for Sunday, October 27th after church, this event will raise money for Feed My Starving Children.  Watch the bulletin and website for more details.

Mary Pat Kleven

Singer and songwriter Brother Timothy (Timothy Frantzich) along with his lovely family, his wife Carrie and their two daughters, Esther and Svea, delighted a crowd of music lovers at the First Congregational Church on Sunday, August 11th wit
h their beautiful renditions of songs from Neil Young to John Prine. The Frantzich family artfully blended familiar folksy songs with original music and poetry for an evening that combined uplifting messages with gentle humor and personal stories. By the end, the audience was singing along with old hymns and newer music, providing a unique musical experience that we hope can be repeated.

Proceeds after expenses went to the Good Samaritan Fund which is held by the Cannon Falls Church Interaction Council (CCIC) and used to provide immediate assistance to local families in need

On Tuesday, August 6th the First Congregational Church hosted it’s second annual National Night Out celebration by welcoming the community to the church grounds for Root Beer Floats.  The Cannon Falls Police Department stopped by and chatted with folks who came out to enjoy the nice weather and good company.

National Night Out is a community-police awareness-raising event in the United States, held the first Tuesday of August

Concert this Sunday at 6:30 PM –  First Congregational Church

Singer and songwriter Brother Timothy (Timothy Frantzich) will perform solo and then be joined by his wife Carrie and their two daughters, Esther and Svea, singing everything from Neil Young to John Prine, original songs and even an old hymns, all in three part harmony. There is nothing quite like family harmony!

A free will donation of $10-20 is suggested to meet expenses for this Good Sam Jam and benefit the CCIC (Community Churches Interaction Council) Good

Samaritan Fund, supporting Cannon Falls residents in need of emergency funds to meet expenses beyond their immediate abilities.

Root beer floats will be served following the concert.

4:00 – 6:00 pm at the Tillion Brewery
432 Mill St W, Cannon Falls, MN

Three local pastors, Cindy and Nick Fisher-Broin, from Spring Garden Lutheran Church, and Drew Yackel, from Urland Lutheran Church, invite you to join them for an afternoon of Hymns on Tap. These sing-alongs have brought out good crowds and great voices before. Join them for a fun afternoon with neighbors and friends.

6:30 pm at First Congregational
220 W Main Street, Cannon Falls, MN

United Church of Christ
Singer and songwriter Brother Timothy (Timothy Frantzich) will perform solo and then be joined by his wife Carrie and their two daughters, Esther and Svea, singing everything from Neil Young to John Prine, original songs and even an old hymns, all in three part harmony. There is nothing quite like family harmony!

A free will donation of $10-20 is suggested to meet expenses for this Good Sam Jam and benefit the CCIC (Community Churches Interaction Council) Good

Samaritan Fund, supporting Cannon Falls residents in need of emergency funds to meet expenses beyond their immediate abilities.

Root beer floats will be served following the concert.

Singer-songwriter, artist, educator and teacher Timothy Frantzich will share worship leadership at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Cannon Falls at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 9.

Performing as Brother Timothy, he has been writing and singing for more than three decades. Currently based in Stillwater, MN and active in many venues in the area, he has also sung in New York at Riverside Church, Los Alamos NM, Los Angeles, the UK, and, most recently, in China during extended says in 2018 and again earlier this year. He has appeared with Arlo Guthrie and on Prairie Home Companion as well as many local artists and performers. “1000 pubs and 1000 churches,” his website says. His solo CD, “our lost & wild daughter,” is full of prayers, dance, gardening, and hope.

Mary Pat Kleven