Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 11th at 1:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca with Fr. Martin Schaefer, Celebrant. Interment will be in the Woodville Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m. at McRaith Funeral Home in Waseca. There will be no reviewal at church on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials will used to establish a Bluejay Scholarship Fund in Todd’s name.

Todd James was born on October 14, 1964 in Bismark, North Dakota to James and Diane (Berger) Mann. He graduated from Waseca High School in 1983. Todd attended Des Moines Area Community College in Boone, IA, where he played baseball for 2 years. He went on to play baseball at the Univ. of Southern Mississippi, while earning his bachelor’s degree.

Todd began his career with Sagedahl Sports in Minneapolis. He returned to Waseca where he served as the Community Ed. Recreation Director, then later Waseca High School Athletic Director and coach of the Waseca Bluejay Baseball Team. Most recently Todd was in sales with Nicklasson Athletic Co. of New Ulm, and served at assistant coach of the Bethany Lutheran College Baseball Team in Mankato. He was inducted into the Waseca High School Hall of Fame in 2008. Todd loved time spent with his family, especially his son Ty.

He is survived by his son, Ty; by his parents James and Diane Mann, his sister Sherri (Dave) Ulfers, and his nieces and nephew, Amanda, Lexie and Cody Ulfers, all of Waseca; by his former wife Cristeen Schumacher.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents John and Elizabeth Mann, and his maternal grandparents John and Helen Berger, and by his aunts and uncles.

Casketbearers are: Ryan Kragh, Mike Larson, Tink Larson, Clint Larson, Adam Christ, Steve Christ, Dale Kugath, Tony Becker, Todd Miller, Henry Lewer Jr., Peter Madel III, Joel Hayford, Jeff Sjoberg, and Kyle Collins.

See also http://www.wasecacountynews.com/news.php?viewStory=4347, http://www.mankatofreepress.com/sports/local_story_342005105.htmland http://www.wasecaalums.com/public/397.cfm

http://www.asimas.com/ASIMAS/kohlmcraith/obituaryDescription.jsp?domain_id=322&deceased_id=213086

This year’s inductees are Mike Larson (1983), Greg Vilt (1987), Bill Lechner (1961), Jacob Conway (1996) and the Waseca High School 1990 State Champion Baseball Team.

Mike Larson was a three-sport athlete, earning 7 varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. Greg Vilt, a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball earned 8 varsity letters. Bill Lechner was a Student Manager for football, basketball and track, earning 10 varsity letters. Jacob Conway earned 9 varsity letters as a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track. The 1990 Waseca High School Baseball Team is the only boy’s athletic team of modern time to win a state championship.

This year’s induction banquet will be held September 26 at the Waseca VFW Club. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and program at 6:30 p.m. The new inductees will also be recognized during half time at the Homecoming Football Game.

Banquet ticket cost is $20 per person and includes your choice of rib eye steak or chicken breast over wild rice.

Tickets can be purchased at the Waseca High School Activities Office or by calling Scott Shafer at 507-835-5535.

The initial Hall of Fame class included Jo Arvesen, Manny Beckmann, John Bendix, Jerry Cawley, Monte Dufault, Gene Glynn, Shyde Krause and Tink Larson. The 2006 class included Wayne Breck, Steve Cunningham, Rolf Iversen, Jami Jager, Jason O’Brien and Jerry Slattery. The 2007 class included Charles Dunn, John King, Bob Johnson, Jill Hanson, Amy Buschow, Joel O’Brien and Bruce Wessman. Last year’s inductees included Dwain “Whitey” Aamot, Lisa Broughton, Dr. Al Rieck, Todd Mann, Don Miller, Roger Paschall, Terry Gilbertson and the 1918 State Champion Boys Basketball Team.

We had invited him to attend our WHS 1959 50 year class reunion later this summer. He will be missed.

Here’s a link to his obituary: http://www.asimas.com/ASIMAS/kohlmcraith/obituaryDescription.jsp?domain_id=322&deceased_id=197666

The Waseca High School class of 1957 is holding their 50th reunion this weekend in conjunction with homecoming. There are plans to honor the 1957 football team at halftime of the homecoming game with St. Peter. I understand it’s a rather new tradition to invite the class of 50 years ago to be honored during homecoming. I think it’s a good tradition, and I hope they take a little time to remember Russ.

Queen candidates this year are

• Chelsea Barr, daughter of Leslie Ahlers
• Taylor Froehle, daughter of Curt and Marlys Froehle
• Lacy Johnson, daughter of Bruce and Lynette Johnson
• Beth LeCocq, daughter of Amy and Jim LeCocq
• Bayli Nelson, daughter of Blain and Jody Nelson
•Tenille Nelson, daughter of Blair and Deanne Nelson
• Mindy Sommers, daughter of Mark and Becky Sommers

King candidates are

• Zanik Bartelt, son of Lyle and Pam Vaughan
• Andrew Beckmann, son of Scott and Diane Beckmann
• Kevin Britton, son of Paul and Denise Britton
• Grady Glynn, son of Joe and Cathie Glynn
• Richie Gullickson, son of Sam and Beckie Gullickson
• Jimmy Loonan, son of Tim and Dorothy Loonan
• Ethan Schultz, son of Merril and Mary Schultz

Chuck Lucas
http://www.wasecaalums.com/

  Waseca Baseball Club, baseball team and bat boy, posed after a game, lined up on a bench; (front row) Bob Kujath (bat boy); (on the bench) unknown, Roy “Red” Myers, Herb Sponberg, Warren “Chick” Gray, unknown, Immanual Mueller, Albert Groebner, Bob Gray, R.G.”Happy” Lowe, George Johnson, Clem Bauman, Ed Fiebiger; (standing) Don Herbst.

   Waseca Baseball Club; posing outside L-R: (front row) Clem Bauman, Immanuel Mueller, R. G.”Happy” Lowe, Al Bell, Jim McDermott, Albert “Allie” Groebner, Emil Scheid; (back row) Don Herbst, unknown, Ed “Fat” Fiebiger, George Johnson, Herb “Ike” Sponberg, Bob Gray, Warren “Chick” Gray, Jack Connelly, Helder Munson.

The photos of Waseca’s 1938 and 1939 baseball teams are courtesy of the Waseca County Historical Society. What were the names of the teams in these years?