Martin J. Shuster passed away peacefully on December 19, 2024.  He was 56 years old.  In his last days, Marty was surrounded by loving family members and friends. Marty was born in New Prague, Minnesota, on March 20, 1968, to Ernest and Ellen Shuster.  When Marty was 11 years old his father unexpectedly passed away.  Marty missed him terribly his entire life.  Marty was surrounded by men who shaped his future and helped him develop his interests in manufacturing, aviation, racing, cars, and motorcycles.

Della Ann Davis, 87, of Minnetonka, formerly of Delano, New Prague, and Mounds View, MN, passed away at Minnesota Masonic Home on Friday, January 31, 2025, just a few days shy of her 88th birthday.

At New Prague High School’s coronation ceremony for the Snoball king and queen, Maria Schoenbauer, left, was crowned queen and Peter Dias was crowned king. The ceremony was the highlight of the Friday, Jan. 31, pepfest in the high school gym. New Prague High School will wrap up its annual week of Snoball activities Saturday evening Feb. 1, with a dance in the gym. (Patrick Fisher photo)

Recognizing it will face more challenging opponents in the weeks to come, the New Prague floor hockey team has enjoyed victory in its first two games this season.

The New Prague Chamber of Commerce held its annual dinner and awards Monday eventing, Jan. 27.
Becca Najera, director of Early Childhood Academy, received the Employee of the Year award. “She goes above and beyond as a professional and role model, all while getting out to connect with the community,” said a press release from the chamber of commerce.

A pair of wins in the past week take some of the sting out of a tough loss as the New Prague High School girls’ basketball team prepares for a big game tonight, Thursday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m., at Chanhassen.
Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m., New Prague will be at Becker High School for a tournament game against Andover, a Class 4AAAA team a year removed from state tournament play. Tuesday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m., NP will be at Waconia.

The New Prague Planning Commission and the business, New Prague Mill, LLC, which owns the former flour mill, discussed the use of the mill at the commission’s Wednesday, Jan. 22, meeting.
Also under discussion was whether to allow a business, Cypress Rail, at the mill. Cypress Rail, which does repair and maintenance to railroad cars, is looking to sign a lease with New Prague Mill, LLC. Cypress Rail would be located in a back area of the mill.

An audible sigh of relief from the New Prague boys’ ice hockey team was just what the doctor ordered as the Trojans won a big game against a section opponent last week.
But New Prague, 7-9-2 overall, endured a hard return to reality two days later with a tough loss to Benilde-St. Margaret’s, the Trojans’ second loss to the private school powerhouses this year.

She remembers the sinking feeling watching Pudge take off knowing she couldn’t keep up with him. Cindy Kuhl and Pudge’s owners, Linda and Mark Rahn, are just as thankful the little dog is back home, safe and sound, in New Prague, after a harrowing ordeal amidst temperatures and windchill well-below zero degrees Fahrenheit.

We received an unexpected surprise Sunday evening – a letter to the editor from a person expressing on an opinion she feels is important.
These days, letters to the editor, especially the ones you don’t expect, are worth their weight in gold. It’s on the right side of the page, below the political cartoon. At a time where anybody can post anything they want, fact or fiction disguised as fact, an honest-to-goodness letter to the editor is delightful.

Ron Grossman, of Prior Lake, Minnesota, passed on January 23, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family in the comfort of Beehive Homes South Lakeville, where he resided for the past 6 months.
Ron was born to Pete and Alma Grossman in New Prague, Minnesota, on April 30, 1939. He was the second youngest of eight children. He often shared the memories of working the family farm side by side with his dad and brothers. On April 26, 1958, he married the love of his life, Bev Scheffler. They started their life in Lydia raising their 5 children; Pam, Deb, Brian, Jeff and Troy.

New Prague School Board Director Mark Bartusek has resigned his position on the board.
Monday, the board accepted Bartusek's resignation. The board will discuss how to fill the seat at its workshop meeting Monday, Feb. 10. Bartusek served on the school board for six years.
See details in an upcoming print edition of The New Prague Times.

Margaret Ann Trnka passed peacefully in her home on January 23, 2025. Margaret was born to Cecil and Helen (Chelmosky) Pagel in Saint Paul, MN, on October 11, 1945. The third of six children, she grew up in Mendota Heights, MN, and graduated from Saint Joseph’s Academy in 1963.
 

Merlyn Swanson
In retirement, Merle and his beloved wife Donna enjoyed their home in the countryside of southern Minnesota. Merle embraced the joys of rural life, tending to apple trees, caring for goats and various fowl, and maintaining his lawn. He also had a passion for travel and adventure, often embarking on interstate trips on his Goldwing motorcycle with his brother Ernest and his sons. A lifelong lover of dogs, Merle’s bond with his canine companions brought him great joy. He also cherished quiet moments spent reading each day. 

Joel Edward Kukacka, age 73, of New Prague, died on the evening of Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.

Roselyn Esther "Rosie" Kabes, age 71, of Lakeville, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 17, 2025, at Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville, MN, after a diagnosis of untreatable cancer.  Rosie's 99-year-old mother, Esther, was holding her hand as she took her last breath.