Allan Alfred Neeser, age 88, of Horton, Michigan, originally of New Prague, Minnesota died at Arbor Manor in Spring Arbor Michigan on December 8, 2024.  He was born on July 25, 1936, to Leo and Grace (Voerding) Neeser in St. Cloud, Minnesota where he met and married his first wife, Marjorie Lumley in February 1958.  

Jon Frederick Schilling, born on February 4, 1944, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on December 6, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 80, following years of complications due to COPD.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Edna Schilling (nee Sholin), and his sister, Nancy Hafermann (nee Schilling).

Duane Franek of Prior Lake, MN, passed away peacefully at the age of 72, on November 25, 2024. Born in New Prague, MN. Duane proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and later built a successful career as an entrepreneur with his business, Franek Laser & Fab, retiring in 2024.

Frosty the snowman waves to the crowd at New Prague’s 28th Annual Holiday Parade of Lights on Main Street Friday night, Dec. 6. Frosty was one of several characters who greeted people as the parade made its way east on Main Street to Memorial Park, where there was a tree lighting, music, hot chocolate and fireworks.
For more on the annual celebration see an upcoming print edition of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher photo)

Union Hill Bar & Grill owner Ryan Klein of New Prague pled guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, and admitted to crashing his vehicle shortly after leaving his bar on the evening of Saturday, Sept. 28, according to a Le Sueur County Sheriffs Office incident report and court records obtained.

Gertrude A. “Gertie” Chlan, age 88, of New Prague, died peacefully at her home with her family at her side on Thursday, December 5, 2024.  Gertie was born on March 15, 1936, on the family farm in Lanesburgh Township, Le Sueur County, to Valentine and Gertrude (Topic) Tupy.  She started out at country school, went to St. Wenceslaus Parochial School, and graduated from New Prague High School with the class of 1953.  On the weekend that Emil Chlan was discharged from the US Army, he and Gertie met at a dance at the Park Ballroom and love bloomed!  They were married at St.

Overnight Closure Alert: Highway 169 South of Jordan Dec. 5, 6
Highway 169 in one direction closes overnight (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) from Park Blvd to Highway 282 / Scott County Road 9 on Dec. 5 and 6. Northbound Highway 169 will be closed 12/5; Southbound Highway 169 will be closed 12/6. See Detour Map for temporary alternate routes.

Ronald M. Ruhland, age 87, of Bloomington, formerly of the Union Hill area, died on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at his home in Bloomington.  Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Union Hill, MN.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the Mass at church.  Burial to follow in church cemetery with veterans honors.  Lunch will be at the Knights of Columbus Hall in New Prague after the burial.  

Francis J. Nickolay, age 98, of New Prague, died peacefully on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024, at Mala Strana Health and Rehabilitation Center.  Francis was born at home in New Prague on August 10, 1926, to John F. and Bessie (Bazil) Nickolay.  He attended eight years at St. Wenceslaus Parochial School and graduated from New Prague High School, though his education was interrupted for two years when he enlisted in the US Navy, serving during WWII, traveling through Pearl Harbor four months after the bombing by Japan.  After returning home, he met Lorraine L.

Kathy (Toner) McBroom, age 79, of New Prague, died peacefully from glioblastoma at Our Lady of Peace Hospice House in St. Paul on Nov. 26. She was preceded in death by her parents, William & Kathryn Toner, and siblings, Mary (infant), Jim, Bern, Pat, and Julie. 

Adeline “Addie” Martha Bradford passed away peacefully on November 25, 2024, surrounded by her family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd. There will be a visitation at 10:00 a.m., and a luncheon will follow at Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter. Burial at Baxter City Cemetery will follow lunch.

Just when you’re starting to fret not having a reasonable idea for a column for this week’s paper, along come the good folks from Oklahoma willing to try to skirt the U.S. Constitution for their religious beliefs.

The beginning of December brings a change as Paul Busch will be stepping down from the New Prague American Legion’s board of directors. He estimated he has served on the board for 12 years.
A Vietnam veteran who served from 1968- 1969, he was a specialist four in the Army and was in an artillery unit. Busch said he served at three bases; Phu Bai, Camp Evans, an Air Force air strip, and Dong Ha.

New Prague Realtor Pat Sullivan and insurance agent Molly McGillen and their staffs gave away 200 pumpkin pies to people who stopped by Memorial Park Sunday, Nov. 24. Traffic backed up onto E Main Street well before the advertised 11 a.m. start time, prompting an early start to the giveaway. By 11:33 a.m., all 200 12-inch pies had been handed out. McGillen and Sullivan said the giveaway was to thank the community for its support over the past year. Sullivan and McGillen started discussing the plan earlier this fall.

With only three proven starters back from a year ago, New Prague High School’s girls’ hoops team faced a question when it started the season last week against Northfield. How would this year’s team come out of the gate compared to the previous year’s squad?