This page is a place to remember our Fellow Toastmasters who have passed on. Please submit Memorial information to the webeditor via the Contact Form.

Rhonda Wellner-Chiodo d. 06/15/2011
Rhonda was a member of Viking 591.

Lynn Mensink d. 02/05/2011
Lynn was active in Toastmasters International as a charter member and officer in Bluff Country Toastmasters.

Jim Fiebke d. 06/18/2010
Jim was active in Toastmasters International as a member and officer in Rochester Chamber Toastmasters. In 2004, he attained Toastmaster International's highest award, Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM).

John Kosse d. 10/02/2009
John was a member of the Rochester Chamber Toastmasters. John attained the Distinguished Toastmasters (DTM) level.

Joe Welke d. 9/27/2009
Joe Welke, 91 years young, passed away. He was a member of Hiawatha Club 205 for 45 years. Joe seldom missed a meeting and preformed each and every role in a textbook fashion with charm and instruction going hand in hand. He lead by doing and Hiawatha Club 205 has created a club award in his honor. Joe's lasting message "Prepare, prepare, prepare."

Mark Holmes d. 12/21/2008
Mark was a 56-year member of Club 75 and a member of the 25-year Association. He passed away on December 21, 2008.

Nick Stacker d. 07/06/2008
Nick was a member of Lawson Thrill Speakers and passed away suddenly July 6, 2008.

Kaki Steen d. 06/17/2008
Kaki was a long time Toastmaster, lost her fight to ALS on June 17, 2008.

Harold Masem d. 01/26/2008
Long time member of the Richfied Legion and PROS Speakers Bureau Chairman for years Spent the last few years in the "Clowning" business Born July 9, 1917 in Brooklyn, NY, passed away Saturday, January 26, 2008, at the Mpls. Veteran's Home where he resided for the past year and a half.

Charles Haertel d. 11/2007
Passed away in November, 2007. Charles joined Toastmasters in 1999. He was a great member of the King of Clubs Toastmasters club for about five years. He was active in the club and a great supporter of Toastmasters. He was active up to the last month. We really enjoyed his reports of teaching in China. The club had an Adventures in Public Speaking program dedicated to the memory of Charles. It featured speeches and evaluations by Charles. It was televised on community television station CTV-15 in the Northern Suburbs.

Frank Strickon d. 10/05/2007
His widow Berl called to make sure that he is mentioned at the spring convention. She said that Frank loved Toastmasters. Frank was a 40 year member of Dan Patch and a member of PROs. He helped start many clubs with Lou Novak.

Frost, Keith d. 11/10/05
Keith Frost Remembered: District 6 mourns the loss of its only Accredited Speaker! Keith Frost, the only remaining charter member of the Dan Patch Toastmaster Club died Thursday, November 10, 2005. He was 87 years young. Keith will be remembered as a true gentlemen, scholar and honorable Toastmaster. In his years as a Toastmaster he earned many awards, including the Accredit Speaker Award. To date he is the only person in District 6 to have achieved this distinguished honor. In 1970, he was the District 6 "Toastmaster of the Year'' recipient. A dynamic speaker who won dozens of speech contests, including coming in second at International in 1959. He was elected club President at Dan Patch twice and faithfully served all other office positions in his many years, aswell as being Area Governor. He touched the lives of many Toastmasters as a mentor and friend for which he would say "My best friends in life are Toastmasters." He will be deeply missed.

Szymczak (Shimshock) Bernard L., Past District Governor (1966-67) 11/25/23 to 11/25/05.
Preceded in death by wife of 52 years Jane, brother Walter, sister Josephine. Survived by children Paul (Becky) and Walter; grandchildren, Dustin and Caitlyn; brother, George (Helen) and many nieces and nephews. Bernie was born and raised in NE Mpls, graduated from St. Thomas College with a bachelors degree, received his masters degree from the U of M. Taught high school English and Latin at Osseo, DeLaSalle and retired from Anoka High School. He was a 50 year member of Knights of Columbus, 3rd Degree Fridley Council, a member of Toastmasters International, very active with church and was a member of Immaculate Conception and Holy Cross Catholic Churches for many years. Received the WCCO "Good Neighbor Award" and the Columbia Heights Humanitarian of the Year Award. His endless giving to others will be remembered by all who knew him, but most of all Bernie will be remembered for his passion for his Polish Heritage. He helped forge the Sister City relationship between Columbia Heights and Lomianki, Poland, the place where his brother died in WWII. He was active in many other Polish related organizations.