Author: EPLN Staff Reports

Lorinne Mikelson, age 90, of Eden Prairie, died on Sept. 5. A celebration of her life will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 16515 Luther Way, Eden Prairie, at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, with a visitation starting at 10 a.m. Lorinne was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Mikelson; son-in-law, Daniel Kloskowski; granddaughter, Heather Kloskowski Lindholm; and great-grandson, Oliver Kloskowski. She is survived by her daughters, Roxanne Kloskowski, Jamie Manning (Michael) and Kari Gabrielson (Dan); eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Lorinne is remembered as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, devoted and loyal to her many lifelong friends.…

Marilyn A. (Mortvedt) Terwilliger, age 88, of Eden Prairie, died Friday, Sept. 8, at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Clara Mortvedt; her husband, Richard Terwilliger; her daughter, Debra Terwilliger; sisters, Lucille Ramstad and Carole Petersen; brother, John Mortvedt; and sister-in-law, Mary Lou Terwilliger. She is survived by her son, Scott (Sandy) Terwilliger; sisters, Audrey Mortensen and Jeanne Steinharter; brother, Robert Mortvedt; brothers-in-law, Don (Carolyn) Terwilliger and Roy Terwilliger; sister-in-law, Marlene Mortvedt; grandchildren, Tara, Briana (Karen), Ben (Jordan), Sam, and Natalie; great-grandson, Layne; and numerous nieces and nephews. Marilyn was…

Allina Health will expand its services at Allina Health – Eden Prairie in mid-2024 to include primary care, orthopedics, women’s health, physical and occupational therapy through Courage Kenny Institute and cardiac rehab via Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute. The new services will be offered in the office building at 775 Prairie Center Drive, where Allina Health – Eden Prairie opened in 2022 to provide integrated primary and cardiovascular care through a collaboration between Minneapolis Heart Institute and Abbott Northwestern General Medicine Associates. This will be a 45,000-square-foot expansion for Allina Health – Eden Prairie.

SouthWest Transit transported 77,326 passengers to and from the Great Minnesota Get Together this year, marking a 13% increase from 2022, according to a press release. The addition of a new service day on Wednesday, Aug. 30, contributed to the rise. A recent survey conducted by the agency revealed that 91% of its riders rated their experience as good or excellent. Passengers commented on the convenience, mentioning the cost-saving benefits of avoiding parking fees. They also praised the condition and cleanliness of the buses, as well as the professionalism of the drivers. SouthWest Transit, which has shuttled attendees to the…

Relax — it’s just a drill. Prairie View Elementary School will be the site of important safety training for local first responders starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sep. 6. Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) will also serve as a staging area for the training. Each year, the Eden Prairie police and fire departments conduct emergency response training in the community to develop their response skills across agencies. From 6 to 10 p.m. on Sept. 6, 13, and 18, the training will take place at Prairie View. In an email sent to district families last week, Eden Prairie Schools said that…

Vivian Ellenore (Parno/Paine) Ess passed away peacefully at 3:32 a.m. on Aug. 2, 2023. Ronald Kenneth Ess, the love of her life and father of her children, was at her side just three days before their 45th wedding anniversary. Vivian was predeceased by her parents, Oscar Parno Ivadell and Phillip Ott, brother Ken Parno and special friend Butch Blakstvedt. She is survived by her loving husband, Ron, and sister, Beverly Schroeder, and brother, LeRoy Parno; her four beloved children, Gregory, Jeffery (Shana), Timothy (Stacey), and Ryan (Kelsey); her grandchildren, Mackenzie, Joshua, Beckett, Everett Ess, and special friend, Debbie Trofholz. Born…

Sarah “June” Gilbert, age 86, of Eden Prairie, passed away peacefully on Aug. 19, 2023, from pancreatic cancer. She is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Gordon; her children Janelle Steinman (Peter) and Laurelle Clarke; two grandsons, Alexander Steinman and Andrew Steinman; sister Carol Royce of Concord, New Hampshire; brother William Willey of Minneapolis; several nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends. June was born in Concord, New Hampshire, on June 12, 1937, and graduated from Concord High School. Due to her desire to travel, she became a flight attendant for United Airlines and was based out of…

Purgatory Creek Park was alive with music and anticipation on Aug. 19, as seven vocalists, ages 13-20, showcased their talent at the seventh annual Eden Prairie Sings! competition, which was part of the city’s Arts in the Park event. The winners were all praised by the four judges for their vocal talent, stage presence, and overall performance. Lainey Donaghue, 20, emerged as the top performer, winning $200 for her rendition of Queen’s “Somebody to Love.” Sadie Maguire, 15, claimed the second place spot and $150 with her heartfelt performance of Demi Lovato’s “Anyone.” Ella Schumacher, 15, secured the title of…

Eden Prairie residents have been feeling the heat as temperatures reached a high of 98 degrees both Tuesday and Wednesday. Sweltering conditions have driven locals to seek ways to stay cool, from lakeside dips to enjoying frozen treats. Gillian Holte, one of EPLN’s photographers, captured images of residents cooling off in the waters of Lake Riley on Wednesday. However, the stifling heat eased slightly on Thursday. The weather forecast suggests more comfortable conditions in the coming days, ideal for a barbecue or an afternoon at the Minnesota State Fair.

The City of Eden Prairie is now accepting nominations for the annual Sustainable Eden Prairie Award, which recognizes significant and innovative investments that contribute to the overall vitality and sustainability of the community. Eligible entries include property improvements and organized programming or initiatives. The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15. Persons can nominate either themselves or others, with no residency requirement for the nominators. And, the same property or program can be nominated in multiple categories. The Sustainability Commission will finalize the recipients, the number of which varies each year based on the strength of nominations. By…