Author: EPLN Staff Reports

One of the men involved in the Feb. 1, 2022, fatal shooting at the District 287 South Education Center in Richfield has been sentenced to three years in prison. Thirty-one Eden Prairie students were enrolled in programs at the center at that time. Not all were at the center that day, and those there were evacuated safely. Alfredo Rosario Solis, 20, was convicted of second-degree assault in December for the shooting that killed 15-year-old Jahmari Kei’Fee Rice and injured another student outside the center, according to a Star Tribune report. Solis was found not guilty on five of the six…

Eden Prairie Schools notified families Wednesday morning that it would move to distance learning from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 4 due to inclement weather. It had originally planned to have a two-hour late start. PiM Arts High School (PiM), the International School of Minnesota (ISM), and Eagle Ridge Academy (ERA) announced they will be fully closed on Jan. 4 due to the weather. In an email to families, EP Schools said students should check their Schoology pages or watch for additional communication from teachers about lessons. The school day will be 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for…

Christine Caroline Mulder, born June 27, 1976, passed on Dec. 20, 2022.  She is survived by her parents, Ken and Sharon Mulder, brother, Reyer Mulder, sister-in-law Kelly Mulder, and niece Mackenzie Caroline Mulder, as well as the Theobald and Mulder cousins, aunts, and uncles. She is preceded in death by her grandma Matilda (Tillie) Mulder, grandma Caroline (Carol) Theobald, uncle Ronald (Ron) Theobald, cousin Andrew (Andy) Burnett, and uncle Richard Mulder. She graduated from Eden Prairie High School and attended the University of Wisconsin – Superior, where she met and made a group of lifelong friends. She worked diligently for…

James John Skranka, age 79, of Eden Prairie, died unexpectedly on Dec. 21, 2022, at his home. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dawn, mother, Helen, father, Albert, and sister, Helen Heitz. Survived by daughters, Michele (Lynwood) Elliott, Wendi Greeman, and Kristin (Hernan) Cortes, eight grandchildren, brother, John (Darlene) Skranka, nieces and nephews. A traditional funeral service occurred at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, at the Huber Funeral and Cremation Services Eden Prairie Chapel, 16394 Glory Lane.

Lavern G. “Vern” Johnson, age 90, of Annandale, died Saturday, Dec. 24, at English Rose Suites in Edina.  Vern was born Oct. 12, 1932, in Eagle Bend, Minnesota, to George and Florence (Carlson) Johnson. He grew up in Eagle Bend with his two brothers, Bob and Willy. Vern graduated in 1950 from Eagle Bend High School and in 1954 from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. One week later, he married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis L. Broberg. He then began his 42-year career as a portfolio manager with IDS/American Express and served two years in the U.S. Army.  After…

Mary Ellen (Kilkelly) Connaughty of Eden Prairie passed away on Dec. 25, 2022, at the age of 90. Preceded in death by daughter Patricia. Survived by husband of 67 years Curtis; children Ellen, Jill Spencer (Douglas), Maureen, Christopher (Lynn) and Sean (Melissa); 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, Jan. 5, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Pax Christi Catholic Church, 12100 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie, with Memorial Mass to follow at 11 am. Lunch following. Washburn-McReavy is handling arrangements.

The Eden Prairie High School Athletic Department announced last week the hiring of Dan Slinden as the new head boys golf coach. Slinden, who served as the assistant golf coach last year, will take over for David Anderson, who recently resigned from the position. According to a media release, Slinden has been a teacher at Eden Prairie High School for 24 years, currently teaching adapted physical education. He has had a long career as a coach, leading teams in football, baseball and adapted floor hockey. Russ Reetz, the school’s athletics director, said Slinden will be a valuable addition to the…

David Lee Kottke passed away due to pancreatic cancer on Nov. 29, 2022, in Fortuna, California. He spent his childhood outside, exploring Eden Prairie, and worked at Hot Rockin’ 104 after high school. He left Minnesota in 1989 for California and worked at Lido Sailing Club until a skiing accident led to his return. He re-entered the Twin Cities music scene and met Suzanne Kottke while performing in 1996. They married and started a family, and he worked as a registered nurse at Methodist Hospital for 19 years. In 2003, Kottke became a drummer at Wayzata Community Church and joined…

Wayne Jacob Gregoire passed away peacefully on the evening of Dec. 19, 2022, at his home in Eden Prairie, surrounded by his loving family. Wayne was born on April 15, 1942, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to George and Lillian Gregoire. He was baptized and confirmed at St Jude’s in Thompson, North Dakota. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, sister Diane, brother Doug, three brothers-in-law, and two sisters-in-law. He is survived by his wife Carol, daughter Michelle and son David. He is also survived by two brothers-in-law, and three sisters-in-law and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and…

Keith Duane Anderson, age 65, of Eden Prairie, passed away while diving the Red Sea in Egypt on Dec. 5, 2022. A funeral service will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 300 E 4th St., Chaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 28. The service will start at 11 a.m., with a visitation one hour prior at 10 a.m. A luncheon will be held afterward, and a private burial will be held at a later date. Keith was born on Dec. 16, 1956, in St. Paul. He was the youngest son of Donald and Kathryn Anderson and the brother of Bryan, Karen,…