Obituaries are courtesy of Mueller-Bies Funeral Homes, located at 2130 N. Dale St., Roseville, Minn.

Christine Marie Patraw (Hamberg)

Jan. 22, 1952 — Oct. 18, 2026

Christine Marie Patraw (formerly Hamberg) passed away on Oct. 18, six weeks after a devastating diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rapidly progressive prion brain disorder. She was 74.

Patraw was born on Jan. 22, 1952 to Robert and Eileen Patraw, growing up in South St. Paul, Minn. She attended Holy Trinity Catholic School and later graduated from Brady High School in 1970.

She began her career at Ramsey Hospital and then moved to St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul, becoming one of the first ultrasound techs in the Twin Cities. She continued working for many years in the radiology department at St. Joseph’s, where she was a dedicated healthcare professional and made many life-long friends.

Patraw loved seeing the splendor of nature, a good cup of coffee, lunch dates with friends, reading many books, curling up in her snuggly bugglies, time spent at the lake, playing Words with Friends, anything involving her grandkids and the color purple.

Patraw was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Eileen Patraw, as well as grandparents Lemuel and Anna Patraw and Conrad and Regina Carlson.

She is survived by daughters Elizabeth Zumwalde and Laura Peters; their father Michael Gilchrist; sons-in-law Barry Zumwalde & Matt Peters; grandchildren Benjamin, Cameron, Nathan, Lukas, Allison and Tyler; sisters Stephanie Patraw and Celeste (Ed) Kihle; brothers Mike (Mary) Patraw and Rick Patraw; many nieces and nephews and countless cherished friends.

Steven Duane Wertz

June 14, 1955 — Oct. 20, 2026

Steven D. Wertz of St. Paul peacefully passed away at his home on Oct. 20. He was 71.

Wertz was born on June 14, 1955 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. As a child, he lived with his family in Norway, Iowa, before they settled in Lehigh, Iowa, where he graduated from high school. He attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he earned his Master’s degree. After college, he moved to St. Paul, which he made his home.

Throughout his life, Wertz created a large circle of friends through the Methodist Church who became his second family. He was very active in his church and lived his life according to his deep faith in God. He generously gave his time and talents through his church and by volunteering with organizations in his community that served those in need.

Wertz was also an avid runner and proudly earned numerous medals throughout the years.

Wertz was preceded in death by his parents Duane and Betty (Irish) Wertz. He is survived by his sister Roseann (Tim) Knutson of Campbellsville, Ky.; nieces Brinda Terzich of Chanhassen, Minn. and Tenille Goodhue of Muskego, Wisc.; four great-nieces and great-nephews and eight great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.

Memorials preferred to Keystone Community Services.

John Robert Gallas

June 16, 1944 — Oct. 23, 2026

John Robert Gallas of White Bear Lake, Minn. passed away peacefully on Friday. He was 82.

Gallas was proud of his East Side St. Paul roots and the community he grew up in. A 1962 graduate of Harding High School, he later earned his college degree from Metropolitan State University. He spent most of his career working for the State of Minnesota. He also pursued his love of journalism, writing several featured articles for the East Sider newspaper in the late 1980s.

Gallas was preceded in death by his son Joseph, parents Max and Ellen, brother William and sisters Mary Ann and Maxine. He is survived by his loving wife Arlene, son Rev. John Gallas, daughters Mary (Erin) and Christine (Scott), sister Joan and many nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Church of St. Agnes.