1932
Wilhelmina
2016
Wilhelmina Strusz
April 4, 1932 — August 12, 2016
Wilhelmina Strusz, A devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend went peacefully to her Heavenly home Friday evening, August 12, 2016.
Wilhelmina was born April 8, 1932, to William and Emma (Hinck) Miller. The family lived on farms by Lake City, Frontenac and Red Wing, Minnesota. She attended country school through the eighth grade. She had a close relationship with her two sisters, especially after their mother passed away in 1943. The girls were hard-working, helping with both household and farm chores. She became an excellent cook but preferred spending her time outdoors and with the animals.
The story of her life was written when a neighbor boy, Reynold Strusz, noticed these country girls working in their yard as he traveled to and from Goodhue on farm business. He invited them to his twentieth birthday party and at the end of the evening asked 15-year-old Wilhelmina if she would go out with him. She said, "Sure", and that date lasted 69 years.
They enjoyed roller skating, movies, gatherings with friends and family, and working together. Wilhelmina also did household chores for several families when they needed help, such as when a new baby was born.
Reynold and Wilhelmina married on April 15, 1950 and made their home on a rented farm in Flower Valley (near Red Wing). In 1952 they purchased a farm in Goodhue Township where they worked side-by-side until moving into the city of Goodhue in 1989. Wilhelmina usually helped milk the cows and had a life-long love for them. She was very proud to be a farm wife and would often recall her long days of driving tractor and filling silo. She prepared and served every meal, even if it had to be delivered to a field or the barn.
Wilhelmina enjoyed shopping, going out to eat (especially fish-fry), her homemaker group, Goodhue Pioneer Club, and St. Peter's Ladies' Aid. Magazines, cooking, gardening, ceramics and other crafting projects, and the color pink made her happy. She and Reynold were frequent volunteers at the Wise Penny Thrift Store in Red Wing and played Euchre every chance they had.
Wilhelmina will be missed by Reynold, her devoted husband of 66 years; son, Mark (Bonnie) Strusz, and daughter, Beth (Larry) Brekke all of Goodhue; grandchildren, Morgan (Keith) Allen, and Jordan Strusz; great-grandchildren, Mason and Reese Allen; brother-in-law, Elroy (Shirley) Strusz of Zumbrota; sister-in-Law, Erma Gerken of Red Wing; and extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; infant son, Howard; sisters, Laurina Holst and Dora Peters; and brothers-in-law, Werner Peters and Herbert Gerken.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 16th at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 702 3rd Avenue, Goodhue. The Rev. Randall Kuznicki will officiate the 11 AM service with a visitation hour beginning at 10 AM. Burial in Evergreen Cemetery and lunch in the church basement will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Peter's Church are preferred.
Funeral Home: Lundberg Funeral Home 5839 Hwy 19 Blvd Cannon Falls, MN US 55009
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Service
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Graveside Service
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Wilhelmina was born April 8, 1932, to William and Emma (Hinck) Miller. The family lived on farms by Lake City, Frontenac and Red Wing, Minnesota. She attended country school through the eighth grade. She had a close relationship with her two sisters, especially after their mother passed away in 1943. The girls were hard-working, helping with both household and farm chores. She became an excellent cook but preferred spending her time outdoors and with the animals.
The story of her life was written when a neighbor boy, Reynold Strusz, noticed these country girls working in their yard as he traveled to and from Goodhue on farm business. He invited them to his twentieth birthday party and at the end of the evening asked 15-year-old Wilhelmina if she would go out with him. She said, "Sure", and that date lasted 69 years.
They enjoyed roller skating, movies, gatherings with friends and family, and working together. Wilhelmina also did household chores for several families when they needed help, such as when a new baby was born.
Reynold and Wilhelmina married on April 15, 1950 and made their home on a rented farm in Flower Valley (near Red Wing). In 1952 they purchased a farm in Goodhue Township where they worked side-by-side until moving into the city of Goodhue in 1989. Wilhelmina usually helped milk the cows and had a life-long love for them. She was very proud to be a farm wife and would often recall her long days of driving tractor and filling silo. She prepared and served every meal, even if it had to be delivered to a field or the barn.
Wilhelmina enjoyed shopping, going out to eat (especially fish-fry), her homemaker group, Goodhue Pioneer Club, and St. Peter's Ladies' Aid. Magazines, cooking, gardening, ceramics and other crafting projects, and the color pink made her happy. She and Reynold were frequent volunteers at the Wise Penny Thrift Store in Red Wing and played Euchre every chance they had.
Wilhelmina will be missed by Reynold, her devoted husband of 66 years; son, Mark (Bonnie) Strusz, and daughter, Beth (Larry) Brekke all of Goodhue; grandchildren, Morgan (Keith) Allen, and Jordan Strusz; great-grandchildren, Mason and Reese Allen; brother-in-law, Elroy (Shirley) Strusz of Zumbrota; sister-in-Law, Erma Gerken of Red Wing; and extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; infant son, Howard; sisters, Laurina Holst and Dora Peters; and brothers-in-law, Werner Peters and Herbert Gerken.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 16th at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 702 3rd Avenue, Goodhue. The Rev. Randall Kuznicki will officiate the 11 AM service with a visitation hour beginning at 10 AM. Burial in Evergreen Cemetery and lunch in the church basement will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Peter's Church are preferred.
Funeral Home: Lundberg Funeral Home 5839 Hwy 19 Blvd Cannon Falls, MN US 55009
Previous Events
VisitationTuesday, August 16, 2016
10:00 AM
- 11:00 AM
St. Peter's Lutheran Church
702 - 3rd Ave.
Goodhue, MN 55027
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
11:00 AM
St. Peter's Lutheran Church
702 - 3rd Ave.
Goodhue, MN 55027
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Evergreen Cemetery
Hwy 9
Goodhue, MN 55027
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