Leona Sophie Schultz

Obituary

Leona Sophie Schultz (Gennrich) Dietel was born on November 8, 1915, to John and Lucy (Hoof) Dietel in Todd County near Bertha, Minnesota.   She was baptized on December 5, 1915, by Rev. Otto Repp at Evangelical Church in Bertha.  The family moved to Lester Prairie around 1920 where she attended District #5 school until 8^th grade.  Leona was confirmed April 30, 1930, by Pastor E. J. Becker at the United Church of Christ in Lester Prairie.  Her confirmation verse was Psalms 111:10.  She attended Lester Prairie High School for two years until she was sent out to work on area farms.  She worked on Sauter’s farm in the Norwood Young America area and at the Bandemer’s near Lester Prairie.

On May 19, 1943, Leona married Gerhard “Dick” Gennrich at the United Church of Christ by Rev. H. R. Burkett.  They were blessed with two wonderful daughters, Margel and Carol.  Leona was a 4-H sewing leader, taught Sunday School, was active in the LWML, and did lots of canning and freezing of vegetables and fruits for sauce.  Leona and Dick farmed for 26 years on a small farm right outside of Lester Prairie until Dick passed away May 23, 1970.

Leona then did sewing, both new and alterations, made Barbie doll clothes, worked at the Alice Haney Nursing Home Annex and cleaned houses.  On January 16, 1976, Leona married Clarence Schultz at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church by Rev. A. Rasch and they made their home in Glencoe.  The couple did a lot of traveling which included trips to Europe, Israel and Alaska.  They were married for 13 years before Clarence passed away on June 9, 1989.

Leona was a very giving person and worked as a volunteer hairdresser at the Glencoe Long Term facility for many years and also crocheted baby caps for newborns.  She was a resident at Orchard Estates in Glencoe for 22 years until she had a stroke in 2015.  Leona’s favorite hobbies and pastimes were playing games, cards, fishing, doing puzzles, knitting, embroidery, crocheting, watching baseball games (her grandsons and the Twins), and going on outings whenever someone asked her to go along.  She lived her faith openly and enjoyed singing hymns even while she was in hospice.  When asked what her secret was to aging, she replied, “I just live every day the Lord gives me.”

Leona passed away on Friday, December 15, 2017, at her daughter’s home in Winsted, Minnesota, at the age of 102 years, 1 month and 7 days.

Blessed be her memory.

Leona is survived by her:
Daughters, Margel Kirchhoff and her husband, Rodger, of New Germany, MN,
Carol Wolter of Winsted, MN;
Grandsons, Greg (Melissa) Kirchhoff, Brian Kirchhoff;
Step Grandchildren, Shelly (Dale) O’Groske, Nichole (Dan) Stowers, Sonya Maldeney-Cull, Noel Schultz;
Great Granddaughter, Keira Kirchhoff;
Step Great Grandchildren, Reed O’Groske, Ryan O’Groske, Nicholas Stowers, Carolyn Stowers, Alex Maldeney, Caroline Cull;
Brother-In-Law, Alvin Westphal;
Nieces, Nephews, Other relatives and many friends.

Leona is preceded in death by her Husbands, Gerhard Gennrich, Clarence Schultz; Parents, John and Lucy Dietel; Grandson, Chad Kirchhoff; Step Children, Rodney Schultz, Ross Schultz, Dana (James) Reed; Siblings, Clarence (Ora) Dietel, Elmer (Cecelia) Dietel, Ray (Delores) Dietel, Irene (Hugo) Klaustermeier, Linda (Gilbert) Hoernemann, Adela (Stanley) Rustad; Brothers and sisters-in-law, Lorena (Arthur) Dammann, Malinda Westphal, Albert Schultz, Elmer (Mahala) Schultz.