Malinda Ella “Bruesehoff” Harms Stoeckmann

Obituary

Malinda Ella (Bruesehoff) Harms Stoeckmann was born to Edward A. and Ida (Grewe) Bruesehoff on July 30, 1922, in Benton Township, Carver County, Minnesota.  She was baptized on August 13, 1922, at the home of her parents and later was confirmed in her faith on April 5, 1936, both by Rev. Herman AmEnd of Zion Lutheran Church in Cologne, Minnesota.  She attended school at Carver County District 29 and Zion Lutheran School.  Malinda graduated from Central High School in Norwood, Minnesota, in 1941.

Malinda was employed at the German Mutual Storm Insurance Company in Norwood until her marriage to Wilbert Harms on May 1, 1946.  They farmed on Wilbert’s farm near Norwood and were blessed with two sons, Bruce and Mark.  After the boys were in school, she went back to work at German Mutual part time and also did proof reading for The Norwood Times.  In 1965, Malinda started working at the Norwood Post Office.  On September 1, 1970, Wilbert passed away very suddenly.  She continued to live on the farm with her son, Mark, and was also employed as a Deputy Clerk at the Carver County Courthouse in addition to her postal position and helping on the farm on her days at home.  On October 23, 1976, Malinda was married to John Stoeckmann at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.  This marriage was blessed with John’s two daughters, Marilee and Susan.  Malinda & John continued to live on the farm until 1978 when they moved into John’s home in Hamburg.  In 1981, she was appointed Postmaster in Cologne, Minnesota, where she was employed until her retirement in 1985. 

She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Norwood Young America and a member of its LWML having served in various offices in the local group, the Carver County Zone and the MN South District, where she served as a delegate to District and International conventions.   When St. John’s Parent-Teacher League was organized she served as its first president.  She was also a member of St. John’s Lutheran bible classes and was a bible class leader.  Malinda served the community as a member of the Benton Township Community Chest Board, election judge and the NYA All-Class Reunion planning committee.  She held a lifetime membership in the Osseo American Legion Auxiliary. 

After John and Malinda were retired they spent time during the summer at their trailer at Cozy Corners Campgrounds near Richmond, Minnesota.  They liked to fish on the Horseshoe chain of lakes, play cards or just sit around the campfire visiting with friends.  They also did some traveling and enjoyed it very much.  Their most memorable trip was to Germany where they did sightseeing, visiting and stayed with Bruesehoff relatives.

In 2011, Malinda and John moved to the Oak Grove Senior Residence in Norwood Young America.  Her husband, John passed away very suddenly on January 15, 2013.  Malinda continued to live there until January 2015 when she moved to the Harbor.

Malinda passed away on Wednesday, August 10, 2016, at Good Samaritan Society in Waconia, Minnesota, at the age of 94 years and 11 days.  Blessed be her memory.

Malinda is survived by her:
Children, Bruce Harms and his wife, Yvonne, of Plymouth, MN,
Mark Harms and his wife, Donna, of Norwood Young America, MN,
Marilee (Stoeckmann) Widmer and her husband, Gary, of Norwood Young America, MN,
Susan (Stoeckmann) Schmidt and her husband, Richard, of Norwood Young America, MN;
Grandchildren, Brian Harms of Naples, FL,
Rebecca (Harms) Spresser and her husband, Terry, of Monument, CO,
Mark Barthel and his wife, Cara, of Richfield, MN,
Denise Barthel of Bloomington, MN,
Scott Barthel and his wife, Debra, of Coon Rapids, MN,
Sarah (Harms) Lehrke and her husband, Brian, of Norwood Young America, MN,
Logan Harms of Norwood Young America, MN,
Tracy (Widmer) Madejczyk and her husband, Jeff, of Chaska, MN,
Julie (Widmer) Schmidt and her husband, Jeff, of Norwood Young America, MN,
Dan Widmer and his wife, Cheryl, of Norwood Young America, MN,
Michael Widmer and his wife, Courtney, of Cologne, MN,
Kara (Schmidt) Jacobs and her husband, Paul, of Waconia, MN,
Krista (Schmidt) Goedel and her husband, Josh, of Carver, MN;
Great Grandchildren, Jacob & Cydney Harms, Wyatt, Jordyn & Weston Spresser, Lindsay & Sean Barthel, Lauren Barthel, Ty & Lexi Lehrke, Ellie, Maddie & Jackson Madejczyk, Lauren, Vanessa & Emily Schmidt, Kiersten, Korrin & Kaelan Widmer, Lenora Widmer, Cambria & Caydra Jacobs;
Nieces, Nephews, Other relatives and many friends.

Malinda is preceded in death by her parents, Edward & Ida Bruesehoff; Husbands, Wilbert Harms & John Stoeckmann; Parents-In-Law, Fred & Doris Harms; Brother, Lester Bruesehoff and his wife, Myrtle, & Pearl Bruesehoff; Brothers-In-Law & Sisters-In-Law, Elwin & Elsie Harms, Fred & Ella Harms, Walter & Gertrude & Esther Harms, Hilma & Erwin Karnitz, Linda & Lothar Wolter Sr., Clarence & Virginia Harms, Edwin & Laverne Harms, Elsie & Fred Panning, Edward & Leone Stoeckmann, Henry & Louise Stoeckmann, Arnold & Lillie Stoeckmann, Edwin & Gertrude Stoeckmann, Emma & Ernie Voigt, Erwin & Evangeline Perbix.