Rozella Pagel

Obituary

On December 13, 1933, in Penn Township, McLeod County, Minnesota, Emil and Margaret (Bartels) Draeger welcomed their first daughter into this world. She was given the name, Rozella Mae.

She became God’s child through Holy Baptism on December 31, 1933, by Reverend W.E. Diemer at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Penn Township, Brownton, Minnesota. She reaffirmed her baptismal vows on April 25, 1948, when she was confirmed at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church by Reverend J.H. Kolberg.

When she was old enough to attend school she became a student at District #7 Penn Township until she completed the 8^th grade. She then attended school at the Brownton High School, Brownton, Minnesota, graduating on June 1 with the graduating class of 1951.

As most young people do after graduating, she went out into the world. She started working at the Green Lantern Café in Gaylord, Minnesota. She later worked at Swanson’s in New Auburn, Minnesota.

On October 7, 1951, Mom’s life changed. She met a handsome groomsman at her cousin’s wedding. Is it any wonder that dad’s favorite waltz was the Blue Skirt Waltz; mom was wearing a blue dress the day they met!

She and dad were married on November 28, 1952, at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Penn Township, by Reverend Ernest Lehne. Dad and mom shared 57 years of marriage when dad passed away on March 7, 2010.

Jesus welcomed mom into his loving arms on April 7, 2020, at Oak Terrace Health Care Center in Gaylord, Minnesota.

Dad entered the United States Army on March 6, 1953, and as soon as she could mom went to Georgia to be with him. She stayed there until dad got his order that he had to go overseas to Germany.

When dad got home from Germany in 1955, they settled on a farm northwest of Winthrop in Bismarck Township, rural Winthrop, Minnesota, where they farmed and their five children were raised. This farm was her home until August 8, 2019, when she fell and broke her hip.

After her marriage she became a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. She taught Sunday school, was a member of the Ladies Aid, and served on the anniversary committee for the 125^th anniversary of St. John’s.

She enjoyed numerous trips with Hands. The longest trip mom and dad made was to Germany. But one trip to Germany didn’t satisfy them. Two more trips to Germany were made. On the last trip, a river boat cruise down the Rheine River and going into Switzerland were the highlights she talked about.

She enjoyed cooking and was not afraid to “invent” new recipes. She entered the Pillsbury Bakeoff contest several times. She told us she thought Pillsbury stole her idea for Chocolate Delight Dessert. The reason she thought this is because a couple of years after she submitted that recipe Pillsbury had a cake mix for a cake that had a pudding bottom just like the recipe she entered.

She had a knack for tasting something and then figuring out how to duplicate it. What comes to mind is Strawberry Banana Split Pie. We couldn’t wait for another family gathering to have a piece of that pie! She could make the best apple and zucchini pies too. If there was a bounty of apples and zucchini she baked pies until the freezer was busting. If you ask her grandkids what is the best thing Grandma cooks the answer will be “Rice.” (Mom made rice for every family gathering.) She had one problem, her bowl needed to get bigger and bigger as her family grew, not only in number but also as the kids grew they had bigger appetites.

Spending time with her children brought joy into her life. As the years went by, her joy was increased as grandchildren and great-grandchildren became part of her family.

She is survived by her:
Children, Carolyn (Keith) Gilland, LaCinda (Anthony) Seidenkranz, Delayne (Kaylene) Pagel, Lila (Steven) Mueller, and LaNae (Benjamin) Schmidt. Her grandchildren, Mark Gilland, Tammy (Andrew) Meyer, Kristel (Bennet) Jeppesen, Lisa (Mark) Raykowski, Sara (Aaron) Cahill, Cheryl Seidenkranz (significant other, Patrick Judge), David (Elizabeth) Pagel, Karl (Andrea) Pagel, Trevor Krueger-Pagel, Amanda (Aaron) Bethke, Kimberly (Aaron) Reich, Carrissa Crain (significant other, Jameson Johnson), Michael Crain, and Desirae Schmidt. Her step-grandchildren, Tiffany (Andrew) Nelson and James (Sheryl) Schmidt. Her great-grandchildren, Kathryn, Elizabeth and Jonathan Meyer, Abbygail and Hunter Jeppesen, Logan and Ellie Cahill, Nolan Judge, Leopold Pagel, Ella Pagel, August, Adler, Asa and Amos Bethke, Savannah Reich, and Evalyn Johnson. Her step-great-grandchildren, Branden and Trenna Jeppesen, Matthew Wulitich, Owen and Elliot Nelson and Juniper Schmidt. Her two sisters, Marian Frauendienst, Ruth (Kenneth) Terlinden; sister-in-law, Lois Pagel, her aunt, Edna Rettig and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was greeted in Heaven by our dad, Dennis, her parents, Emil and Margaret Draeger; her parents-in-law, Leo and Ella (Grochow) Pagel; her two brothers-in-law, Virgil Frauendienst and Roger Pagel; and many more relatives.

As she lay in her bed during her last days here on earth, we noticed her hands. We thought of all the things her two hands have touched, held, caressed, and done to serve her Lord and her family. Oh how we wish her hands could hold us one more time.

Let us rejoice in the knowledge that we have eternal life with our Father in Heaven.

Mom we celebrate your life!