Service Information
Veronica Gruenhagen, age 90, of Shakopee, Minnesota, formerly of Norwood Young America, Minnesota, passed away Thursday, May 24, 2018, at St. Gertrude’s Health & Rehabilitation Center in Shakopee, Minnesota.
Memorial Services will be held Tuesday, June 5, 2018, 11:00 A.M. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Norwood Young America, Minnesota, with interment at a later date.
Gathering of Family & Friends will be held Tuesday, June 5, 2018, from 10:00-11:00 A.M., one hour prior the service at the church.
Obituary
Veronica “Roni” Catherine Theis was born on June 26, 1927, to Antone and Olive C. (Theilen) Theis in Luxemberg Township, Stearns County, MN where she also attended school. She married Edward Block in 1945 and in the next several years five children were born; Mary, David, Robert, Dennis, and Sue Ann. They lived in Eden Valley, Litchfield, and Glenwood, MN where they ran a turkey farm. In 1964 Roni married John Kraus and they lived in Columbia Heights and Coon Rapids, MN. John died of cancer in 1967. Roni married Fred (Pete) Gruenhagen in 1976. They lived in Minnetonka, MN for several years and then moved to Norwood Young America, MN. Pete died in 2005. Roni remained in Norwood Young America until she entered St. Gertrude’s Healthcare Facility in Shakopee, MN in 2015.
During her working years she worked at a produce processing plant, as a bookkeeper, and also as a tool and dye worker.
One of Roni’s favorite pastimes was to fish and even a couple weeks before her death, she asked her son, Robert, if he could take her fishing this summer. During the summer, she loved being at the camper and the fish of the day was always on the menu as well as homemade pancakes in the morning. She also loved to sew and in the 1960’s she sewed ball gowns for the MN Governor’s Inaugural. Quilting was also a favorite pastime and she continued to quilt even when living in the nursing home. Crocheting was also high on her list of things to do and many people were the recipients of her hard work. Roni also loved to garden and had very beautiful gardens and a very bountiful vegetable garden. Her hard work produced many wonderful meals and desserts as she loved to cook and bake.
Roni enjoyed traveling and Roni and Pete were able to visit many places with family including Nashville, the Grand Canyon, Texas, Mexico, Oregon, and Alaska.
Roni truly enjoyed all her grandchildren and step-grandchildren. Each child was very precious to her and she found joy in each one.
Roni came to know Jesus as her personal Savior when she was 83 through a pastoral visit. She learned to trust in the Lord and as she was reading a Decision magazine one day, she asked God for a miracle concerning the terrible pain from her sciatic nerve. God answered that prayer as the pain left and never returned. Roni relied on Jesus until the end.
Roni is survived by her:
Children, Mary (Gary) Hein,
David Block,
Robert (Peggy) Block,
Dennis Block,
Sue Ann Block;
Step-Children, Dorine Willemsen,
Dorothy Kranz,
Allen Gruenhagen,
Tommy Gruenhagen;
Brother, Larry Theis;
Several Grandchildren, Step-Grandchildren, Nieces, Nephews, Other relatives and friends.
Roni is preceded in death by her parents; 3 husbands, Edward, John, and Pete; 2 sisters, Teresa Osflag, Rita Goodijohn; 2 brothers, Raymond Theis, Roman Theis; and one step-son, Fred Gruenhagen, Jr.
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