Wilhelmina Lunders
October 18, 1915 ~ January 23, 2007
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Wilhelmina Lunders, 91, of White Bear Lake, MN and formerly of Hoven, died Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at the HealthEast Care Center in White Bear Lake, MN.
Mass of Christian Burial was 10:30a.m., Saturday, January 27 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Hoven, with Fr. Lance Oser officiating. Burial was in St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery, directed by Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg.
Two of Wilma’s six children were Lectors, Mary Lee Waldman and Joyce Fix. The remaining four children, JoAnn Polanski, Joseph Lunders, William Lunders and Richard Lunders ‘Placed the Pall’ on her casket. The Eucharistic Minister was Viola Rausch and Mass Servers were Derek, Andrew and Michael Rausch. Organist was Marge Mertz of Mobridge. St. Anthony’s Church Choir sang and her granddaughter, Tamera Fix, was the soloist. The Offertory Gifts were carried by Wilma’s granddaughters, Theresa McEndree and Erin Schauer. Honorary Bearers were the National Catholic Society of Foresters, her beloved Prayer Group and the Hoven Legion Auxiliary. Casketbearers were her grandchildren, Travis Fix, Troy Fix, Adam Lunders, J.J. Lunders, Meghan Lunders and Traci Means. Interment followed the Mass at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Cemetery, Hoven, under the direction of Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg.
Wilhelmina “Wilma” Pelzel was born to Joseph and Stephana Pelzel on October 18, 1915 at Heron Lake, Minnesota. She was the third of eleven children. Wilma grew up on the family farm where she helped care for her younger brothers and sisters, milked cows, shocked grain and handled many other farm and home chores. After one year of college and earning her teaching certificate, Wilma taught rural school (first through eighth grade) in Minnesota for five years before her marriage to James Lunders on February 1, 1941. They were married in a double wedding ceremony with Wilma’s sister, Pauline, and her husband, Vince Schaffer. They spent the first year of their marriage working with James’ parents on the farm east of Hoven before moving to Hoven for one year where they operated the Standard Oil Gas Truck. In 1943, the following year, they returned to the farm. Wilma was very busy on the farm while raising six children, gardening, helping James with his various projects and being involved in a variety of community organizations. In 1969 Wilma joined the Hoven School System as a kindergarten aide for eight years. Jim and Wilma retired
in 1976 and moved to Hoven. Wilma was an active member of the Hoven Community. She enjoyed her membership with St. Anthony’s Church, St. Anthony’s Altar Society, the Holy Infant Hospital Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Hoven Area Right to Life, the Hoven Senior Citizens, the Weekly Prayer Group, the National Catholic Society of Foresters and the Springs Extension Club. In 1989 she was awarded the “Woman of the Year” award by the Catholic Society of Foresters.
Wilma filled her later years puttering in her garden, taking care of her apple trees, canning, baking and always finding a ‘new project’ that had to be done. She loved to entertain and often threw little afternoon parties. Her grandchildren will remember her for the many things she taught them, from tying their shoe laces to playing
‘a winning hand’ at different card games. She will be remembered for her delicious chocolate cake, homemade carmel rolls and wonderful ‘made from scratch’ prune kuchen.
Following her husband’s death in 1992, Wilma continued to live in Hoven until she moved to The Benet Place in Watertown, SD in 2003.She moved to White Bear Lake, MN, in 2005 where she resided until her death.
Family members surviving Wilma include her six children: JoAnn (Joe) Polanski, Minneapolis, MN, Mary Lee (Henry) Waldman, Rapid City, SD, Joyce (Roger) Fix, Hall, MT, Joseph (Milla) Lunders, White Bear Lake, MN, William (Rena) Lunders, Nashville, TN and Richard (Dori) Lunders, Hoven, SD; 22 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren; one brother, Ray (Verniece) Pelzel, Janesville, MN; four sisters, Pauline Schaffer of St. James, MN, Bernice Clausen of Springfield, MN, Marcella Carlson of Worthington, MN and Loretta Schmitz of St. James, MN; one brother-in-law, Leo Larson, Spearfish, SD; and one sister-in-law, Marie Lunders of Hoven, SD.
Wilma was preceded in death by her husband, James L. Lunders; five siblings, Magdalen Schaffer, Agnes Koch, Cyril Pelzel, Paul Pelzel and Arthur Pelzel; and two grandchildren, Mark Waldman and April Lunders.
Mass of Christian Burial was 10:30a.m., Saturday, January 27 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Hoven, with Fr. Lance Oser officiating. Burial was in St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery, directed by Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg.
Two of Wilma’s six children were Lectors, Mary Lee Waldman and Joyce Fix. The remaining four children, JoAnn Polanski, Joseph Lunders, William Lunders and Richard Lunders ‘Placed the Pall’ on her casket. The Eucharistic Minister was Viola Rausch and Mass Servers were Derek, Andrew and Michael Rausch. Organist was Marge Mertz of Mobridge. St. Anthony’s Church Choir sang and her granddaughter, Tamera Fix, was the soloist. The Offertory Gifts were carried by Wilma’s granddaughters, Theresa McEndree and Erin Schauer. Honorary Bearers were the National Catholic Society of Foresters, her beloved Prayer Group and the Hoven Legion Auxiliary. Casketbearers were her grandchildren, Travis Fix, Troy Fix, Adam Lunders, J.J. Lunders, Meghan Lunders and Traci Means. Interment followed the Mass at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Cemetery, Hoven, under the direction of Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg.
Wilhelmina “Wilma” Pelzel was born to Joseph and Stephana Pelzel on October 18, 1915 at Heron Lake, Minnesota. She was the third of eleven children. Wilma grew up on the family farm where she helped care for her younger brothers and sisters, milked cows, shocked grain and handled many other farm and home chores. After one year of college and earning her teaching certificate, Wilma taught rural school (first through eighth grade) in Minnesota for five years before her marriage to James Lunders on February 1, 1941. They were married in a double wedding ceremony with Wilma’s sister, Pauline, and her husband, Vince Schaffer. They spent the first year of their marriage working with James’ parents on the farm east of Hoven before moving to Hoven for one year where they operated the Standard Oil Gas Truck. In 1943, the following year, they returned to the farm. Wilma was very busy on the farm while raising six children, gardening, helping James with his various projects and being involved in a variety of community organizations. In 1969 Wilma joined the Hoven School System as a kindergarten aide for eight years. Jim and Wilma retired
in 1976 and moved to Hoven. Wilma was an active member of the Hoven Community. She enjoyed her membership with St. Anthony’s Church, St. Anthony’s Altar Society, the Holy Infant Hospital Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Hoven Area Right to Life, the Hoven Senior Citizens, the Weekly Prayer Group, the National Catholic Society of Foresters and the Springs Extension Club. In 1989 she was awarded the “Woman of the Year” award by the Catholic Society of Foresters.
Wilma filled her later years puttering in her garden, taking care of her apple trees, canning, baking and always finding a ‘new project’ that had to be done. She loved to entertain and often threw little afternoon parties. Her grandchildren will remember her for the many things she taught them, from tying their shoe laces to playing
‘a winning hand’ at different card games. She will be remembered for her delicious chocolate cake, homemade carmel rolls and wonderful ‘made from scratch’ prune kuchen.
Following her husband’s death in 1992, Wilma continued to live in Hoven until she moved to The Benet Place in Watertown, SD in 2003.She moved to White Bear Lake, MN, in 2005 where she resided until her death.
Family members surviving Wilma include her six children: JoAnn (Joe) Polanski, Minneapolis, MN, Mary Lee (Henry) Waldman, Rapid City, SD, Joyce (Roger) Fix, Hall, MT, Joseph (Milla) Lunders, White Bear Lake, MN, William (Rena) Lunders, Nashville, TN and Richard (Dori) Lunders, Hoven, SD; 22 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren; one brother, Ray (Verniece) Pelzel, Janesville, MN; four sisters, Pauline Schaffer of St. James, MN, Bernice Clausen of Springfield, MN, Marcella Carlson of Worthington, MN and Loretta Schmitz of St. James, MN; one brother-in-law, Leo Larson, Spearfish, SD; and one sister-in-law, Marie Lunders of Hoven, SD.
Wilma was preceded in death by her husband, James L. Lunders; five siblings, Magdalen Schaffer, Agnes Koch, Cyril Pelzel, Paul Pelzel and Arthur Pelzel; and two grandchildren, Mark Waldman and April Lunders.
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THINKING OF YOU IN YOUR TIME OF SADNESS. MATT&GLORIA MCGRATH