Gretchen Eldien, 97, of Cook, passed away on Monday, July 20, 2009, at the Virginia Convalescent Center.
Gretchen (Ava May) Pfeifer Eldien was born on Nov. 25, 1911, in Virginia, to Fred and Eva (Keith) Pfeifer.
She grew up in Virginia and Melrude before attending school at St. Scholastica in Duluth, where she also graduated from college with a teaching degree in 1931.
Gretchen taught in Gnesen, Alango, Orr, and most recently in Cook. She met Harold Eldien while they were both teaching in Alango, and they were united in marriage on June 18, 1936. In 1937 they moved to Orr, and in 1948 to Cook, where they purchased a farm, and where Gretchen lived until 2009. Gretchen was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church where she acted as treasurer for many years, a lay communion server and parish council member. She was a member of the Council of Catholic Women, past President of St. Mary's CCW and the Virginia Deanery.
Besides being a member and past president of Cook Hospital Auxiliary, she helped organize and became the first president of the Cook Senior Citizens. As a Virginia area board member of the Red Cross, she acted as the Cook area volunteer chairman, recruiting and training volunteers, fund raising, and organizing for disaster help. She was also a member of the St. Louis County Teacher's Association, the Northeast Retired Educators, Retired Teachers of Minnesota and the NEA.
She is survived by sons, Andy (Char) Eldien of Carlton, Ore., and Norm Eldien of Portland, Ore.; six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, also, special niece, Mary Jane (Pfeifer) (Jim) Bailey, and many other nieces and nephews, plus special friend and helper, Jerry Snell.
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: 11 a.m. Friday, July 24, in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Cook. Fr. Joseph Thomas, MCBS will be the celebrant. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with a Rosary said at 7:30 p.m. in the Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. Interment at the Cook Community Cemetery.
Duluth News Tribune
July 22 2009
Gretchen (Ava May) Pfeifer Eldien was born on Nov. 25, 1911, in Virginia, to Fred and Eva (Keith) Pfeifer.
She grew up in Virginia and Melrude before attending school at St. Scholastica in Duluth, where she also graduated from college with a teaching degree in 1931.
Gretchen taught in Gnesen, Alango, Orr, and most recently in Cook. She met Harold Eldien while they were both teaching in Alango, and they were united in marriage on June 18, 1936. In 1937 they moved to Orr, and in 1948 to Cook, where they purchased a farm, and where Gretchen lived until 2009. Gretchen was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church where she acted as treasurer for many years, a lay communion server and parish council member. She was a member of the Council of Catholic Women, past President of St. Mary's CCW and the Virginia Deanery.
Besides being a member and past president of Cook Hospital Auxiliary, she helped organize and became the first president of the Cook Senior Citizens. As a Virginia area board member of the Red Cross, she acted as the Cook area volunteer chairman, recruiting and training volunteers, fund raising, and organizing for disaster help. She was also a member of the St. Louis County Teacher's Association, the Northeast Retired Educators, Retired Teachers of Minnesota and the NEA.
She is survived by sons, Andy (Char) Eldien of Carlton, Ore., and Norm Eldien of Portland, Ore.; six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, also, special niece, Mary Jane (Pfeifer) (Jim) Bailey, and many other nieces and nephews, plus special friend and helper, Jerry Snell.
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: 11 a.m. Friday, July 24, in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Cook. Fr. Joseph Thomas, MCBS will be the celebrant. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with a Rosary said at 7:30 p.m. in the Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. Interment at the Cook Community Cemetery.
Duluth News Tribune
July 22 2009
Gretchen Eldien, 97, of Cook, passed away on Monday, July 20, 2009, at the Virginia Convalescent Center.
Gretchen (Ava May) Pfeifer Eldien was born on Nov. 25, 1911, in Virginia, to Fred and Eva (Keith) Pfeifer.
She grew up in Virginia and Melrude before attending school at St. Scholastica in Duluth, where she also graduated from college with a teaching degree in 1931.
Gretchen taught in Gnesen, Alango, Orr, and most recently in Cook. She met Harold Eldien while they were both teaching in Alango, and they were united in marriage on June 18, 1936. In 1937 they moved to Orr, and in 1948 to Cook, where they purchased a farm, and where Gretchen lived until 2009. Gretchen was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church where she acted as treasurer for many years, a lay communion server and parish council member. She was a member of the Council of Catholic Women, past President of St. Mary's CCW and the Virginia Deanery.
Besides being a member and past president of Cook Hospital Auxiliary, she helped organize and became the first president of the Cook Senior Citizens. As a Virginia area board member of the Red Cross, she acted as the Cook area volunteer chairman, recruiting and training volunteers, fund raising, and organizing for disaster help. She was also a member of the St. Louis County Teacher's Association, the Northeast Retired Educators, Retired Teachers of Minnesota and the NEA.
She is survived by sons, Andy (Char) Eldien of Carlton, Ore., and Norm Eldien of Portland, Ore.; six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, also, special niece, Mary Jane (Pfeifer) (Jim) Bailey, and many other nieces and nephews, plus special friend and helper, Jerry Snell.
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: 11 a.m. Friday, July 24, in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Cook. Fr. Joseph Thomas, MCBS will be the celebrant. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with a Rosary said at 7:30 p.m. in the Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. Interment at the Cook Community Cemetery.
Duluth News Tribune
July 22 2009
Gretchen (Ava May) Pfeifer Eldien was born on Nov. 25, 1911, in Virginia, to Fred and Eva (Keith) Pfeifer.
She grew up in Virginia and Melrude before attending school at St. Scholastica in Duluth, where she also graduated from college with a teaching degree in 1931.
Gretchen taught in Gnesen, Alango, Orr, and most recently in Cook. She met Harold Eldien while they were both teaching in Alango, and they were united in marriage on June 18, 1936. In 1937 they moved to Orr, and in 1948 to Cook, where they purchased a farm, and where Gretchen lived until 2009. Gretchen was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church where she acted as treasurer for many years, a lay communion server and parish council member. She was a member of the Council of Catholic Women, past President of St. Mary's CCW and the Virginia Deanery.
Besides being a member and past president of Cook Hospital Auxiliary, she helped organize and became the first president of the Cook Senior Citizens. As a Virginia area board member of the Red Cross, she acted as the Cook area volunteer chairman, recruiting and training volunteers, fund raising, and organizing for disaster help. She was also a member of the St. Louis County Teacher's Association, the Northeast Retired Educators, Retired Teachers of Minnesota and the NEA.
She is survived by sons, Andy (Char) Eldien of Carlton, Ore., and Norm Eldien of Portland, Ore.; six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, also, special niece, Mary Jane (Pfeifer) (Jim) Bailey, and many other nieces and nephews, plus special friend and helper, Jerry Snell.
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: 11 a.m. Friday, July 24, in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Cook. Fr. Joseph Thomas, MCBS will be the celebrant. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with a Rosary said at 7:30 p.m. in the Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. Interment at the Cook Community Cemetery.
Duluth News Tribune
July 22 2009
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