Eileen F. Mielke, age 98, of Plymouth, Minn., formerly of Hutchinson, Minn., passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at Parks’ Place Memory Care in Plymouth. Funeral dervice will be held Saturday, February 19, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, with interment in the church cemetery.
Eileen Frieda Krecklau was born August 13, 1923, in New Auburn Township-Sibley County, Minn. She was the daughter of Henry and Wilhelmina (Stradtman) Krecklau. She was baptized on September 9, 1923, and confirmed in her faith on March 21, 1937, at the country church in New Auburn Township. She attended country school in Sibley County #74 and graduated from Glencoe High School in 1941. She furthered her education at a business school in Minneapolis, focusing on secretarial skills and completed the program in 1942.
On April 28, 1946, Eileen was united in marriage to Howard Mielke at Zion Lutheran Church in New Auburn Township. This marriage was blessed with seven children: Mary, Randy, Mavis, Michael, Joel, Jeffrey, and David. Eileen worked part-time as a clerk for the county treasurer in Glencoe, Minn. The couple farmed in the Hutchinson and Glencoe areas until 1981 and continued to live on the farm until 1997, when they purchased a home and moved to Hutchinson. They shared 56 years of marriage before the passing of Howard on December 27, 2002.
Eileen and Howard initially were members at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe. Eventually they joined Peace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. Eileen’s faith was very important to her during her entire life. She was active in Bible study, card making, crafts, and quilting at Peace Lutheran. She also enjoyed traveling, gardening, canning, baking, knitting, and Scrabble. She was a member of the local Home Extension Group for 70 years.
Eileen moved to Ecumen Pines in Hutchinson, in July of 2013. In 2020, Eileen moved to Parks’ Place in Plymouth, Minn., to be closer to her family.
Eileen is survived by her children Mary Mielke, Mavis (Tim) McGee, Joel (Barbara) Mielke, Jeffrey Mielke, David (Cindy) Mielke; grandchildren Michael (Nasha Reddy) Schwarze, Nicole (Todd) Werner, Colette Viquez, Mark (Katherine) McGee, Heidi (Mike) Popelka, Anna (Zach) LaPorte, Johnathan Mielke, Micheal Mielke, Cassandra Mielke, Lauren (Andy) Johnson, Kerry (Kristin) Mielke; step-grandchildren Brooke Mielke, Carissa (Brian) Denning, and Jesse (Rachel Salzwedel) Cole; great-grandchildren Nathan Schwarze, Sarina Schwarze, Adam Werner, Natalie Werner, Mariana Viquez, Hendrick McGee, Jordan Popelka, Aubrey Popelka, Amelia LaPorte, Henry LaPorte, Stella Clark, Kali Mielke, Kaleb Mielke, and Karson Mielke; step-great grandchildren Joshua Howard, Alex Denning, Nick Denning, Desmond Cole, and Marli Johnson.
Eileen is preceded in death by her parents Henry and Wilhelmina Krecklau, husband Howard Mielke, sons Michael (in infancy) and Randall, grandson Patrick McGeeg brothers Lawrence Krecklau and his wife Irene, Harold Krecklau and his wife Mildred, sisters Esther Kloempken and her husband Edwin, and Helen Franke and her husband Melvin; and daughter-in-law Mary Mielke.
Memorials are preferred to Peace Lutheran Church. A special thank you is extended to the committed care givers at Ecumen Pines in Hutchinson and Parks’ Place in Plymouth, who provided loving care for Eileen during her stays there.
Arrangements by the Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson. Online obituaries and guest book available at www.hantge.com.
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