Kathyrn M. Gilsrud, 85 of Chatfield and formerly Minneiska, died unexpectedly at her home on Saturday, February 8, 2025.
Kathyrn was born January 2, 1940 in Jackson, Minn., to Marvin and Lucille (Ingram) Aldrich. At the age of 14, Kathy met her future husband, Clint Gilsrud while he was working at the gas station in St. Peter. It took Clint a while to realize that Kathy was after him even though she would stop into the gas station four times a day. She eventually asked him to the Sadie Hawkins dance and the rest is history, as they say. He proposed to her before she was even out of high school, but they waited to get married until she graduated. The couple had a beautiful winter wedding planned, but then those plans changed when Clint called her to say, “Babe, I’m going to Germany.” He was drafted into the army and was to be deployed on September 6, 1958, so they moved their wedding date up and were instead married on August 23, 1958. She then followed him to Germany where they started their family.
Throughout the years, she worked various jobs, including as a waitress, working at Lake Center Industries, the sewing department and greeting at Walmart and more recently at Grace Place. She also drove truck along with Clint for 18 years.
Kathy was an avid seamstress and a collector of everything sentimental. Her faith was very important to her; throughout most of her life, she was an active member of the Weaver Methodist Church.
She was a loving wife, wonderful mother, and an adoring grandmother and great-grandmother.
She is survived by her children Donna “Suzie” (Mike) Heaser, Joe “Bud” (Mary) Gilsrud, Jr., and Scott “Scooter” (Maren) Gilsrud; son-in-law Gary Garneau, grandchildren Suzie (Andy) Ehlo, Chrisy (Billy) Hicks, Dalton Gilsrud, and Whitney Gilsrud (Alec); great-grandchildren Quintin, Sophie, Lucy, Holden and Rylie; sisters Marvel Johnson and Barb Howard, and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Clint in 2019, her parents Marvin and Lucille Alridch, granddaughter Kayla Gilsrud, sister Donna Aldrich, brothers-in-law Howard Johnson and Calvin Howard, and parents-in-law George and Mary Gilsrud.
A celebration of her life will be 1 p.m., Sunday, February 16, 2025, at Hoff Celebration of Life Center – Goodview, with the Reverend Keith Mercer officiating. Visitation will be 11 a.m., until the time of the service. She will be laid to rest in a private family ceremony at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery – Preston.
Hoff Celebration of Life Center – Goodview is assisting the family with arrangements. www.hofffuneral.com.
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