Sunde, Merna Jean (1934-2014)

SUNDE, ROBINSON, THRONE, KOZITZA, PEIK, PLOEHN, FELDMANN, AANRUD, GABRIEL GRUNHOVD

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 11/13/2014 at 18:55:12

Merna Jean Sunde
(May 13, 1934 - October 26, 2014)

Rev. Merna Jean Sunde, age 80, of Albert Lea, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 26, 2014, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

Merna Jean Sunde, a daughter of Henry and Ruby (Robinson) Sunde, was born on May 13, 1934, at the hospital in Forest City, Iowa. Baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Vinje, Iowa, she graduated with the “Class of 1951,” from Kiester High School in Kiester, Minnesota, and earned her degree at Mankato State University in Mankato, Minnesota. She, then, taught art at Wells High School.

Later, she moved to California and worked for the State of California in Sacramento for many years. After retiring, she moved to Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Merna had a lifelong passion for art, creating many beautiful paintings, sculptures, and mosaics. A highlight of her life was studying art at the Sorbonne during a trip to France. She also loved animals and raised Arabian horses in her younger years. Later, dogs became the light of her life. They were her loving companions, and she treated them like the children she never had.

She is survived by her sister Karen (Richard) Throne, of Scarville, Iowa; her nieces, Diane (Jim) Kozitza, of Thompson, Iowa, Linda (Steve) Peik, of Oelwein, Iowa, Dr. Robin Throne (Kent Grunhovd), of Le Claire, Iowa, Merna Throne, of Pine Island, Florida, and Teresa (Bob) Feldmann, of Williamsburg, Iowa; her nephews, Michael (Melanie) Throne, of Scarville, Iowa, and Brian (Deb) Throne, of Lake Mills, Iowa; her great-nieces and nephews, Justin Aanrud; Jordan Feldmann; Jessica Gabriel; Chad, Jared, and Warren Kozitza; Matthew and Dr. Samuel Peik; Sarah Throne Ploehn; and Angel, Christopher, Danilo, Jeremi, Kristyn, Matthew, Taylor, and Zachary Throne; as well as by her special friends, Jack and Eloise Adams, of Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Merna was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Leonora (Harold) Grunhovd; her brother, Duane Sunde; a special niece and god-daughter, Carol Throne; and her friend, Scott Taylor.

A prayer service will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, November 1, 2014, at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street, Lake Mills, Iowa, with Pastor Spering Scott officiating. Following the service, cremation will take place with inurnment at a later date. Visitation will be from 2:00 until the service time on Saturday at the funeral home.

Copyright © 2014, Mittelstadt Funeral Home

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