Casterton, Gena Josephine (Rauk) -- 1919 - 2011
KOLSRUD, RAUK, CASTERTON, PETERSEN, NELSON, KENADY, LARSON, JOHNSON
Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 5/27/2012 at 13:14:24
Decorah Public Opinion Mar. 8, 2011
Gena Josephine Rauk was born June 13, 1919 in Spring Grove, Minnesota, the daughter of Henry and Theoline (Kolsrud) Rauk.
She was baptized and confirmed at the Faith Lutheran Church, rural Black Hammer, Minn. She attended the rural school in Black Hammer Township through eighth grade and graduated from Spring Grove High School in 1937. She graduated from Winona State Teacher's College in 1939 after student teaching in a one-room school in Pickwick, Minn. She taught school for two years in a one-room school in rural Black Hammer with 28 pupils in grades 1-8. Gena was united in marriage with Norman Leslie Casterton Aug. 16, 1941 at the Mabel-Hesper Lutheran Parsonage. They spent all of their married life on a farm in Highland Township. This union was blessed with three sons: William, Robert, and Charles. After the boys graduated from high school, she was a teacher's aide for four years at the Hesper School and three years at the Decorah Elementary School. But her real job for her entire married life was being a ''Farmer's Aide".
Gena was a member of the Hesper Lutheran Church, rural Decorah, where she taught Sunday School for 14 years, and was a member of the Charity Circle and WELCA. She enjoyed helping with the church activi-ties, especially preparing quilt tops to assemble for Missions. Gena spent much of her last few years cutting squares, sewing them together, and preparing lap robes and quilt tops to be made into quilts for the needy at the church do-day. In August of 2004, Gena moved to the Arland Falck Assisted Living in Decorah where she enjoyed spending time with her friends and sewing on her quilt projects. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and visits with her grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Gena died peacefully, surrounded by family, Thursday, March 3, 2011 at Wellington Place Nursing Home in Decorah at the age of 91.
Survivors are her three sons: William (Elizabeth) of Angier, N.C., Robert (Sylvia) of Readlyn, and Charles (Mary) of Decorah; six grandchildren: Alex Casterton, Chanhassen, Minn., Kristin (Matt) Petersen, Clifton Park, N.Y., Jennifer (Scott) Nelson, West Des Moines, Terri Casterton, Denver, Colo., Nicholas Casterton (fiancée Laura Kenady), New Prague, Minn., and James (Karla) Casterton, Davenport; three great- grandchildren: Andrew and Michael Nelson and Emmaline Petersen; and by several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Norman, on Jan. 11, 1994: two sisters Edna Larson and Melpha Johnson; one brother Paul Rauk; two brothers-in-law: Arthur Larson and Leonard Johnson; and one sister-in-law, Josie Rauk.
Funeral services were Sunday, March 6, at 2 p.m.at Hesper Lutheran Church, Decorah, with the Rev. Matt Larson officiating. Organist was Renae Mclntosh. Soloist was Paul Casterton, singing "The Old Rugged Cross" and "The Lord's Prayer." Congregational hymns included: "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace." Casket bearers were Gerald Johnson, Stanley Johnson, Bruce Newhouse, Craig Newhouse, Keith Newhouse and George Rauk. Interment was at the Hesper Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah. Fjelstul Funeral Home, Decorah, handled the arrangements.
Friends may sign Gena's guest book or send condolences online at www.fjelstul.com .
Transcribed from a newspaper clipping submitted by Janice Sowers
Hesper Lutheran Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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