Geraldine (Mandsager) SUNWALL SUTTER

MANDSAGER, SUTTER, PETERSON, SUNWALL, WERLE, HAMPTON, SIGURDSON, ERDAHL, HEMBRE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/19/2016 at 16:00:56

November 12, 1923 ---- February 17, 2016

Geraldine Sutter, 92, of Eagle Grove, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, after a brief illness. Born in Thor on Nov. 12, 1923, to Ole and Lillian (Peterson) Mandsager, she grew up as a farm girl, the eldest of six siblings, and graduated from Eagle Grove High School. She also attended Eagle Grove Community College. Geraldine married Kaleb Sunwall, a high school teacher, in 1943. They had four children and made their home in Dakota City. After Kaleb's untimely death in 1956, Geraldine faced the daunting challenge of raising their family alone on a limited income, an effort her children have long admired.

In 1962, Geraldine married Harold Sutter, becoming a Lutheran pastor's wife, a role for which she was especially well suited because of her musical talent. She worked as a church organist and pianist most of her adult life. In retirement, she gave piano lessons. Although she read music, Geraldine could also play by ear, her repertoire ranging from pop and folk tunes through hymns to classical compositions. Her musical ability brought great pleasure to her family and friends. Even in her later years, Geraldine often entertained the other residents at Rotary Ann Senior Living by playing piano. In her second marriage, Geraldine took on three stepchildren and bore Harold a son. She did not shy away from work! The parsonage was crowded with kids, and all of her grown children remember her standing over her wringer washer, processing endless loads of laundry. Geraldine was a good cook, stretching a tight budget to feed many mouths, and her family retains a real fondness for her Norwegian specialties, such as kumla and kringla.

Geraldine and Harold served parishes in Hanlontown and West Union, eventually retiring to Eagle Grove, where they were active members of Samuel Lutheran. When Harold was afflicted with Alzheimer's, she cared for him faithfully through his long decline until his death in 1999. She spent her last years at Rotary Ann Senior Living, grateful for the friendly staff and happy to be in her hometown, surrounded by friends, some of whom she had known since she was a child. The farm girl in Geraldine enjoyed gardening and preserving food. She was a frugal housekeeper who put the economics in "home economics." She loved the game of Scrabble and developed her vocabulary all her life long. She will be remembered for her musical talent, her feisty spirit and wisecracks, her work ethic, her service to others, her steady faithfulness, and her church-centered life.

Geraldine is survived by her sons Stephen (Linda) Sunwall, Little Rock; Paul (Barbara) Sunwall, Lynchburg, VA; Mark (Deborah) Sunwall, The Woodlands, TX; Barton (Dorothea) Sutter, Duluth; Ross (Mary) Sutter, Minneapolis; Craig (Kathy) Sutter, Spring, TX; and daughters Rebecca (Ronald) Werle, Little Rock; and Sally Sutter, St. Paul. She is also survived by her siblings Luella (William) Hampton, Crystal, MN; Elaine Sigurdson, Paso Robles, CA; Orpha (Elton) Erdahl, Minnetonka, MN; Orlin (VaLois) Mandsager, Northfield, MN; Ruth Hembre, Plymouth, MN; by 18 grand-children, 12 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Geraldine Sutter's funeral service will be held at Samuel Lutheran at 11 a.m., Tues., Feb. 23rd, with the Rev. Richard Taylor and the Rev. Orlin Mandsager officiating. Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Interment will be at Trinity Cemetery near Hardy. Visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. on Mon., Feb. 22nd, at Foust Funeral Home. Geraldine desired that memorials be designated to world missions. If contributors have no preference, Mindy (Geraldine's granddaughter) and Ryan Redfearin are missionaries to Ethiopia.

Foust Funeral Home -- Eagle Grove, IA
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