Grace M. Yliniemi

GRACE MARIE YLINIEMIMarch 8, 1934 – May 29, 2016 Grace Marie Yliniemi, age 82, a lifelong Park Rapids, MN area resident, peacefully passed into eternal life on Sunday morning, May 29, 2016 at the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Park Rapids.             Grace was born to John and Rose (Glatzmaier) Gobernatz at the Park Rapids Hospital on March 8, 1934.  She attended the Andrews Country School on the Ponsford Prairie through the eighth grade.  As a young woman, Grace helped on the family farm and also cared for her aging grandfather.  She was united in marriage to William Ronald Retz in 1950.  This union was blessed with two daughters: Judy and Wilma.  Grace endured the heartache of losing her husband unexpectedly at a very young age from a brain aneurism.  She returned to her family’s farm where he father built a small house for her and her two baby girls.  On April 16, 1955, Grace was united in marriage to George M. Yliniemi.  They were blessed with four children:  Georgianna, Sam, Tom and Tim.  Grace devoted her life to making a loving home for her husband and children.  She was a wonderful cook and baker and would often work late into the night sewing clothes for her children.  She was such an accomplished seamstress that she would sew wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses as well as many other clothing items for family and friends.  Each spring she would plant several large vegetable gardens which she would nurture into an abundant harvest that she would preserve for the needs of her growing family.  In addition to caring for her family, Grace would work alongside her husband in feeding and milking their dairy herd and worked many long hot days out in the fields putting up the crops needed to feed their livestock.  She loved to quilt, embroider and crochet and made quilts for each of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Grace was a woman of faith and was a long time member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church at Two Inlets.  She helped with many church suppers and was always the one called on to make her delicious turkey stuffing.  She enjoyed spending time with friends and was a member of the St. Mary’s Ladies Guild, the Ponsford Prairie Partners, the Widows Club and the Osage Senior Citizens Group.  In her spare time, she loved to get together with family and friends to play cards.  Her life was deeply saddened by the death of her beloved husband, George in 1997.  Above all, Grace will be remembered for her devotion to her family who she loved with all her heart.             She will be lovingly remembered by her six children:  Judy Penttinen of Duluth, MN, Wilma (Harvey) Girtz, Georgianna (Chuck) Eischens, Sam (Kathy) Yliniemi, Tom (Patricia) Yliniemi and Tim (Michelle) Yliniemi all of Park Rapids; 17 much loved grandchildren; 37 precious great grandchildren; her brother, Jack (Avis) Gobernatz of Ramsey, MN as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.             Grace was preceded in death by her husbands: William Retz and George Yliniemi;  her parents; three sisters: Joan Yliniemi, Dorothy Longfors, and MaryAnn Adamec; her grandson, Delmar George Yliniemi who died in 2004 and her son-in-law, Kenneth Penttinen.             Funeral services were held 11 AM Friday, June 3, 2016 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids with Father Thomas Friedl officiating.  The music was led by Annette Haas and Lynn Just.  The active casket bearers were Grace’s 17 grandchildren.  The honorary casket bearers were her great grandchildren and her friends at St. Mary’s Ladies Guild, the Ponsford Prairie Partners, the Widows Club and the Osage Senior Citizens.  Interment was made next to her husband, George in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.  Visitation was held from 5 to 8 PM Thursday, June 2, 2016 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids with rosary services held at 7 PM.  Visitation continued beginning one hour prior to the services on Friday at the church.  To view the video tribute or to leave on line condolences please visit www.jonespearson.com.