Anna Lou Ruhnke

FUNERAL SERVICES : 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Park Rapids, MN with Reverend James Neubauer officiating.VISITATION : 5-8:00 P.M. on Friday, November 20, 2009 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids and for one hour prior to service at the church on Saturday.INTERMENT : Greenwood Cemetery, Park Rapids, MNSURVIVORS : Anna Lou will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 59 years, Gordon; her three children: Jane (Bill) Smith of Callaway, MN; Julie (Berrie) Burton of Park Rapids and Michael (Kelly) Ruhnke of Apple Valley, MN; 12 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. ANNA LOU RUHNKE February 1, 1930 " November 15, 2009 Anna Lou Ruhnke, age 79, a life long Park Rapids area resident, passed away peacefully of natural causes on Sunday, November 15, 2009 at the St. Joseph"s Hospital in Park Rapids with her loved ones at her side. Anna Lou, the daughter of Harvey and Josephine (Roseheim) Pritchett was born on February l, 1930 in Park Rapids. It was in Park Rapids that she attended public schools and worked after school at the Dahl"s Bakery during her teenage years. After graduating from high school with the Class of 1948, Anna Lou began working for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. as a switchboard operator. She was united in marriage to Gordon E. Ruhnke on August 29, 1950 by the Reverend C.J. Nissen at St. John"s Lutheran Church in Park Rapids. This union was blessed with three children: Jane, Julie and Michael. Anna Lou devoted herself to making a warm and loving home for her husband and children. She was a wonderful cook and baker who will be long remembered for her delicious homemade breads, apple pies, noodles and stuffing. She and Gordon nurtured a large vegetable garden into fruitful abundance each year which she would preserve to meet the needs of her growing family. After her youngest child was born, Anna Lou resumed her career with the telephone company. Ever since she was just a young girl, Anna Lou would spend hours sewing clothes for her family, neighbors and friends. In fact, her sewing talents became so widely known that the requests for her seamstress creativity became so strong that she left her job at the phone company and devoted her energy and skill to this labor of love full time right up to the present time. Anna Lou was a woman of deep faith. She was a long time member of St. John"s Lutheran Church where she faithfully worshipped every Sunday. She loved God"s Word and began each day by reading her Bible. She faithfully prayed for her loved ones and thanked God for all the blessings He gave her. In her spare time, Anna Lou knitted many special gifts for her family and friends. Above all, Anna Lou loved her husband, children, grand children and great grandchildren with all her heart and believed they were the greatest Blessing that God had given her. She treasured the times they spent together. Anna Lou will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 59 years, Gordon; her three children: Jane (Bill) Smith of Callaway, MN; Julie (Berrie) Burton of Park Rapids and Michael (Kelly) Ruhnke of Apple Valley, MN; 12 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and six siblings. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Park Rapids, MN with Reverend James Neubauer officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-8:00 P.M. on Friday, November 20, 2009 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids and for one hour prior to service at the church on Saturday. Organist will be Connie Shubert. Soloist will be Lynn Just. She will sing "Amazing Grace" and "On Eagles Wings". Congregational hymns will be "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" and "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today". Active Casketbearers will be: Andrew Burton, B.J. Smith, Jason Burton, Matt Weaver, Ken Weaver, Jon Koch, Jesse Koch, Luke Weaver, Tyler Ruhnke and Anthony Murray. Honorary Casketbearers will be: Joel Burton, Tayler Kamiel, Trista Rosing, Ashlee Rosing, Natalie Ruhnke, Cailey Roseng, Alex Ruhnke, Kobe Burton, Madelyn Rosing, Eli Burton, Kylie Higgins, Blake Higgins and Dennis Sarvard. Interment will be made in Greenwood Cemetery. A Luncheon will be served following the service for all to attend.