Lucille (Holerud) Gedatus, age 90, of Woodville, Wisconsin passed away peacefully at Abbot Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Lucille’s life began on July 14, 1933. She was born to Herman and Jennie (Formoe) Holerud in her family home in the Township of Cady on Cty Rd NN after the Highland Ridge Campground Road.
Lucille married Virgil Gedatus on July 18, 1953, on a beautiful summer day in the backyard of her parents’ home. In 1970 Virgil and Lucille bought the family farm. 90 years later, just five miles from where she was born the family celebrated Lucille’s 90th birthday on the farm that she and Virgil raised their nine children this past summer.
They were blessed with 11 grandchildren – Jason, Jeremy, Jessica, Jordan, Jake, Christine, Daniel, Alyssa, Nicole, Tyler and Jack and 12 great grandchildren – Taylor, Eric, Mason, Kaitlyn, Lucas, Layne, Isaac, Haley, Easton, Riley, Addison, and Owen who they both adored and loved spending time with. They celebrated all of their birthdays and big events together.
After raising her children at the age of 60 Lucille started working at Kids View Learning Center (out of a need from her daughter Diane). At the beginning she was a float working in the classroom when she was needed. When the cook retired Lucille decided, she would like to become the cook. She loved her Kids View family. Lucille worked at Kids View for 20 years, until she retired in 2013 at the age of 80.
Lucille enjoyed doing her needlework like embroidery and crewel (embroidery with yarn). Many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren have received a framed embroidery birth announcement made by Lucille. She loved baking, making Norwegian rosettes, watching the birds, and tending to her beautiful flowers. Her true love was playing cards with her family and friends. She kept herself busy with her Homemakers club, the Honey Doers. She was a member of the Honey Doers since 1983. She was a member of the St. Croix Area Volunteer League. She brought smiles to the children’s faces by running the coloring table at their events. She also attended a monthly bible study group with friends. Virgil and Lucille became members of Zion Lutheran Church in 1967. She enjoyed Sunday service on the live stream. Over the years Virgil and Lucille loved going fishing and staying in their camper in Clam Falls, Wisconsin. This tradition of fishing has moved down the line to some of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
In March of 2020 the Gedatus family heard the words esophageal cancer after Lucille had an endoscopy. Her will to fight and beat cancer at the age of 86 was unbelievable. Because of COVID, she underwent radiation in New Richmond by herself. She was blessed to do chemo at Western Wisconsin Health where they allowed one person to be with her. Each week we would see Dr. Hurley. He would walk into the room, take one look at her and shake his head. He would say “how are you doing” and she would say “I’m just fine” and he would say “you are one strong woman” and shake his head again. After six of the eight weeks of radiation and chemo, the symptoms hit her. But she never complained. The family was very blessed to have such a strong Mom.
Lucille is survived by her children Steve (Honorine), Dave (Diane M), Mike (Kim), Dick, Brian (Sheila), Luann (John) Lavelle, Diane (Joel Ihrke), and the twins Pat and Pam. She was blessed to have all nine of her children live within a 10 mile radius of the home farm. She is also survived by her sister Helen Lorentson and Sisters-in-Law Virginia and Rose Holerud and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Lucille is preceded in death by her Husband Virgil, Her parents, Virgil’s parents Ben and Grace (Jackman) Gedatus and siblings and in laws – Harriette (Dale) Sorenson, Ray (Shirley), Glenn (Delores), Jim, Judy (Lyman) Jensen, Merlin, Wayne Lorentson, Lenore (Leonard) Gunderson, William (Gerry), Wayburn (Liz), Leona (Bill) Wang, and Nancy (LeRoy) Campbell.
Visitation was Tuesday, December 19, 2023, from 4-7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Woodville and one hour prior to the service at church on Wednesday.
Funeral service was Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Woodville. The burial will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery, Woodville. Keehr Funeral Home, (keehrfuneralhome.com) Spring Valley, is handling arrangements.
