Verda L. Grefe

Verda Lorraine (Swenson) Grefe, age 88, of Prairie Farm, WI left this earth on Tuesday, October 24th, 2017 at Mayo Clinic Health System in Barron to be with Jesus and many beloved in Heaven. Verda was the fourth of eight children born to Walter & Nettie (Anderson) Swenson of rural River Falls, WI. She was born on November 6th, 1928. She was baptized & confirmed at Rush River Lutheran Church. She attended grade school at Gertrude School, a one room school at the edge of the Swenson family farm. After eighth grade graduation, she attended high school in River Falls, rooming in town as every day transportation wasn’t available. Following the strong family value of the importance of education, she enrolled at the University of Wisconsin at River Falls to become a teacher. While at the University, a dashing young returning G.I. made her acquaintance. She & Robert Grefe eloped and were wed in Cambridge, MN on July 15th, 1949. Thus began a young farm girl’s gypsy life, as her father called it. Bob & Verda moved to Prairie Farm where Bob taught Ag. for a year. The next stop after Bob’s bout with Polio & Verda taught school was Ashland. A few years later, they were in Wautoma. Now with three children, Verda most often was a homemaker. However, she did work at the Tasty Freeze ice cream stand & worked at a summer program for children of migrant workers while being active in the community through Extension Homemakers & church events at Hope Lutheran Church as a Sunday School Teacher & Ladies Aid member. The next stop was Medford where she long term subbed at a rural multi-grade school. And then the move to the big city, Madison. Verda found her niche in being a pre-school teacher. It would be hard to calculate the number of families she touched there. But still more moves were ahead. Stevens Point was next, followed by retirement in Prairie Farm where she volunteered at school & heard many book reports. Community activities like Civic Club, Ladies Auxiliary & many Circle & ULCW service opportunities filled her heart & days. She especially enjoyed Do-Day where quilts were assembled for Lutheran World Relief & fellowship was nourished. Bob & Verda enjoyed many years of camping & travel with friends, children & grandchildren. She is now home forever.

Bob & Verda’s 65 years of marriage were blessed with three children: Robert Paul Grefe of Madison, Gail Diane (Donald) Olson of Wheeler & Donald Scott (Christine) Grefe of Deforest. They further have a “daughter of the heart”, Margaret James of Milwaukee, & her daughters: Amy & Hedy. Their grandchildren are: Forest, Clinton & Weston Grefe, Laura (Ryan) Doebereiner, Virginia (Jacob) Welle & Peter (Meghan) Olson. Great grandchildren are: Emily, Abigail & Owen Doebereiner & Anton & Aericka Olson. Verda was preceded in death by her parents, husband: Bob on December 16th, 2014, sisters: Arlene Odbert & Shirley Sitz & brothers: John, David & Roger Swenson. In addition to her children & grandchildren she is further survived by sisters: Norma (Lloyd) Nelson & Edith (Minnard) Hojem, sisters-in-law: Pat Swenson, Phyllis Moore & Maxine Grefe, brother-in-law: Fredrick (Norma) Grefe, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives & friends. Verda lived her life modeling her strong faith, her belief in the importance of education & responsibility to positively impact the world & community around her. She shared her skill & love of knitting, quilting, embroidery, sewing & crafts with many relatives & friends as well.

Funeral services will be (were) held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 4th at United Lutheran Church in Prairie Farm with Rev. Erin Koster officiating & interment following in the Vanceburg Cemetery in the Town of Sheridan, rural Prairie Farm. Visitation will be (was) held for the hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Arrangements are with Rausch-Lundeen Funeral Homes, Dallas & Cameron.

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