Amanda Lea Carol Stewart

Amanda Lea Carol (Struzyk) Stewart, 28 year old resident of Rice, MN, died Wednesday, December 31, 2014 from a long battle with cancer. A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 5 at 11:00 A.M. at the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls, MN, with Rev. Keith Thompson officiating.A visitation will be held from 3:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Sunday, January 4 and from 9:00-11:00 A.M. on Monday all at the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls, MN. The burial will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Prairie, MN.The Military Honors will be conducted by the Minnesota Funeral Honor Guard and the Rice American Legion Post #473.

Amanda Lea C. Stewart was born October 6, 1986 in St. Cloud, Minnesota to Robert M. Struzyk and Lori H. Mrosla.She entered the Minnesota National Guard between her junior and senior year of high school.Amanda did her basic training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina in 2004. She graduated from Sartell High School with the class of 2005. Amanda met her future husband, Joseph Cody Stewart while attending MOS schooling at Ft. Lee, Virginia. She was deployed to Iraq in 2006 with the Minnesota Army National Guard Red Bulls. She then transferred to the Colorado Army National Guard with Bravo Company 147th BSB Spartans. She was awarded the Medal of Commendation and the Army Achievement Medal. She was united in marriage to Joseph Cody Stewart on March 13, 2006 in Temple, Texas.After returning from Iraq she worked for the Colorado National Guard until 2012.The couple moved to Rice, MN in 2013, where they resided at the time of her death.She enjoyed hunting, photography, the outdoors and spending time with her son, Aiden and family.She was a member of the Rice American Legion Post #473.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Joseph Cody Stewart of Rice, MN; son, Aiden Stewart at home; parents, Lori Mrosla of Upsala, MN, Robert (Shelli) Struzyk of Rice, MN, siblings, Michael (Kelsey) Struzyk of Rice, MN, DJ Wolfley of Upsala, MN, Malynda Sue (Phil) Brey-Ryan of Big Lake, MN, Brittany Lynn (Ryan) Struzyk of St. Cloud, MN; grandparents, Alfred Mrosla of Rice, MN, Karen Struzyk (Clarence Rajkowski) St. Cloud, MN; aunts and uncles, Shari (Mike) Theisen of Bowlus, MN, Kris (Fred) Mrosla of Sartell, MN, Kari (Chad) Fiedler of Albany, MN;Duane (Julie) Struzyk of Holdingford, MN; cousins, Joe, Danny, Douglas, Austin, Jackie, Tabetha, Nicole, Heather; special family friends, Brian DuChene of Sauk Rapids, MN and Keith Justin of Brainerd, MN.

She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Carol Mrosla, and grandfather, Stanley Struzyk.

In lieu of flowers, Amanda requested that she would like people to donate to the Colon Cancer Alliance at www.ccalliance.org.Her words were, "to help find a cure for this god awful disease".She also stated she would rather have people help out the family.Her desire is that her young son, Aiden won't relate her passing to Christmas.She loved owls, lillies and the outdoors...that's who she was!We as Amanda's family say a huge "Thank You" for honoring her wishes.