Christine Kowalzek

Christine Kowalzek, age 91, of Harding, MN, passed away Sunday, January 22, 2012, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, MN. A Mass of Christina Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Harding, MN, with Fr. David Maciej officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, January, 25, 2012 at Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Pierz, MN. There will be a rosary at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home followed by parish prayers at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at the church one hour prior to the service. Christine was born on March 10, 1920 in Pulaski Township, Morrison County, Minnesota to the late Ignatz & Mary (Ciminski) Brisk. She grew up and attended school in Pulaski Township. She was united in marriage to Steve Kowalzek on October 19, 1937 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Harding, MN. The couple made their home on a farm in Pulaski Township where they raised their sixteen children. Her husband, Steve, passed away on March 11, 1993, and Christine continued living on the farm with her son, Steven. Christine worked outside the home at the Boat Works in Little Falls for seventeen years and farmed with her husband. In July 2004, Christine became a resident of the Pierz Villa where she resided at the time of her death. Christine enjoyed gardening, flowers, playing cards, baking bread, animals on the farm and being a mother to her children. She was a faithful member of Holy Cross Catholic Church all her life. Her family will miss her sense of humor. She had a unique way of communicating with people. Everyone seemed to enjoy her company. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Shirley (Arne) Zapzalka of Harding, MN, Rose Ann (Jim) Reifsteck of Buffalo, MN, Mary Jane (Herman) Peine of Pierz, MN, Delores (Duane) Eggerth of Little Falls, MN, Gerald (Sandra) Kowalzek of Monticello, MN, Thomas (Janice Smuda) Kowalzek of Harding, MN, Marlys (Les) Petry of Ham Lake, MN, Barbara (Les) Luukkonen of Elk River, MN, Patricia Bourne of Randall, MN, Paul (Dawn) Kowalzek of Brainerd, MN and Steven (Becky Olson) Kowalzek of Harding, MN; 46 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Vivian Brisk of Gregory, SD, and many nieces and nephews. Christine was preceded in death by her husband, Steve Kowalzek; parents; Ignatz & Mary (Ciminski) Brisk; children, Theodore Kowalzek, Peter Kowalzek, James Kowalzek, Virginette Tretter, Carol Kowalzek; grandchildren, Dale Tretter, Steven Tretter, Jeffrey Kowalzek and Laurie Kowalzek and siblings, Donald Brisk and Alex Brisk.