Delores Lehrke

Delores Ann Lehrke, a resident of Little Falls, died Monday, May 3, 2010, at Diamond Willow Advanced Care Assisted Living Facility in Little Falls. Visitation will take place Thursday, May 6, from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Emblom Brenny Funeral Service chapel, with parish prayers being said at 7 p.m.. Friends may also visit Delores Friday morning at Emblom Brenny, from 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. Before the funeral service. A Mass of Christian will be held Friday, May 7, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church of Little Falls, with Father Nicholas Landsberger officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. Delores Ann Thieschafer was born to George and Rose (Kemper) Thieschafer Jan. 15, 1928, in Sauk Centre, the seventh of 10 children. She attended school in Burtrum. On June 7, 1946, she was united in marriage to Carl Frederick Lehrke in Stearns County. They made their home in Little Falls, where they raised six children, and were members of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Carl died Dec. 31, 1996, just six months after the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Delores' family was her life. She was devoted to her husband and children, her faith and her friends. She worked in the kitchen at St. Otto's Nursing Home for many years, was a member of the St. Mary's Christian Mothers, the Little Falls VFW Auxiliary, Post 1112, and volunteered to work at many funerals and church functions. After she retired from St. Otto's, she volunteered at the Franciscan Sisters' Clothes Review. She was a wonderful cook and loved to sew, dance and play cards, especially Smear. She prayed the rosary daily and attended daily Mass until her health kept her from doing so. For over two years, she was a resident at the Diamond Willow Assisted Care facility in Little Falls, where she was lovingly cared for. Delores is survived by sons, Gerald "Butch" (Barb) Lehrke of West Worthington, OH and Mike (Teresa "Terry") Lehrke of Little Falls, MN.; daughters, Janet Lehrke of Fridley, MN., Carol (Dave) Mackie of Gilbert, MN., Ann Gueffier of Fairfax, VA., Joanne (Mike) Nicklaus of Shorewood, MN.; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; a brother Bob (Genevieve) Thieschafer and a sister, Loretta Schuett. Delores was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Carl; parents, George & Rose Thieschafer; brother, Raymond Thieschafer; sisters, Marie Dusek, Alma Glantz, Leona Kruzel, Lorraine Schuett,Frances Diehl and Adella Marthalar; son-in-law, Ron Larson; granddaughter, Sarah Ann Nicklaus and great-grandson, Tyler David Poepping. Casket Bearers are David Lehrke, Bob Pfeffer, Lisa Flannigan, Mike Thelen, Phillip Poepping, Tom Poepping & Jessi Poepping; Honorary Pallbearers are Ryan Lehrke, Derrick Lehrke, Brent Lehrke, Nick Larson & Deb Stenman; Crossbearers are Lexie Lehrke & Nathan Nicklaus.