Isabelle Trettel

Isabelle U. Trettel, age 94, of North Prairie, MN, passed away Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in North Prairie, MN, with Rev. Laurn Virnig officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 8:00 P.M. on Friday, January 23, 2009 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in North Prairie. There will be a Christian Mother Rosary at 5:30 P.M. followed by a parish prayer service at 7:00 P.M. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 9:30 - 10:30 A.M. at the church. Isabelle Ursula Wozniak was born on August 28, 1914 in Pike Creek Township, near Sobieski, Morrison County, Minnesota to the late Peter & Pauline (Kowalczyk) Wozniak. Most of her eight years of education occurred in the North Prairie School. Isabelle worked as a housekeeper for the parish priest and other families for a number of years. She was married to Clarence Benedict Trettel on February 10, 1942 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in North Prairie. The couple made their first home in Duluth, MN and in 1946 purchased the family farm near North Prairie. Isabelle was a homemaker and the farm manager while Clarence worked as a seaman on the Great Lakes. Some of Isabelle's interests and hobbies included gardening, crocheting, playing piano, playing pinochle, reading, cooking and baking, proudly sustaining the family's century-old everlasting yeast bread. She was a faithful and active member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in North Prairie, where she participated in the Christian Mothers, Rosary Group, Church Choir, taught Catechism, and served on many committees. She also carried on the family tradition of decorating one of the parish altars in the cemetery for the Feast of Corpus Christi. Isabelle was a gracious hostess always welcoming everyone into her home. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Patricia (Marvin) Sowada of Columbia Heights, MN, Kathleen Trettel Lewis of Nashville, TN, Benedict (Irene) Trettel of North Prairie, MN, Margaret Trettel of Sauk Rapids, MN, Gertrude (Craig) Corkery of Lockport, IL, Beatrice Manka of North Prairie, MN, Aloysius Trettel of North Pole, AK, and Adelaide Trettel of Robbinsdale, MN; brother: Richard Wozniak of Duluth, MN; sister: Barbara (Egil) Zabel of St. Paul, MN; half-sisters: Loretta Retka of Little Falls, MN, and Margaret (Edward) Rutz of Columbia Heights, MN; 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Isabelle was preceded in death by her parents, Peter & Pauline (Kowalczyk) Wozniak; husband: Clarence Trettel (July 2, 1993); daughter: Virginia Trettel; sons-in-law: William Lewis and Rupert Manka; brothers: Joseph, Frank, Daniel, Anthony, Cyril, Phillip; sisters: Sophia (Kenneth) Larson, Marie (William) Fuller; half-sister: Rita (Murray) McDonald and step-brothers: Leo Wozniak, Stanley Wozniak and step-sisters: Sylvia (Frank) Helmerick and Joan (Joseph) Semons. Honorary pallbearers are Margaret Trettel, Jacqueline Mulder, Susalyne Truckenbrod, Sheralyne Rechnagel, Markell Lewis, Frances Lewis, Pauline Lewis, Gail Miller, Kayla Manka, Kayla Trettel and RyAnn Trettel. Casketbearers are John Sowada, Kevin Trettel, Eric Trettel, Joram Manka, Louis Manka and Steve Rechnagel.