Agnes Grundman

On Sunday, July 29, the feast day of St. Martha, Agnes Grundman entered into eternal life after 87 faith-filled years. She, like Martha, was a devoted servant of her Lord.

Agnes Madeline was born on May 2, 1931 to Louis and Frances (Wiewel) Ferrian in Sauk Centre, MN.  She graduated from Villard High School in 1948, then continued to live at home to care for her mother for several years, until she met and married Harold Grundman in May of 1952 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Osakis, MN. They then farmed in the Osakis, Waconia, Anoka, and Brooten areas, finally settling back in rural Villard until moving to their retirement home near Forada, MN ten years ago.  Together they raised 9 children and were proud grandparents of 30 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.  She was known for “grandma” cooking and no one could make mashed potatoes, Oh Henry Bars, homemade fresh bread, pancakes, or fried chicken like grandma! Agnes was a “master homemaker” who knew how to keep a large farm household running smoothly.  She was an excellent cook and baker, who canned untold quarts of garden produce and always had goodies to share with visitors.   She was a loving Grandma, praying daily for her children and grandchildren’s life and journey with God.

Agnes was an active member of the Church of St. Bartholomew in Villard and was a member of the Christian Mothers. She was known for the beautiful way she prayed the rosary before Sunday Mass.  Her passion for children extended not only to her own children and grandchildren, but to the unborn as well. Agnes was active in establishing the charter Sauk Centre chapter of the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL), attending several prolife marches in MN and Washington D.C.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Harold of Alexandria; her children, Mark of Villard, John of Eagle Pass, TX, Audrey (Greg) Radermacher of Brooten, Julie (Merlin) Bruns of Sartell, Emily (Jay) Backowski of Villard, Dan (Cindy) of Starbuck, Anthony (Mary) of Elk River and Ann (Kenny) Proctor of Alexandria; a daughter-in-law, Robin Grundman of Farmington, MN; 28 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; a son, Steven;  two grandsons, Luke Grundman and Andrew Backowski; brothers, Andrew, Walter, John, and Cecil Ferrian and sisters, Leona Hendricks, Stella Brees and Marcella Briol.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, Aug. 3, 2018 at 11:00 am at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Villard with Fr. Joe Vandeberg and her nephew, Fr. David Grundman officiating. Interment is at the Calvary Cemetery, Osakis, MN with honorary pallbearers by her granddaughters, Nicole Hamel, Jenelle Jensen, Rachel Grundman, Maria Weinand, Tracy Kallassy, Andrea Hilal, Angie Prodahl, Amy Klaphake, Mary Radermacher, Erin Gaffaney, Ashley Nelson, Katelynn Gaffaney, Katherine Backowski, Gianna Backowski, Danielle Gallagher, Claire Grundman and Laura Grundman.  Pallbearers are grandsons, Jacob Grundman, Joseph Radermacher, Collin Gaffaney, Paul Backowski, Mitchel Grundman, Benjamin Grundman, Aaron Radermacher, Isaac Radermacher, Patrick Backowski, Matthew Backowski, Joseph Grundman.  Visitation is from 4 – 7 pm on Thursday evening at St. Bartholomew church and one hour before the service on Friday.  The Christian Mothers rosary will be said at 4 pm on Thursday and the parish prayers will be said at 7 pm.  Arrangements by the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis, MN. www.royhetland.com