Obituary of Corrie Helene Rezachek

Corrie Helene Rezachek (nee Iverson) passed away on September 23, 2023. 

Corrie was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Alf and Evelyn (nee Schmidt) Iverson.  Evelyn died from a cerebral hemorrhage when Corrie was only 2 years old and her baby sister was just 5 months old.  Their maternal grandmother, Corrie Mueller, raised the girls to adulthood.

Corrie was a remarkable woman.  She was diagnosed with polio in 1949 while carrying her third child.  After he was born, the doctors told her she could not have any more children and would never walk again.  But Corrie not only regained the ability to walk without braces, crutches or cane, but went on to have four more children.

An accomplished sewer, Corrie made clothes for her family, curtains for the home, and even upholstered furniture.  She was also a crafter, making hundreds of Christmas ornaments for family, friends and craft sales.

She sewed for her church for over 30 years, making banners, paraments, altar and podium covers (4 sets), and hundreds of  baptismal towels.  She also made baby and adult quilts.  She went through thousands of yards of fabric and thread doing that.  She was also a Sunday school teacher for many years.

Corrie never slowed down, volunteering for many years at Christian thrift stores.  She really enjoyed doing that.  She went on to making loom knit hats, donating them to hospitals, homeless shelters, and schools.  She continued to make hats, even after losing use of her dominate hand to a stroke in 2014. She taught herself how to make a loom hat with only her remaining functional hand.  She made more than a thousand beautiful hats.  There was an unfinished hat by her bed when she passed away.

Corrie was also an avid gardener.  She carried this love of plants with her when she moved into the Hastings Care Center.  She was always trying to improve their patio gardens.  In August of this year, she suggested planting radish, onion and peas in the bare soil of the elevated garden beds.  She planted them, and by September was eating radishes and onions.  This made her very happy.

Corrie was stricken with post-polio syndrome later in life, ultimately losing the ability to walk and confined to a wheelchair.  Despite this, she was always so very positive, smiling and greeting Care Center residents and staff as they walked past her room door.  A prayer card she kept in her purse spoke of being sensitive to the needs of others.  She lived by those words.

Our Mom liked going to the casino, even after becoming wheelchair-bound.  We found a van that would take her to and back from the casino.  Care Center staff  and Caregivers would ask her where she was going as she got dressed and as she waited in the lobby for the van.  “To school,” she answered.  It didn't take them long to break the code.  Some Caregivers even adopted it, telling her that they were going “to school” when they went to the casino.

Mom had certain casino slots that were her favorites.  You could tell she was really enjoying herself when her head was bouncing and foot tapping.  Even winning a small amount made her happy.

Mom enjoyed doing all of these things.  But her true joy was the family whom she loved with all her heart.  

Mom, you've been simply wonderful since we were very young.  Your smile brightened any moment, your hugs put joy in our days.  You were the best mom ever.  We love you . . . We miss you.

Corrie was preceded in death, by her husband, Paul, the love of her life, infant daughter, Nancy; her father, mother, grandmother, along with her sisters and their husbands, Alice and Wayne Gulseth; Betty and Al Eastman; Ann and Ray Schmidt.

She is survived by her children, Linda (PJ) Braun, David (Darlene) Rezachek, Judy (Bill) French, Margie Rezachek, Tom Rezachek, Ron Rezachek; sister-in-law Lois Ann Schroeder, cousin Mary Lee Pankow, and many other cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Corrie was also blessed with seven grandchildren; Lori, Peter, Ashley, Darla, Kevin, Dylan, and Blake, and five great-grandchildren; Steen, Darius, Canon, Dax, and Lily.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on October 22nd, 2023, at 3:00 pm, at Calvary Christian Church, 907 15th St. W, Hastings, MN. A private interment will be held in Wisconsin.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Salvation Army.