Obituary of Cecilia "Ceal" Rita Kortan

Cecilia “Ceal” Rita Kortan, age 78 of Sauk Centre, passed away Friday, December 15, 2023.

Cecilia Rita Kortan was born on August 12, 1945 to Forest and Loretta Burdick. As a child Ceal lived in several foster homes until, as a teenager, found permanent foster parents, Ray and Florence Warner. At the Warner’s, Ceal was able to finally have her first pet, Lamb Chops. Ceal’s parents were musically talented so she grew up singing and playing instruments. She loved to sit and watch her mom sing and play music.

After high school, Ceal joined the army where she studied and became a dental hygienist. She left the army after a few years and moved to St Cloud where she landed her dream job as a dental hygienist. In 1967 she met the love of her life, Gerald “Jerry’ Kortan. Shortly after they met, they married and she moved to Sauk Centre to live on the Kortan family farm with her new husband. Ceal and Jerry raised 3 children on the farm, Cynthia, Gerlad and Gregory.

As an adult, wife and mother, Ceal kept very busy, working and raising children. She had several jobs outside the home which included, Volunteer Coordinator at Sauk Centre schools, and become a CNA like her daughter, Cindy, who had the task of training her mom, Ceal at the nursing home in Sauk Centre.

Ceal also loved to bake and talk; and she loved her little puppies. She was a social butterfly that could make delicious desserts. She acquired friends everywhere she went and was known in many different circles. She had a sweet smile and an infection laugh. She may have been the shortest lady we knew but had the biggest heart. She would go out of her way to help others even when she had no means to help them.

Ceal had developed a passion for music and God. She had an open mind and welcomed new opportunities. Ceal worshiped with any and all walks of faith and was a current member of the River of Life Church. She played multiple musical instruments and was in several choirs, bands, bible study groups, and acted in a few plays. She even landed the lead role in the play, The Sound of Music . She loved to keep people involved in singing and praying so she often was the leader/director of the group. She brought joy to so many friends, family and people she didn’t know yet. Ceal was truly gifted and definitely one of Gods children. She loved Jesus and the church more than anyone we knew. One might even say she was the “teacher’s pet”. When someone needed prayers, they called Ceal. They knew God listened to her.

Ceal was survived by her brother David Burdick of St Cloud, sister-in-law, Shirley (Kortan) Opsal and her 3 children; Cynthia (Kortan) Payne of Freeport, Gerlad (Kim) Kortan of Sauk Centre and Gregory Kortan of Grey Eagle, 4 grandchildren; Yesenia & Magdelana Payne, Thomas Kortan and Hailey Sherman, several nieces and nephews; and her 2 puppies; Precious and Schnitzel

She was proceeded in death by her husband, Gerald Kortan; her parents, and foster parents; her sister, Trix Kleinschmidt; her brother-in-law, Jack (Dorothy) Kortan; and sister-in-law, Kathy Burdick

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 29, 2023at River of Life Church in Sauk Center with Rev. Kyle Peterson officiating. Interment will follow at Long Bridge Lutheran Cemetery in Little Sauk Township, Todd County Minnesota. Visitation will be available at the church from 10:00a.m. – 11: 00 a.m. Friday prior to the funeral service and a celebration lunch will follow the interment at church.