Obituary of Cynthia Jane Stauber

Cynthia Jane (Ruhnke) Stauber, 66, of Pike Lake, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015, following a courageous battle with cancer. Cindy was born July 17, 1949, to Byron and Lois Ruhnke of Proctor. She graduated from Proctor High School in 1967 and from UMD in 1970 with degrees in health and physical education. She was a clerk at Ruhnke Clothing, her parent's store, throughout high school and college. She taught physical education in Heidelberg and Kaiserslautern, Germany; Cicero, Ill.; and Esko. Cindy owned and operated Esprit Baskets for over 10 years. She never stopped learning, earning her master's degree in guidance and counseling from UWS. She then worked as a guidance counselor in the Duluth public schools. She also earned her certificate in massage therapy and worked as a massage therapist, myofascial release practitioner, and a healing touch therapist. Cindy married Larry Stauber Dec. 19, 1970. They lived in many places, including Georgia, Indiana, Germany and Illinois before returning to the Duluth area in 1977. She took great joy in spending time with family and friends, as well as entertaining, cooking and dancing. She was a friend to all and will be sorely missed. She was preceded in death by her parents, Byron and Lois Ruhnke; brother Kenneth; parents-in-law Lawrence and Barb Stauber; and brother-in-law Thomas Collins. Cindy is survived by her husband, Larry, of Duluth; daughters Leah (Bhupesh Pattni) of Virginia, Minn., and Erin (Peter Stephan) of Washington, D.C.; sisters Sandra Collins (Joe Brisbois) and Wendy Ruhnke; brothers-in-law Keith (Kinnan) Stauber and Ben Stauber; nieces Tara Collins Vieli (Mark Vieli), Annie Winkler, Lindsey Ruhnke, Madeline Stauber and Myra Stauber; nephews Josh Ruhnke (Sheena Rowe), Nate Stauber and Dancha Stauber; and countless friends. The Stauber family would like to thank Nancy and Jim Schwerdt, Patty and Ted Frase and Sandy Collins for their role in caring for Cindy at home, as well as Wendy Ruhnke for Qigong sessions, and Dr. Steven Kuross and the Essentia Health Oncology staff. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in Cindy's name to the Scott Anderson Leadership Foundation, c/o the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation or to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. A CELEBRATION OF CINDY'S LIFE: 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, in Marshall School Auditorium.