Obituary of Rosella Hoeft

Rosella (Sally) Hoeft, born October 7, 1919, on the family farm near Eau Galle, Wisconsin; died July 17, 2015 in New Hope, Minnesota. Sally was the second child of seven born to William and Clara (Zeilinger) Gasteyer. She also had two beloved siblings from a prior marriage. Sally attended elementary school in a one room schoolhouse across the road from the family farm. She graduated from Red Wing High School. Following high school, she trained as a beautician and worked in Red Wing where she met Willard Hoeft. On December 20, 1941 they began a marriage that would endure a world war and last over 71 years. Sally and Willard lived in Winona from 1952 to 2013. Sally worked as a test beautician at the Watkins Products laboratory. Later, she obtained her real estate license and worked for several years as a realtor for brokers Bob Selover and Gene Karris. Sally was an active member of Central Lutheran Church, PEO, Westfield Golf Club, and the Winona Community Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She loved playing bridge and all card games. Sally was preceded in death by her father and mother, William and Clara (Zeilinger) Gasteyer; husband Willard; siblings Ed Brenner, Anne Wendler, Lila Lehman, Eunice King, Johnny Gasteyer (infant brother), and Bill Gasteyer. She is survived by children John Hoeft and Pat Brown; daughter-in-law Nancy Hoeft; son-in-law Jim Brown; grandchildren Katie Hansen and her husband, John; Matthew Hoeft and his wife, Jen; Phillip Brown and his wife Amanda; Annie Brown, Marin Hoeft and Michael Hoeft; great-grandchildren Alexis Hansen, Josh Hansen Shelby Hoeft, Greta Brown, and Haydon Hoeft; her sister, Donna Oesterreicher; and brother, Jerry Gasteyer. She was a loving mother and role model treasured by all who knew her for her gracious, attentive and fun loving persona. Services: Monday, July 20, 2015, 11:00 AM at Central Lutheran Church, Corner of Huff and Wabasha Streets, Winona, Minnesota. Memorials in lieu of flowers to: Winona Historical Society.