Funeral services for Paula Sophia JoAnn Sprenger, 86, of Albert Lea, formerly of Conger, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Concordia Lutheran Church Pickerel Lake. The Rev. Wendy Anderson will officiate. Interment will be at Pickerel Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Paula died Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, at her home.
Paula Sophia JoAnn Sprenger was born July 12, 1922, to the Rev. Henry and Helen (Schlachtenhaufen) Dohmeier in Max, N.D. The family moved to Princeton in 1925 prior to moving to rural Albert Lea in 1936 where they resided at the parsonage of Concordia Lutheran Church Pickerel Lake. She was confirmed there by her father. She attended Albert Lea Schools, Mankato Business College and worked at Wilson Company. Paula married Alfred Sprenger at Concordia Lutheran Church on Sept. 5, 1945. She was a lifelong member of Concordia Lutheran Church, where she was active in circle, altar guild, WELCA, and choir. Paula was involved in the Conger Auxiliary and senior citizens group. She enjoyed family gatherings, spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, the activities at Knutson Place Apartments and playing cards with the “Silly Dilly’s.” Paula’s home was always open and guests were always welcome.
Survivors include her five children: Susan (Albert) Allen of Alden, Chuck (Sandy) Sprenger of Rancho Mirage, Calif., Jane (Steven) Schmidt of Alden, Mary (Jim) Pappas of Nevada, Iowa, and Karen (Cory) Carlson of Wells; 14 grandchildren: Carol Bradley, Mike Allen, Zac and Abby Sprenger, Kristen (Travis) Wasmoen, Chad (Leah) Schmidt, Philip (Amy) Schmidt, David Schmidt, Emily, Megan and Jennifer Pappas, Chance, Cassidy and Colten Carlson; eight great-grandchildren: Dalton and Katherine Bradley, Elizabeth and Aivin Wasmoen, Hailey and Jenna Schmidt, Layne Schmidt, Angelina Star; siblings: Ernie (Helen) Dohmeier, Clem (Geraldine) Dohmeier, Evelyn (Jewell) Schock, Trudi (Hal)Whitmire, Gerhardt (Grace) Dohmeier, Richard (Juanita) Dohmeier; sisters-in-law: Loretta Dohmeier, Elizabeth Dale; aunt, Gertrude Schlachtenhaufen; uncle, the Rev. Bruno and aunt Gladys Schlachtenhaufen; and many nieces and nephews.
Paula was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Alfred in 2004; sister, Dorothy Wittmer; and brother, the Rev. Ervin Dohmeier.