Luzella Kaasa

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Funeral services for Luzella Edith Kaasa, age 84, of Albert Lea will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Curtis Zieske will officiate. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Luzella died Sunday, May 24, 2009, at Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna.
Luzella Edith Kaasa was born on Aug. 27, 1924, to Marinus and Dora Jensen in Albert Lea. Zella was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church. She grew up in Albert Lea and graduated from Albert Lea High school in 1942. On Oct. 19, 1947, Zella was united in marriage to Gordon Kaasa at Trinity Lutheran Church. Later they resided in Golden Valley for 17 years. In 1972, they returned to Albert Lea. Zella was employed as the baker at Southwest Junior High. Zella lived her faith in God and she loved to share it with all. She was very active at Trinity Lutheran Church, participating in Bible study, singing in the choir and serving on Church Council. After retiring, she went on mission trips to Bogot, Columbia and Trinidad. Zella was an avid gardener of flowers. She enjoyed baking, cooking and had an amazing gift of hospitality. Zella loved taking care of her grandchildren. Making quilts for her family was one of her favorite pastimes. She loved being involved in any of her children and grandchildren’s activities.  They were her greatest treasure and a part of her will live on through them.  She was a good friend to many. Anyone who knew her saw how she liked to serve other people.
Survivors include her children, Bruce (Pat) Kaasa of Richland Center, Wis., Bonnie (Mark) Holmes of Monticello, Tim (Dawn) Kaasa of Glenville, and Cindy (Cliff) Wuerflein of Albert Lea; grandchildren, Bryan Kaasa, Katie (Brian) Puls, Rebecca (Walter) Belenky, Wendy (Dale) Nygaard, Jeremy (Gina) Holmes, Kellen, Taryn and Devin Kaasa, Ryan (Sadie) Wuerflein, Brett Wuerflein and Brooke (Travis) McKinney; great-grandchildren, Drew Puls, Zachary, Nathan, Jonathan and Kate Nygaard, McKenzie and Paige Holmes and Tucker McKinney; sister, Marge (Jim) Hanson of Prescott, Ariz.; brother, Mervin (Marcy) Jensen of Brainerd; sisters-in-law, Mary Jensen of Albert Lea, Mary Jensen of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Lucille Stachowski of Milwaukee, Wis., Dorothy Kaasa of Mankato, and Ag Kaasa of Chippewa Falls, Wis.; many nieces and nephews.
Zella was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gordy; daughter, Julie in infancy; brothers, Alfred, Clarence, and Kenneth Jensen, Fred (Marge) Jensen, and Harry (Maye) Jensen, sisters, Gen (Kenny) Seeger and Lucile “Toots” (Russell) Hassler; brothers and sisters-in-law, Kenny (Francis) Kaasa, Orton (Delores) Kaasa, Robert Kaasa, Melvin Kaasa, Ada (Sherley) Westland, and Helen (S. W.) Kaisersatt.
Zella’s family wishes to express their sincere thanks to Dr. Kammerer, Dr. Laurie, the staff of Crossroads Community Hospice and Homestead Hospice House of Owatonna for their exceptional care and concern.