Gwen Tvrdik, 75

Gwendolynne Claudette Tvrdik, 75, died Tuesday, February 21, 2012.

Gwendolynne was born December 21, 1936 in St. Paul, the daughter of William P. and Iona (Van Dyke) Grosz. In 1945 Gwen moved with her family to the Alexandria area. She completed elementary school in LaGrand Township and graduated from Central High School in Alexandria in 1954. Gwen continued her education at the University of Minnesota. In 1955 she moved with her family to Oklahoma and began working as a lab technician at Municipal Hospital in Pawhuska. In 1957 she moved back to Alexandria with her family and worked as a lab technician at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital.

On July 12, 1958 Gwen was united in marriage to Lawrence “Bud” Tvrdik at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria. The couple made their home on the Tvrdik farm in Lake Mary Township. They were blessed with four children, Susanne, Tammy, Jeffrey and Steven. Gwen spent many years raising her children and making a good home for them. In 1994 she went to work at AmericInn as head housekeeper. In 1999 Gwen and Bud moved off the home farm to a home on Chickadee Lane on the west side of Lake Mary. She retired from AmericInn in 2002.

Gwen was a longtime member of the VFW Auxiliary and of Calvary Lutheran Church. She loved gardening. Gwen raised flowers and vegetables and liked to use what she grew to create gourd, pumpkin and flower arrangements. Gwen enjoyed her cats, Bonnie and Clyde, and enjoyed collecting figurines of owls. Gwen had fun bowling in a league, going to the casino and playing bingo. Gwen loved her children and especially loved time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her parents, Ma and Pa Grosz; one infant sister, Sally Grosz; and one infant granddaughter, Amy Smedstad, preceded her in death.

Gwen is survived by her loving husband, Bud Tvrdik of Alexandria; two daughters, Susanne Bruss and husband, Brad, of Olathe, KS and Tammy Smedstad and husband, Scott, of Lowry; two sons, Jeffrey Tvrdik and wife Christy, of Alexandria and Steven of Alexandria; seven grandchildren, Brent Bruss and wife, Julie, Stephanie Bowers and husband, Donnie, Sara Smedstad and fiancé, John Robbins, Eric Smedstad, Kathleen Tvrdik, Lisa Tvrdik and Alison Tvrdik; four great-granddaughters, Avery and Brooklyn Bowers and Halle and Hannah Bruss; two sisters, Helen Lake of Alexandria and Kathleen Ferson and husband Ron of Alexandria; and one brother, Ben Grosz of Arizona and South Dakota.

A funeral service was held Friday, February 24 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lowry. The Rev. John Lee officiated. Ann Foley and Linda Muchow provided music. Interment followed at the Bohemian Independent Cemetery near Lowry. Casket bearers included Brad Lake, Bill Lake, James Schmidt, Doug Bitzan, Travis Gease and Chad Bruzek. Honorary casket bearers included all of Gwen’s grandchildren and their spouses, and Gwen’s great-granddaughters.

Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria; www.andersonfuneral.net.

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