Loretta Kilanowski, 87

Loretta Elizabeth Kilanowski, 87, Parkers Prairie, died Thursday, September 24, 2009 at St. William’s Living Center.

Loretta was born December 31, 1921 to Paul J. and Eleanor (Riedner) Rudek near Royalton in Morrison County. She was 4 years old when her family moved to a farm near Randall, where she grew up with her seven brothers and three sisters. She attended country school and Little Falls High School. Following her education she worked as a housekeeper.

She married Sam Kilanowski on October 1, 1941 in Randall. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Chaska where Sam found work on a large farm and Loretta was chief cook for the farm workers. During WWII, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, they packed all they owned into their car with a rumble seat and set out for San Diego. They found work at Consolidated Air Craft where Sam worked on B24s and Loretta on B36s. Loretta returned to Minnesota when her husband was drafted.

They moved to Little Falls in 1945 where they raised their family. She worked as a professional nanny after her children were grown. Her husband, Sam, died in 1985. Following his death she continued living in Pine Grove Manor until moving to Parkers Prairie in 2005. She moved into St. William’s Living Center in 2007, where she remained until her death. She enjoyed craftwork, sewing, gardening and cooking for her family and was an enthusiastic world traveler.

Loretta is survived by four daughters, Elizabeth (Bert Rubash) Kilanowski of Bellingham, Washington, Irene (Peter Hartwig) of Ely, Theresa (Dennis) Behnke of Parkers Prairie and Rose Mary Kilanowski of Little Falls; two sons, Robert Kilanowski of Little Falls and Samuel (Dana) Kilanowski of Palm Dale, California; sisters, Margaret May and Delores (Bill) Kay, both of Little Falls; brothers, Larry (Lavina) Rudek of Dillworth and Art Rudek of Little Falls; sister-in-law, Delores Rudek of Little Falls; two grandchildren, Kristie (Kris) Steinmann and Samantha Kilanowski; four great-grandchildren, Asiah Giuntoni, Aiden Steinmann, Alexis Giuntoni and Hunter Sam Steinmann.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, five brothers and a sister.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, October 12 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls.

Arrangements are by Lind Family Funeral Service with chapels in Miltona and Parkers Prairie, www.lindfamilyfuneralservice.com.

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