Gertrude (Trudy) Mae Wolterstorff Jewell was born June 17, 1926, in Woodbury MN to George and Gertrude Wolterstorff. She was the seventh child of ten. She married the love of her life Ralph Jewell on July 3, 1946, at the Woodbury Methodist Church. They shared a life together for 54 years. She has six children: Judy (Larry) Plank of Rochester, MN; Bonnie (Bill) Lee of Evergreen, Co; Ralph Jr. (Deb) of Rochester, MN; Roxana (Jack) of Pueblo, Co; Steve (Katrina) of Fredericksburg, Va; and Bob (Barb) of Cordova, Ak. She has 15 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Trudy grew up going to Woodbury Methodist Church. After their marriage they moved to St. Paul, and they attended Hamlin Methodist Church. In 1962 they family moved to Rochester and became members of Christ United Methodist Church. She enjoyed attending and participating in church activities until her health no longer allowed her to attend. She loved it when the four generations attended church together.
Ralph and Trudy loved to camp. As a family they would take the camper called “The little Red Caboose” up north to fish or travel to other Midwest states. They upgraded to a pop-up-trailer, a conversion van and then to the motor home that gave them the opportunity to travel across the county during the summers. With children living in different area in the U.S. they were able to travel in all directions. When not in a camper you would find them on the Mississippi River, Ralph fishing and Trudy sitting on the beach doing needle work and watching for eagles. Trudy loved her Twins, attending games at all three stadiums and watching on TV whenever she could.
Trudy loved to quilt and knit. She knit sweaters, hats, mittens and scarves for all her children. She started quilting when she and Judy attended a quilting introduction meeting in 1977. They then joined the Quilters’ Sewciety, both were hooked on a shared hobby. Trudy was a beautiful hand appliquer and made many beautiful quilts for family and friends. She was a member of the Castle quilters at the senior center, and a small group that met on Wednesday afternoons. Her quilting also gave her the opportunity to make quilts for the organizations in need of a quilt to give comfort to others.
She will be missed as a beloved mother who gave time, talents and energy to her children and grandchildren. A woman who believed in helping whenever she saw a need. She ended her life as she lived her life appreciating everyone and thanking them for all they did for her.
She was proceeded in death by her loving husband Ralph, her parents, siblings: Lois, Clifford, Robert, Vera, Edith, Betty, Ann, Kenny and Don, and grandson Brent Jewell.
A celebration of life will take place on June 8, 2024 at 11:00am in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home. A visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
The family would like to thank Shorewood and Comfort Health Care for the wonderful caring service they gave to Trudy. They made the transition from independent living to assisted living and to Reflections memory care effortless. Staff were always there to help Trudy when needed, with dignity until her last breath. Their loving care of our mother is greatly appreciated.
Memorial can be sent to Christ United Methodist Church.
Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com
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