Adeline Wolbeck

Lifelong Sauk Centre resident, Adeline Regine Wolbeck, age 84, was reunited with the love of her life, her late husband, Christian, on Christmas morning, 2015.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 p.m. Tuesday, December 29 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Greg Paffel officiating. Interment will be at St. Paul's Cemetery in Sauk Centre.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be held at 4 p.m. followed by the United Auxiliaries prayer service at 6 p.m. and Christian Mothers at 7 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.

Born the youngest of eight children to Mathew and Katherine (Helten) Michels in Sauk Centre on May 20, 1931, Adeline established her independent and adventurous spirit early, despite the ever-present watchful eyes of her doting siblings. Adeline began working at the Sauk Centre Creamery before marrying Christian. She also dabbled in entrepreneurship as owner of the Hilltop Grocery and drove truck in the family business before beginning her 20-year career at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Sauk Centre. Adeline's compassion for the kids there led her to pursue a degree in Behavioral Sociology, all while balancing her work and raising eight children.

Whether pulling up to the Ding Dong Café in the Wolbeck Construction dump truck for coffee and conversation or catching a ride to the Mainstreet Coffee Company for a game of dice with friends, throughout her life Adeline always found time to share her joyous spirit with others. As a champion of the kids at the "Home School," it was not unusual for her to invite kids from the Correctional Facility who had no real home of their own to join the Wolbecks for Christmas dinner. She also started day camp exchanges that served to create connections between children in the local schools with those at the Home School. Adeline was a gardener, all-season camper, smelt fisher, and serious bowler. She stayed active in retirement, taking road trips with friends, and in doing so, once even slightly disobeyed the advice of her physician, Dr. Sayovitz, whom she respected and adored.

Adeline leaves behind a loving, close-knit family, including: Kathy Smith of Bonita Springs, FL; Richard (Elizabeth) Wolbeck of Sauk Centre, James (Lisa) Wolbeck of Sauk Centre; Mary (Gary) Metcalf of East Grand Forks, MN; Suzanne (William) Kvas of Eagan, MN; Joseph (Melanie) Wolbeck of Lino Lakes, MN; and Christina (Timothy) Gapinski of Sauk Centre, MN. She is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. Adeline always remembered each and every birthday. Her capacity for love kept pace with the growth of her adoring family and continues to grow through them.

Adeline was preceded in death by her loving husband, Christian, and their son, Michael, as well as her parents, brothers Joseph, Albert, Charlie, Leo, and Walter Michels; and sisters Margaret Scott and Evelyn Dowell.

Memorials are preferred to the Eagles Healing Nest, Sauk Centre, Minnesota.