Josephine Kleinvachter

Josephine H. "Jo" Kleinvachter, age 83, of Sauk Centre died Monday, January 9, 2012 at St. Michael's Nursing Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 14 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. The Rev. James Statz will officiate. Private interment will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls.Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service Saturday.

Josephine Honora Kleinvachter was born on May 25, 1928 in Strandquist, Minnesota to John and Lydia (Sundmark) McNamara. On January 6, 1951 she married James Kleinvachter in Thief River Falls. The couple resided in Thief River Falls, St. Cloud, Crookston, Detroit Lakes, and a short time in Knob Noster, Missouri before moving to Sauk Centre in 1961. They owned and operated the Gateway Resort on Sauk Lake from 1975 until they retired in 2000 and moved to Sauk Centre. Since December, 2010 she had resided at St. Michael's Nursing Home.

Jo had been a volunteer at Holy Family School and was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, and American Legion Post 67 Auxiliary.

Survivors include four children, Mary (Jim) Oliver of Little Falls, LuAnn (Mike) Rohr of Corinth, Texas, Gary Kleinvachter of Sauk Centre, Brian Kleinvachter of Cabot, Arkansas; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sisters, Janet Stanina of Pengilly and Dorothy Woodridge of Sacramento, California.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jim Kleinvachter on June 14, 2011; sister, Katherine McNamara; brothers, John, William, LeRoy, Frankie and Ralph McNamara.Serving as casket bearers will be Jim Oliver, Shawn Wunderlich, Jennifer Wiederhold, Eric Rohr, David Hauswirth and Paul Stanina.

Serving as cross bearer will be Stephanie Wunderlich and honorary bearers will be Darrell Wunderlich, Christopher Wunderlich, Nancy Pirkey, Ryan Kleinvachter, Neil Kleinvachter, Cody Kleinvachter, David Wunderlich, Natalie Pirkey, Crystal Wunderlich, Jacie Pirkey, Isaiah Merrick, Ellie Stone, Maeve Rohr, and Annabelle Kleinvachter.