Viola “Vi” Gunsolus, age 85, of Pemberton, passed away unexpectantly and peacefully with her children by her side on June 28, 2019, at Mayo Clinic Heath System in Mankato.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2, at Medo Lutheran Church in rural Pemberton. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Monday, July 1, at Starkson & Steffel Funeral Home-Arnoldt Chapel of Janesville. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.
Viola Elizabeth was born on March 29th, 1934, in rural Pemberton to Clarence and Louise (Sodeman) Bjornson. She attended Pemberton High school and graduated with the class of 1952. Following her education, she worked in Minneapolis for a short time until being united in marriage to Neal Gunsolus on January 23, 1954. Together they made their home in rural Pemberton where they built a home and raised two children. Together they shared 37 years of marriage before Neal passed away in January of 1987. Vi worked various jobs, including: EF Johnson Company in Waseca, Gull Engineering in Minneapolis and Itron in Waseca.
Vi had many passions, some of those included: traveling to her heritage country of Norway with her husband and friend, trips to Las Vegas, Florida, Hawaii and Alaska with her sisters. She had a creative talent and passion for baking, especially wedding cakes for her children’s weddings. Vi was a master at hardanger, rosemaling, ceramics, sewing, gardening, canning her famous tomato soup, making lefsa, and rosettes to name a few. Her passion for beauty was always about trees, fluffy white clouds, old barns, birds and flowers. She loved her church where she was active as a Sunday School Teacher, singing in the choir, ladies’ aide, and the Medo Lutheran Annual Lutefisk Supper, which she led the cooking for over 30 years. She was a proud member of The Sons of Norway for 45 years. Vi will be remembered for her creative spirit, attention to detail and her positive personality that resonated throughout her family and friends. She will be dearly missed.
Vi lovingly leaves behind a son Terry (Tammie) Gunsolus of Pemberton, daughter Gail (Joe) Schmidt of New Richland; five grandchildren: Dan (Tina) Schmidt, Trent Gunsolus, Travis (Kristin) Gunsolus, Tyler (Megan) Gunsolus and Tricia (Jake) Fritz. seven great-grandchildren, Tayler and Brendan Schmidt, Paige, Brielle, Ruby, Colin and Lucas Gunsolus; siblings: Harlan Bjornson, Glen (Carole) Bjornson, Percy (Debbie) Bjornson, Delilah (Gerald) Kollos, JoAnne (Max) Thompson, special friend Bill and many many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Her love was endless and loved them all with her whole heart.
She was preceded in death by her parents, in-laws, husband, sister LouElla Schroeder, brother Lawrence Bjornson, brother-in-law, Jim Schroeder and nephew: Bryron Schroeder.
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