Rosie Drietz

Rosalia “Rosie” Drietz ('Boosha') was born May 25, 1924 near Wilno, Minnesota, the daughter of John and Josephine (Gawarecki) Lozinski. Rose was raised on the family farm on the north side of Drietz Lake, one mile east of Wilno. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno and also attended school there, where at the age of 12 began her life-long devotion as church organist. She remained loyal to that devotion until her stroke on May 28 2011.

On October 17, 1939 she married Clemence Drietz at St. John Cantius Catholic Church. Their union was blessed with 10 children and 65 years of life together. Clem and Rosie farmed near Taunton for five years. In 1946 they purchased their farm ten miles northwest of Lake Benton in Drammen Township. Here they raised their children, and grew their dairy operation to a herd of 60 Holstein cows, of which Rose was the main milker. After retiring from farming in 1986, they continued to reside on the farm where Rosie remained even after Clem's death in March of 2005. Rosie was a hard worker, and always had a well-groomed yard, abundant vegetable garden, and raised many beautiful flowers. Her greatest love and enjoyment, however, was providing for her family, as well as doing things for her church and her St. Genevieve church family along with other area Catholic churches. She loved when people 'dropped in,' and always had cookies, cake, homemade bread, rolls, doughnuts, etc. etc. etc. It didn’t matter what she was in the middle of—whether it was mowing the lawn, canning/freezing the vegetables, quilting, patching, shingling a roof, scraping a barn, or painting a house—she dropped what she was doing whenever anyone came by, and made sure that coffee was ready and lunch was on the table. But when she knew family was coming, she went 'all-out'! Then it was time for a celebration! Her children and grandchildren were her delight, and she loved spending time with them. She abundantly provided her family (and many others), with keepsakes of her cross stitching, crocheting, embroidery, and hand quilting creations, having put together and hand quilted over 300 quilts in the past 30 years.

Rosie suffered a severe stroke while at her home on May 28, 2011. In July of 2011 she became a resident of Sunrise Manor Nursing Home in Tyler, Minnesota. There she created new friendships with many caring staff members who often commented on her positive and light-hearted attitude. She treasured visits from family and friends and was always focused on recovery and returning to life at her farm home. Even though her stroke debilitated her physical and mental abilities, she was amazingly accurate on the lineage of family. Through it all, she maintained her strong faith in God and always had her rosary near. It was always difficult for Rosie to realize that her once active body would now remain in the confines of a wheelchair. Upon her departure from this earth, during a conversation between her grandchildren, a grandson reflected to a sibling, 'Do you think that Grandma walked or ran into the arms of Jesus?' And even though she could eat nothing by mouth for nearly three years following her stroke, she now enjoys the Banquet Feast prepared for her in Heaven.

Rosie passed away on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at the age of 89 years, 10 months, and 21 days. She is lovingly remembered by her children, Genevieve Woratschka and her husband Eric of Springfield, IL, Edward Drietz of Volga, SD, Leonard Drietz and his wife Patricia of Coon Rapids, MN, Florian Drietz and his wife Barbara of Laramie, WY, Catherine Reese of Russell, MN, Donald Drietz and his wife Helen of Lake Benton, MN, and Mary Sherrill of Garden Grove, CA; son-in-law Randy Meyer and his wife Nicole of Brookings, SD ; 20 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Clem; daughters Elizabeth Meyer and Patricia Drietz; an infant son, Vernon Joseph; her parents; sister Evelyn Guza; and brothers Willie, Thomas, and Aloise Lozinski.