Emma Schweighofer

Emma Agnes (Block) Schweighofer was born on November 5, 1915 in St. Paul, MN to Adam and Mary (Herman) Block. She was born the oldest of eight children and grew up on a small vegetable farm in rural St. Paul. After Emma?s schooling she worked at Brown and Bigelow and Fanny Farmer Candy Company. Emma met Raymond Schweighofer at a New Year?s Eve dance and became engaged a year later. Emma was united in marriage to Raymond on September 30, 1939 at St. Bernard?s Catholic Church in St. Paul. The couple continued to live in St. Paul where they started their family. Emma was a homemaker and cared for their four children. In 1950, the family moved to St. Cloud. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1989. After Raymond?s death in 1990, Emma moved to Alexandria where she enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Emma was very active in her children?s school actives, and their church where she was a member of the Christian Mothers and the Daughters of Isabella. She also loved to take the family fishing and camping. They also enjoyed traveling the 48 states and Europe. Emma and Raymond loved long blade ice dancing, which they did until they were in there 70?s. Emma also enjoyed sewing, knitting, needlecraft, and reading. Emma died on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at the Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria at the age of 92. She is survived by her children, Jeanette Ollig of Alexandria, Maryterese (Richard) Synstelien of Brooklyn Park, Mark (Irma) Schweighofer of San Antonio, TX and Diane (Ron) Zellers of Kalamazoo, MI; 15 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren; sisters, Betty (George) Pokorny of Stillwater, MN and Lillian Gabby of South Carolina. Emma is preceded in death by her parents, Adam and Mary; husband, Raymond; brothers and sisters, Rose, Ernest, Martin, Lillian, Adam, and Donald; grandson, David; and great-grandson, Luke. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, August 30, 2008 at St. Mary?s Catholic Church in Alexandria with Reverend Steve Binsfeld officiating. Entombment was held in the Assumption Cemetery in St. Cloud, MN. Casket bearers were Emma?s grandsons, Steve Ollig, Rick Ollig, Eric Synstelien, Paul Ollig, Chris Ollig, Jeremy Zellers, Josh Zellers, and Ben Zellers. Honorary Casketbearers were Emma?s granddaughters, Janinie Renslow and Jennifer Gillard. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria.