Vivian Koenecke

Vivian Koenecke, age 81, went home to be with her Lord on Thursday, August, 4, 2022.

Vivian (Bergeson) Koenecke was born in Esthervllle, Iowa on April 15, 1941, to Lester and Muriel Bergeson. She was baptized and confirmed at the Presbyterian Church in Gruver, Iowa, and then graduated from high school there in 1958. She attended Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, Iowa and graduated from Mankato State University in 1963. Before she was united in marriage to Dean Koenecke on August 15, 1965, she taught in Estherville, and Algona, Iowa and Mound, Minnesota.

The couple made their home in Apple Valley, Minnesota for twelve years while Vivian taught at Westview Elementary, and Dean worked for Red Owl Store, Inc. In 1977, Dean and Vivian moved to Alexandria, Minnesota where they co-owned a grocery store, and Vivian was a substitute teacher and did some tutoring at their home on Lake Louise. They moved to a townhome on Lake Cowdry, and Vivian taught at Washington School for twelve years until her retirement in May, 2001. Her love and concern for her students were important aspects of her life, as well as an appreciation and devotion to her husband, family, and friends. She enjoyed teaching Vacation Bible School for many years, and was a member of Evening Guild and Altar Guild at Zion Lutheran Church.

She enjoyed spending time traveling, reading, listening to Gospel music, feeding the birds, visiting with friends and relatives, and seeing the beautiful sunsets on the lake. Vivian will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by sister, Julie Clark and her husband, Larry from Estherville, Iowa; her sister-in-law, Dixie Bergeson from Ames, Iowa; and many special nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Dean; brother, Ken; and sisters, Bonnie and Ellen.

Interment will be at Lake Fremont Cemetery in Dunnell, Minnesota at a later date.

Memorial gifts may be given to Zion Lutheran School’s tuition fund.