Elaine Gurene Tesch, age 89, of Mankato, formerly of New Richland, MN, died Thursday, October 2, 2014 at her daughter’ s home in Mankato. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 6, 2014 at 2 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf. Visitation will be Sunday, October 5, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church. Pastor Michael Mathews will officiate and interment will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery in Waldorf.  Please see www.brussheitner.com to leave online condolences. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home of Wells is in charge of arrangements.

Elaine Gurene Tesch was born December 13, 1924, the daughter of Herman and Lydia (Maurer) Heitner. Elaine was baptized and confirmed by Pastor Ackerman in Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mankato. Elaine graduated from Mankato Senior High, the class of 1942. On June 10, 1945 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in North Mankato, MN, she was united in marriage to John Tesch, which was performed by Elaine’s brother, the Rev. Donald Heitner. John and Elaine purchased and farmed the family farm which became a “Century Farm” in 2007. She was a 4-H leader and a member of Senior Citizens. Elaine enjoyed her Church activities. She was a Sunday school teacher for many years. She was active in the Ladies Aid and Lutheran Women’s Missionary League holding various offices throughout the years. She loved visiting, helping family and friends, playing cards with her friends and traveling to be with family and friends. No one was ever a stranger!

Elaine is survived by her children: “Geri” Gurene (Larry) Putz of Brooten, MN; Joan (Jim) Lewer of Omaha, NE; “Stan” Stanley (Donna) Tesch of Plainview, MN; and “BJ” Beverly Tesch (Aimee Kenne) of Mankato, MN; 8 grandchildren: Cynthia (Jonahan) Putz-Yang, Gloria (ted) Trustheim, Katherine (John) Davenport, Joshua (Melissa) Lewer, Carolyn (Glen) Miles, Elizabeth Lewer, Jeremy (Brenda) Tesch, Brian (Kristen) Tesch;   16 great-grandchildren: Noah, Micah ,Faith: Lydia, Jared, Madeline, Justin, Mason; Stephanie, Jacob, Holly; Jordan, Thyre, Elissa; Riley, Shelby: 2 sisters-in-law: Anna Worke of Waseca and Rosie Fogal of Owatonna.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers: Donald and Harley Heitner; 2 foster brothers: Daryl Arbuckle and William “Bill” Holister; husband John and an infant great-granddaughter, Julia Lewer.

Thank you and God bless Hospice of the Valley: Pam, Hilary, Lisa, Cherie’ and Angela.