Leora F Sunderman

Leora F. Sunderman (nee Kortan) age 82 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully at Timber Pines Memory care unit in Pine City on Tuesday October 22, 2024

Leora was born on Tuesday April 14, 1942 to Charles and Ann Kortan (nee Ostendorf) in Melrose, MN.  She was the third child of seven.  She spent her childhood in Sauk Centre, but attended Cathedral High School in St Cloud, MN.  After graduating high school, she started working as a telephone operator at Northwestern Bell Telephone in St. Cloud.  One summer day, as fate would have it, her future husband Kenneth J. Sunderman literally tripped over her at Fairy Lake. The rest, as the saying goes, is history. After a short courtship, they were married on July 13, 1963 at St Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre, MN.

Leora and Ken first lived in a little apartment, right across the street from Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church where they were members.  When the apartment became too small for their growing family, Leora and Ken moved into their new home on  North Birch Street where they lived for the rest of their lives. Life was straightforward. Ken worked at the Armory as a Technician and Leora worked at the Telephone office in town until it closed in 1984.  Their kids, Ty, Craig, and Gretchen, grew up, went off to college, and eventually moved away.

With the kids gone, Leora began working part-time at the library. She was a voracious reader and loved books, so it was a perfect fit. Tragically, Ken died in 1995 and left her a widow at age 52.  Her job at the library helped keep her busy after the terrible loss.  She never remarried and often remarked that marrying anyone after Ken would be like eating a warmed-up pancake – no good. Leora retired from the library in 2017

Over the years, Leora managed to travel a bit to visit her children wherever they happened to be living: California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Florida and even Spain! After she retired, she spent time at home with her books and her flowers. She started having some memory problems a few years back and was adamant that she wanted to stay in her home, the home she built with Ken. Thanks to the help of many, that wish was granted. Thank you to the folks at Sauk Centre Senior Alternative Care, Jason Bromenshenkel for yard and plowing, Jodie Deschene, Mary Meyer, Georgine Nathe and Kenny & Kathy Leukam, the extended Sunderman  and Kortan families and the countless other folks who helped her in her times of need. Just recently, Leora moved to a beautiful memory care facility at Timber Pines in Pine City, MN to be closer to her sons. She was cared for with the utmost kindness until her death.

Leora was preceded in death by her beloved husband Kenneth J., parents Charlie and Ann Kortan

She is survived by her sons Ty of Cambridge and Craig (Jean) also of Cambridge; daughter Gretchen Sunderman (Christopher Reenock) of Tallahassee, FL.

She has three grandchildren; Emily (Kyle) Grote of St. Cloud and Anna Sunderman  (Brandon Marshall) of Cleveland, MN and Cole K. Sunderman Reenock of Tallahassee, FL and one great-grandson Ken Grote.

She is also survived by her siblings; Charlie (Anita) Kortan of Osseo, MN. Elaine (Chuck) Yaggie of Sartell, MN. Rosemary Tountas of South Carolina, Gail (Tom) Schwanke of Andover, MN, Jim (Sandy)Kortan of Detroit Lakes, MN and Dave (Deb) Kortan of Coon Rapids, MN and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, relatives and friends.

A private graveside service with her immediate family was her preference.  She will be interred next to her husband at Calvary Cemetery in Sauk Centre when her family can all get together in May of 2025.

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