Theresa Marohn, age 96, of South Haven died Sunday, December 4, at St. John's Hospital, Maplewood.

     Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 10, 2011 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Kimball with Rev. Dave Milz officiating. Burial will follow at Kimball Cemetery. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Friday at the Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel, Annandale and at the church one hour prior to services. There will be a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the visitation.

     Theresa Martha Marie Marohn was born on January 9, 1915 in the large bedroom of a dignified old 19th c. farmhouse on a bountiful farm located by the Platte River near Grand Island, Nebraska. She was the seventh child of Ida Steinbeck and John Geisinger who would eventually have 12 children. Her parents spoke German to each other, and they attended German services at the Lutheran Church. Both sets of her grandparents had emigrated to America from Germany. Theresa recalled her childhood as "really happy."  She described herself as a tomboy who wore overalls and rode horses, but by time her family moved to Minnesota in the late 1920s she was becoming a stylish young lady. She soon met Herbert Walter Albert Marohn who, she said, looked like he stepped out of a movie. Theresa and Herb were married on August 7, 1932 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Middleville Township, Wright County.

     Theresa remained a devout Lutheran all her life and became involved in many church activities. She would not have thought of missing church or forgetting to say her prayers. Her genuine goodness radiated throughout her family drawing her children and grandchildren to her side. Friends and family who came by could be sure she would cook them a delicious meal complete with home baked bread, pie and cookies. She loved flowers and was a great gardener who canned beautiful jars of her garden vegetables and fruit -- peaches, tomatoes, beets and pickles. She kept a fine house, decorated it herself, never lost her interest in fashion, embroidered and quilted, raised chickens, watched political developments and capably covered the homefront in every way while Herbert managed increasingly larger businesses. Her finest talent was for bringing up children -- often telling them how good they were. Mom was the center of our lives; she set the standards which we all tried to follow. She joined Herb for innumerable adventuresome hunting and fishing trips up north and into Canada. Theresa was a happy person who loved to laugh. She gave freely of herself and always looked at the bright side. People loved her for her upbeat take on life and were inspired by her.

     She is survived by four children and their spouses -- Mary Lou Carlson of Kerkoven, Deanna and John Bendix of Waseca, Dale and Carol Marohn of South Haven, Kathleen and William Brown of Shoreview, brothers Arthur (Ruby) Geisinger  and Glen (Lois) Geisinger, 13 grandchildren -- Barry, Craig, Robin, Dan, Linette, Stephanie, Katherine, John, Kristen, Darin, Nicholas, Benjamin and William, 25 great grandchildren and 13 great great grandchildren. Theresa was preceded in death by her husband Herbert on May 16, 2002, infant son Donald, infant grandchildren Theresa and Lance, son-in-law Richard Carlson, brothers Harry, Alfred, Earl, George and Joe Geisinger and sisters Viola Hackbarth, Frieda Behneke, Agnes Sundermeier and Lydia Geisinger.

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