Yvonne “Vonnie” C. Windschitl, age 82 of Sleepy Eye, died on April 13, 2023, at Divine Providence Community Home. Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 16, 2023, from 2:00 to 6:00 PM at Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel with Parish Prayers at 2:00 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church-Sleepy Eye in the North Entrance. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, April 17, 2023, at 10:30 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye with Father Mark Steffl officiating. The service will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/stmarysleepyeye/live. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
Yvonne “Vonnie” Catherine (Meidl) Windschitl, the daughter of Hugo and Mary (Saffert) Meidl, was born in New Ulm, MN, on January 1, 1941. She was raised with her twelve siblings in New Ulm and graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1959. Following graduation, Vonnie worked as a laboratory technician at Minnesota Valley Testing Lab. During this time, she married the love of her life, Harold Windschitl on September 1, 1962. This union was blessed with three children, Laurie, Lester, and Larry. While her children were growing, Vonnie enjoyed being home and caring for her family. In 1977, she returned to her previous job and in 1987, she worked as a scanning coordinator and cashier at various grocery stores in Sleepy Eye until her retirement.
Using her talents and creativity, Vonnie loved spending her time as an accomplished seamstress. Knitting and embroidery kept her busy as well. She could often be found in her kitchen cooking, baking, decorating cakes, and making candy. An avid gardener, she found great joy in sharing her garden produce with countless others. Camping was another favorite pastime of hers.
Being a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Vonnie had a servant’s heart and readily shared her time in many ways with St. Mary’s church and school as well as with Divine Providence Community Home. She was a friend to many and cherished the time spent having coffee, going to Bible study, and visiting. Vonnie found great purpose and value in the life she shared with Harold, raising their family, and later, being a grandma and great-grandma, two roles she absolutely cherished. Vonnie leaves a legacy of love, faith, and service to others, and she will be missed beyond measure.
Vonnie is survived by her husband of 61 years, Harold Windschitl of Sleepy Eye, MN; children, Laurie (Tim) Lundstrom of West Fargo, ND, Lester Windschitl of Mankato, MN, and Larry (Sharon) Windschitl of Davenport, IA; grandchildren, Scott Stage, Jon Stage, Jocelyn (Chad) Ziegler, Joe Stage, Brittany Thoms, Emily (Dan) Wenninger, Derek (Kyla) Windschitl, Nicole (Chris) Baker, Ashley (Nick) Bennett, and Dr. Leigh (Dr. Connor) Davis; great-grandchildren, Kyle, Yvonne, Emma, Chloe, and Phoebe Ziegler, Jasmyne Windschitl, Joey Lee, Paige Thoms, Sylas and Amelia Windschitl, Bryson, Keaton, and Sophia Windschitl, and Zachary Baker; sisters, Lois Johnston and Lorraine Schroepfer; brothers, Paul (Joey) Meidl and Ray Meidl; and sisters-in-law, Rita Meidl and Barbara Windschitl.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Walter Meidl, Hugo Meidl and wife Ann, and Martin Meidl and wife Beth; sisters, Catherine Arndt and husband Teddy, Donna Windhorn and husband Delmar, Doris Saffert and husband Gilbert, Marlys Meidl, and Barbara Farrel and husbands Craig Farrel and Jerry Pelzel; sister-in-law, Lorraine Roiger and husband Arnold; and brothers-in-law, Ervin Windschitl, Jonny Johnston, Leo Schroepfer, and Leo VanKeulen.
