Valeria Martha Poehler Weindorf history and obituary

I was born on December 8, 1932, on a farm bordering the Minnesota River, about 2 and a half miles from a tiny town named Courtland.  Courtland, MN, is about half way between New Ulm and Nicollet on US Hwy 14.  My parents were Carl Poehler and Martha Fluegge Fischer Poehler.  I was the youngest of seven children.  One sister, Gertrude, was deceased having died at the age of one of pneumonia. The names of my siblings are Harold Fischer and Lorraine Fischer Geisthardt, born to my mother from her first marriage to Herman Fischer, who died when Harold was three and Lorraine six months.

My mother then married my father in 1921.  The children born to them were Dolores, Gertrude, Esther, Marion and Valeria, me.

I was baptized on December 18, 1932, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, a country church near Courtland by Pastor Henry Strassen.  I attended parochial grade school at Immanuel School until the 5 ^th grade.  When I was ten and in the 6 ^th grade my family left the farm and moved to New Ulm, MN.  Esther, Marion, and I were the children left at home, the older three having married.  I finished grade school at St. Paul's Lutheran School and was confirmed in St. Paul's Lutheran Church in New Ulm, April 14, 1946.

My high school years were at Dr. Martin Luther College High School Department graduating in 1950.

I then attended the Swedish Hospital School Of Nursing in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  I graduated September 6, 1953, and became a Registered Nurse in which profession I was employed for many years.

On June 13, 1954, I was married to Luther Weindorf at my home church, St. Paul's Lutheran Church in New Ulm, MN.  Luther had just graduated from Northwestern College in Watertown, WI.  We were blessed with five children; Paul (Christie), Thomas, Mark (Eva), Hans (Robin), Annette Weindorf Anderson (Eric). Our grandchildren are Mary Jo, Michael, Steven, Linda, Jonathan, Sarah, Luke, Allison, Adam, Allanis, and two great- grandsons, Alexander and Bruce.

Luther and I spent the first four years at East Fork Lutheran Mission in Apache Land, AZ, where Luther taught languages in the high school.  While at East Fork Mission, we were blessed with two sons, Paul and Thomas.  Luther then attended Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary at Mequon, WI, and was graduated in 1960.  He was ordained into the Holy Ministry and was called to be a missionary to Japan.  We served at Tokyo, Mito City and Tsuchiura.  Our son, Mark, was born while we lived in Mito City. In 1963 we moved to Tsuchiura and were privileged to construct a parsonage and small chapel.  We had a white lighted cross on the steeple of the chapel which could be seen miles away.  It was really very special to us and to our Japanese flock.

In 1966 we moved to Seattle, WA and served at Grace Lutheran Church.  It was during this time that Hans and Annette were added to our family.

In 1975 we moved to Upper Michigan and served at St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Gladstone and St. Martin's Lutheran Church of Rapid River.

In 1978 we moved to California and settled in Sylmar.  In California, we served at Messiah Lutheran Church, N. Hollywood.  A parochial school was also built then and our son, Thomas, became the first teacher.  Among his pupils were his brother Hans and sister Annette.  We served at Messiah Church until 1996 when Luther retired from the ministry.  We then moved to Mount Vernon, WA, where we spent our retirement years.

God called Valeria Weindorf home to heaven on August 7, 2017, at Skagit Valley Hospital.

"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." Revelation 14 v.13.

Please send all donations for the memorial wreath to California Lutheran High School 39170 Central Ave. PO BOX 1570 Wildomar, CA 92595 (951) 678-7000 for the dormitory building fund.