Evelyn Gertrude Weinzetl

Evelyn Weinzetl, age 94, of Bird Island, died Monday, August 5, 2024 at Prairie View of Hector. Mass of Christian Burial is Monday, August 19, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bird Island with Rev. George Schmit as celebrant. Burial is in the church cemetery. Visitation is Sunday, August 18, 2024 from 4-6 p.m. at Dirks-Blem Funeral Home in Olivia and continues for one hour prior to the service at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Mary’s School in Bird Island.

Evelyn Gertrude Weinzetl was born July 25, 1930 in Olivia, Minnesota to Rudolph and Wilhelmina (Prokosch) Karnik.   She grew up north of Bird Island and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Bird Island.  Evelyn married Leon Weinzetl on June 24, 1950 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bird Island and they were blessed with five sons.  She was a cook at St. Mary’s for 35 years, with 29 of those as the head cook.  Evelyn enjoyed fishing and would often talk about fishing in her daily journal.  She spent many hours each week reading books.  Evelyn was always up for a good card game with family and friends.  She was well known for her famous potato salad recipe and had made it for many events over the years.  Evelyn was a lifelong and faithful member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Evelyn is survived by her four sons: Jim Weinzetl of Bird Island, Joe (and Kathi) Weinzetl of Eagan, John (and Barb) Weinzetl of Crosslake, and Jeff Weinzetl (and special friend Lori) of Annandale; her daughter-in-law Joyce Weinzetl of St. Cloud; her nine grandchildren: Jamie, Molly, Kellie, Michelle, Heidi, Gabrielle, Brian, DaCota, and Sterling and many great-grandchildren.  Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, her son Jerry in 1981, her husband Leon in 2010 and her two siblings: Elaine (and Marlin) Kiecker and Gerald Karnik.