Leona Martha Cruze (Rudnicki) passed away peacefully on Friday, October 16, 2015 at the age of 95. Leona was born in Morris, Minnesota June 27th, 1920 to parents Susan Rudnicki (Czech) of Waverly, Minnesota and Jacob Rudnicki of Galicia, Austria. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Morris in May of 1938. She then entered St. Vincent’s School of Nursing later that year and graduated in 1941 with a degree in Nursing. She met Carl P. Cruze of Morris and the couple married on September 9, 1942. The couple lived in Morris until 1974 when they moved to Paynesville.
Leona loved her family and enjoyed spending time with everyone. Her love of children was sparked by her vocation as a nurse at the Stevens County Hospital where she worked in the nursery for 10 years. She was a devoted wife and mother of 10, and loved the many Cruze and Rudnicki family get togethers. She enjoyed playing bingo, poker, going on trips and loved her faith. For her 88th birthday, her family made a movie of her life which was shown on the big screen at the local theater for friends and family to enjoy. It was a thrilling experience and one that she talked about often.
Leona was preceded in death by her parents Susan and Jacob, her siblings; Leo, Joseph, Frank, Marie, Sylvester, Edward, Raymond, Josephine, Anselm, Genevieve, Angeline, Paul and Charles; her husband Carl and son John. She is survived by her children; Roger (Gloria) St. Louis Park, MN, Michael (Jan) Litchfield, MN, Diane Calaway (Bob) Atwater, CA, Patrick (Kathy) St. Cloud, MN, Tony (Sharon) Willmar, MN, Art, Paynesville, MN, Marie Jennings (Steve) Richmond, MN, Greg (Kari) Cold Spring, MN, Richard Sauk Rapids, MN, 24 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.
Visitation was at the Johnson Funeral Home in Paynesville Sunday, October 25th from 4 pm to 7 pm. Mass of Christian Burial was at 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 26th at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville, where visitation was held one hour prior to the service. Burial was in the church cemetery Tuesday, October 27th at 10:00 am.