Helen Agnes Asplund

Helen Agnes (Rudnicki) Asplund, age 94 went home to be with the lord on March 26, 2013. She was the sixth of eleven children born to Stanley J. and Mary (Landowski) Rudnicki on November 2, 1918 in Avon Minnesota. She married DuWayne Hassler on June 21, 1937. DuWayne was killed in a construction accident on August 15, 1939. One child was born to this union, Theresa. Helen later married Herbert Asplund on November 8, 1941 and to this union three daughters were born; Kathleen, Irene and Beverly. Helen enjoyed crocheting, weaving rugs, vegetable and flower gardening, casino trips, playing cards with friends and baking. A specialty was her "apple pie bars" which she enjoyed sharing. She had jobs cooking at the Park Cafe in Braham, and Hillcrest Nursing Home in Rush City. She enjoyed making birthday cakes for everyone and bringing apple pie bars and different fruit breads to the center as a special treat. A faithful member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Helen donated rugs and afghans for raffles and also apple pie bars for the men's club. They seemed to enjoy them very much. Helen was a kind, gentle and a caring lady with great patience. If anyone needed something done, they would ask her and she would be more than happy to help. Helen is preceded in death by husbands: DuWayne Hassler and Herbert Asplund; daughter Kathleen Hockaday Vaughn, brother and sister-in-laws: John (Harriet) Rudnicki, Leo (Frances) Rudnicki, Stanley, Francis and Alois Rudnicki; sister and brother-in-laws: Sophia (Tony) Wojciehowski, Alma (Emmanuel) Pierskalla, Eleanor Lubbesmeier, Maurice Holliday, and Archie Jonas. She is survived by daughters Theresa Pearson of Mora, Irene (Bob) Haugen of Pine City and Beverly (John) Larson of North Branch; grandchildren: Kevin (Barb) Olson of Red Wing, Sandy (Chip) Hart of Ogilvie, Keith (Marcia) Olson of Springfield, Lori (Alden) Shute of Duxbury, Robbie (Diane) Hockaday of North Carolina, Shelly (Dave) Reichkitzer, Dodi (Troy) Gulliams of Blanco, Texas, Christine (Greg) Jeffrey of Woodbury; great grandchildren: Kyra & Jake Olson, Jeremiah, Victoria & Sarah Hammel, Jacque & Bryce Olson, Chris Hockaday, Rebecca Desjardins & Catherine Nelson, Megan Allerton & Chelsea Kaelbi, Kaily Frederick & Tyler Campbell, Emily & Elizabeth Jeffrey; 13 great great grandchildren; sisters: Martha Holliday of Grasston, Ann Jonas of Avon; sister-in-law Emily Rudnicki of Avon; brother-in-law Bud Lubbesmeier of St Cloud, many nieces, nephews and friends. Helen will be greatly missed by everyone. Father Xavier Thelakkatt will officiate a Mass of Christian Burial; 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 1, 2013, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rush City. Visitation will be one hour prior to the mass at the church. Memorials to Fairview Hospice are preferred to flowers. Funeral arrangements for Helen Asplund were entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service, Olson Chapel of Rush City. www.funeralandcremationservice.com