Tracy Lee Sowada

Tracy Sowada of Pine City, passed away Thursday (1/1/15) very unexpectedly at her home on Pokegama Lake; at the age of 50. Tracy was born March 7, 1964 in California, and later raised in Cold Spring and Blaine, Minnesota. She left us suddenly on January 1, 2015 at the very young age of 50. Growing up in Blaine, she loved making forts across the street, playing hockey, camping in the backyard, and lip syncing to her favorite songs. Tracy was in the Spring Lake Park High School graduating class of 1984. She was a long term employee of Micro-Matics in Fridley and later worked in bank positions in Pine City and Cambridge. Tracy, and the love of her life John, bought their first home in Fridley, later built a home in East Bethel where they started their family and finally landed in their favorite place on the westside (the good side to all of you eastsiders!!!) of Lake Pokegama near Pine City. Oh buoy! Where to start. Tracy didn’t care what people thought, always spoke her mind (time to change her mouth filter?), and enjoyed life. As a family, her, John, and the kids had many opportunities to travel. She loved having her kids with her to experience new places and cultures. She loved to snowmobile, golf and dance (you knew when Tracy liked a song because she couldn’t sit still; the happy feet came out). One of her favorite places to go was nearby Muffies where she was known to make up her own menu items : “I’ll have half a grilled cheese sandwich and one tater tot”. Ladies golf league and the annual girl’s golf weekends were some of her best times with close friends, and even though her golf game was not the best, her golf partner/sidekick, Suey, wouldn’t let her give up. Also, you’d know if she found something funny (usually herself) because you could hear her laugh across the entire golf course. Tracy loved her three grandbabies, though they would wear her out with all the piano playing and dancing in the living room and blowing bubbles on the deck. That workout was even better than her regular exercise routine – walking to the mailbox. Tracy is survived by her husband John of 31 years, their children Lucas (LeAnna) and Jolene (Ben Buckrey), grandchildren Gage, Mackenzie and Harper Sowada, father Wayne Rutzen of Blaine Minnesota, sisters Jessie (Bret) Norton of Zimmerman Minnesota, Lori (Mike) Wetzler of Casper, Wyoming , brothers Paul (Nicole) Rutzen of Edina Minnesota, and Mark (Michele) Rutzen of Jacksonville Forida, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her favorite angel and mother, Gloria Rutzen. Father Thomas Dufner will celebrate a memorial mass; 10:30 a.m., Friday, (1/9/15), at the Church of the Epiphany- (1900 111th Ave NW Coon Rapids MN 55433 The church is located at the corner of Hanson Blvd and 111th Ave NW Coon Rapids) with a visitation one hour prior and also Thursday evening from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Swanson Funeral Chapel of Pine City. Interment will be in the Epiphany Catholic Cemetery next to the church. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society. Funeral arrangements for Tracy Sowada of Pine City are entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City, Swanson Chapel. www.funeralandcremationservice.com