Christel Connor, former longtime resident of Wrenshall, passed away peacefully Feb. 18, 2020, while residing in Stockton, California.

Christel was born May 5, 1922, in Krames, Germany and was married to Junior Connor of Wrenshall, whom she met while he served with the U.S. Army in Germany after World War II. They were married on June 29, 1948, in Assmannhausen, Germany, where Christel worked as an administrative clerk for the U.S. occupational forces. Christel would tell us kids that had Junior not come in every day to get his day orders from her, they would have never romanced and spend the next 70 years together.

Christel was a kindergarten teacher before the war. She worked briefly for Stearns in Carlton, and as a clerical assistant at Wrenshall High School. She was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Wrenshall for more than 50 years before moving to Stockton eight years ago; Christel served the church dutifully as a Sunday school teacher and was active in the ladies guild, quilting group, and other social activities. She was involved with the Boy Scouts as a den mother.

Christel came to America on a troop ship after she and Junior were married in 1948. They settled in Wrenshall, where Junior had grown up on a large farm. Christel took great pride in coming to America, and studied for 10 years to become a U.S. citizen in 1958. She taught us children to learn proper English and to never take anything for free. She never forgot a birthday or an anniversary, no matter what was going on around her. She loved to bake, and as kids, we would always fight to get the first bite of her German delicacies.

Christel was preceded in death by her parents, sibling, and her husband, Junior, who passed away eight years ago from mesothelioma after working at the Wood Conversion Company, now USG, in Cloquet.

She is survived by her loving children Michael Connor, married to Donna Connor, of Oklahoma; Marcy Connor Beck, married to Charles Beck, of Stockton; and Steven Connor, married to Juvie Connor, of Wrenshall. Christel is also survived by 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held March 2 in Casa Bonita Funeral Home, Stockton, with internment at San Joaquin Valley Veterans National Cemetery, where she will once again be with her loving husband, Junior, who is interned there.

Christel will be forever missed and always remembered in all our hearts for the love she gave us as a strong and devoted mother, and for her everlasting love for her family and friends. Rest in peace; your journey is now in heaven, where we will all be together again.

A special thanks to all the caring people at the Vitas Hospice Program in Stockton, who cared and comforted Christel in her last time with us. Thank you.

Pine Knot News, Feb. 28, 2020