Obituary: Renée Claire Jeanne Gasper-Line
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Services for Renée Claire Jeanne Gasper-Line, who died on July 10, 2023, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 at Nelson Funeral Care with an hourlong visitation before the service. Fellowship and lunch will follow. The inurnment will be held at the Silverbrook Cemetery.
Renée was born Sept. 7, 1929, in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. She recalled a happy childhood growing up with her four brothers. Renee attended an all-girls Catholic school, where she learned to speak four languages, Luxembourgish, German, French and English. Prayers were held before class each day until her country became occupied by the Germans in World War II. After that, class began with all the children saying, "Heil Hitler." Renee was 10 years old. Living in a country with no freedom became very difficult for her family. There were blackouts every night. Everyone was very afraid. The year before liberation by the Americans, things were the worst, with almost-daily air attacks and a lot of time spent in shelters. If the buzzing in the air stopped, it was time to hit the ground, as an explosion was imminent and could be near. Renee remembered the cathedral tower falling during one of the air attacks. Much of the Battle of the Bulge was fought in Luxembourg. During this time, Renee's family hid Jewish refugees in their basement at night. Her father would help them cross the border to safety in the early morning. At age 14, Renee met Hugh Line. All dates were chaperoned. At age 17, she married him in Luxembourg and came to a farm in Cromwell to live and raise a family. Hugh's sisters helped her adjust to farm life, which included no plumbing.
As the children grew, Renee began her career. She worked at the Trolley Café in Cromwell, the U.S. post office at Shoppers' City in Duluth, and at Carlton National Bank for 17 years, and then went on to become an independent insurance agent. She received several awards and was the first woman president of Life Underwriters. Renee also enjoyed modeling, painting, rosemaling, and translating for Germain cruise ships arriving in Duluth.
After the death of her husband nine years ago, Renee moved to Minneapolis, residing with her daughter and then at Walker Methodist Care Suites in Edina. She made new friends, attended musicals and operas, and loved to play bingo. She received excellent care and was loved by so many in her new environment.
Renee will be remembered for her quiet nature, her smile, her ability to adapt to change and her unconditional love for her family.
Renee was preceded in death by her husband, Hugh; her son Michael; her brothers, Jean, Alloys, Raymond and Erny Gaspar; a sister, Lydia, who died at age 3; and parents, Francois and Josephine Gaspar.
Survivors include children Kay (David) Tellinghuisen, Hugh (Kathy) Line and Terry Line; grandchildren, Dana Lipetzky, Chad (Colleen) Tellinghuisen, Melissa Line, Michael JRA Line and Amber (Nicholas) Hedlund; great-grandchildren, Allison Lipetzky, Seth Berry, Chase, Kaleigh and Wren Hedlund; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pine Knot News, Sept. 1, 2023
