Edna Caroline Boehnke

Edna Caroline Boehnke (Wrede) of Edina, MN, died Thursday, September 23, 2021, from pneumonia and complications of dementia, surrounded by a roomful of her children and grandchildren. She was both surprised and proud to have reached the age of 100. 

Services will be held at 11 a.m. October 1, 2021 at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 8400 France Ave. S., Bloomington, MN, with visitation at 10 a.m.  Interment will occur at 4 p.m. that same day at the Concord Township Cemetery in Garner, Iowa. All are welcome.

Daughter of Samuel and Wilhelmina Wrede, she was born and raised on the family farm northeast of Garner, IA. After graduating from Garner High School in 1938, she went on to earn a teaching certificate at Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI) and taught 3rd and 4th grades for 4 years. In 1945, she married George E. Boehnke of rural Ventura, IA, and devoted herself to the duties of housewife and mother. Together they raised 3 children. As George’s job with the Iowa State University Extension Service required, George and Edna lived in Spirit Lake, Ames, and Mason City, IA. In 1976 they moved to Edina, MN, so George could pursue a second career in real estate. Edna, a devout Lutheran, always gave freely of herself as a volunteer, a member of PEO, a handbell and church choir member, and a list of committees too long to enumerate. Blessed with a green thumb, she also gardened and managed to keep a bevy of houseplants alive for many, many decades. 

Edna is survived by her three children: Mary (David) Giese, John (Barbara) Boehnke, Paul (Julie) Boehnke; five grandchildren: Allan (Lori) Giese, Michael (Amber) Giese, Eva (Rob) Shell, Lila Boehnke, Bryan Boehnke; and five great-grandchildren: Emily, Ethan, Hannah, Blaine, and Emmett. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, George; her sister, Elnora (Harold) Juhl of Garner, IA; and foster brother, George Wrede of Norfolk, VA.