Leora F. Sunderman

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Leora F. Sunderman (nee Kortan), age 82, of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully Oct. 22, 2024, at Timber Pines Memory Care in Pine City.

Leora was born April 14, 1942, to Charles and Ann Kortan (nee Ostendorf) in Melrose. She was the third child of seven. She spent her childhood in Sauk Centre, but she attended Cathedral High School in St. Cloud. After graduating high school, she started working as a telephone operator at Northwestern Bell Telephone in St. Cloud. One summer day, as fate would have it, her future husband Kenneth J. Sunderman literally tripped over her at Fairy Lake. The rest, as the saying goes, is history. After a short courtship, they were married July 13, 1963, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre.

Leora and Ken first lived in a little apartment, right across the street from Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church, where they were members. When the apartment became too small for their growing family, Leora and Ken moved into their new home on North Birch Street, where they lived for the rest of their lives. Life was straightforward. Ken worked at the Armory as a technician and Leora worked at the telephone office in town until it closed in 1984. Their kids, Ty, Craig, and Gretchen, grew up, went off to college and eventually moved away.

With the kids gone, Leora began working part-time at the library. She was a voracious reader and loved books, so it was a perfect fit. Tragically, Ken died in 1995 and left her a widow at age 52. Her job at the library helped keep her busy after the terrible loss. She never remarried and often remarked that marrying anyone after Ken would be like eating a warmed-up pancake – no good. Leora retired from the library in 2017. 

Over the years, Leora managed to travel a bit to visit her children wherever they happened to be living: California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Florida and even Spain. After she retired, she spent time at home with her books and her flowers. She started having some memory problems a few years back and was adamant that she wanted to stay in her home – the home she built with Ken. Thanks to the help of many, that wish was granted. Thank you to the folks at Sauk Centre Alternative Senior Care, Jason Bromenshenkel for yard and plowing, Jodie Deschene, Mary Meyer, Georgine Nathe, Kenny and Kathy Leukam, the extended Sunderman and Kortan families, and the countless other folks who helped her in her times of need. Just recently, Leora moved to a beautiful memory care facility at Timber Pines in Pine City to be closer to her sons. She was cared for with the utmost kindness until her death.

Leora was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Kenneth J., and parents, Charlie and Ann Kortan. 

She is survived by her sons, Ty of Cambridge and Craig (Jean) also of Cambridge; daughter, Gretchen Sunderman (Christopher Reenock) of Tallahassee, Florida.

She has three grandchildren – Emily (Kyle) Grote of St. Cloud, Anna Sunderman (Brandon Marshall) of Cleveland and Cole K. Sunderman Reenock of Tallahassee, Florida – and one great-grandson, Ken Grote.

She is also survived by her siblings, Charlie (Anita) Kortan of Osseo, Elaine (Chuck) Yaggie of Sartell, Rosemary Tountas of South Carolina, Gail (Tom) Schwanke of Andover, Jim (Sandy) Kortan of Detroit Lakes and Dave (Deb) Kortan of Coon Rapids; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, relatives and friends.

A private graveside service with her immediate family was her preference. She will be interred next to her husband at Calvary Cemetery in Sauk Centre when her family can all get together in May 2025.

Arrangements were made by Carlson-Lillemoen Funeral Home 311 S. Ashland St. Cambridge, MN 763-689-2244

Online condolences can be shared at www.carlsonlillemoen.com

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