Verna Armbruster

Born in Sanborn, Minnesota on June 21, 1922, Verna Amanda (Leopold) Armbruster was the 7th of 9 children of John and Hulda (Ringle)Leopold. She graduated from Sanborn High School in 1939. She passed away peacefully at Divine Providence Nursing Home in Sleepy Eye on August 28, 2014. She married Floyd Armbruster in New Ulm on June 7, 1942. Floyd entered the Army six weeks later, and they didn't see each other for three and one-half years until he was discharged in 1945. During World War II she worked as a riveter (once honored as Comfrey's own "Rosie, the Riveter") in an airplane factory in San Diego. She said the factory was so loud that you had to shout at the person next to you to be heard. Hearing protection was unknown at the time, and working in this environment may have contributed to her significant hearing loss in later years. After Floyd was discharged from the Army, they moved to Fairmont where they made many lifelong friends. Their marriage was blessed with 4 children, Jim, Diane, Jan, and Randy. When her children were young, many yearly fishing trips were taken to the Alexandria area for a summer vacation. In 1958 they moved to Comfrey where Verna remained after Floyd passed away in 1981. Verna was a life long homemaker. She was an excellent cook, baker, and house cleaner. She and Floyd always enjoyed playing cards with their many friends. When unexpected company or a family member stopped by to visit her, she could always come up with a savory snack and coffee, or a whole meal within the hour. She enjoyed visiting with family and her many friends, and missed that greatly when her hearing loss made those conversations difficult to understand what was being said. After Floyd passed away, she contented herself with working at the church where she and others made hundreds of quilts for distribution to third world countries. One quilt especially designated for Green Lake Bible Camp and stored temporarily in Salem Lutheran Church somehow miraculously survived the tornado of 1998 while the rest of the church was destroyed. Her Lutheran upbringing was an important part of her life, and she was a member of New Hope Lutheran Church where she attended regularly. She sang alto in the church choir and enjoyed many types of music. She was a caring and devoted mother, and a wonderful grandmother to her many grandchildren. She faithfully attended many of her children's and grandchildren's school and sporting events, and also enjoyed watching the Twins games. In later years, even though her verbal skills had deteriorated, her eyesight was poor, and she was nearly deaf, she still enjoyed playing catch with a nerf ball and was quite good at it. She also logged many miles in her Geri chair walking the hallways at St John Lutheran Home. Since February, 2008, she had lived in the memory care unit of St John Lutheran Home in Springfield, and transferred to Divine Providence Nursing Home in Sleepy Eye in May, 2014. She is survived by Jim (Nancy) of Mankato, Diane (Steve) Wisniewski Grzybowski of St. Cloud, and Randy (Roxanne) of Sleepy Eye, grandchildren Kelly (Dan) Schepers, Lani (Lee) Vogel, Nathan Wisniewski, Grant (Megan) Wisniewski, Kertrina (Tyler) Richter, Kasandra and Tyler Wisniewski Gryzbowski, Dr. Adam (Dr. Karlyn) Armbruster, Chad (Samantha) Armbruster, Krista (Michael) Moeller, Angela Armbruster, and great grandchildren Tyler, Tommy, Norah, Alexis, Sierra, Scarlett, Harper, Alex, Tessa, Rita, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Floyd, daughter Jan, a stillborn daughter Patricia, son-in-law Michael Wisniewski, brothers Edwin, Marvin, Leon, Ewald, Gerhardt, John Glen, Bruce, and 1 sister, Charlotte Springer. Memorials may be directed to New Hope Lutheran Church of Comfrey. Visitation 9:30 am - 11:00 am Monday, September 1, 2014 New Hope Lutheran Church, Comfrey 204 Court St. S. Comfrey, Minnesota, United States 56019 Service Information 11:00 am Monday, September 1, 2014 New Hope Lutheran Church, Comfrey 204 Court St. S. Comfrey, Minnesota, United States 56019 Interment Information Sanborn City Cemetery 33067 200th St. Sanborn, Minnesota, United States 56083