Constance "Connie" (Herrick) Grundei

Constance “Connie” Grundei, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and Mimi died on August 18, 2022 at Eaglecrest in Roseville at the age of 93. She was born on August 9, 1929 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.  She was the eldest of four daughters of George and Margaret (Martin) Herrick.  During her youth she played piano and sang with her glee club, was a winner of spelling bees, and helped care for her ailing grandfather. She graduated from Sauk Rapids High School in 1947.

Connie married her childhood friend Maurie on June 30, 1950.  She fell in love with the “handsome guy in the uniform”. In 1953, Connie was diagnosed with polio.  After leaving Sister Kenny, she became an advocate and volunteer for the March of Dimes and, with the help of Maurie, worked daily to regain her strength.  Connie lived in many places in her life. Her fondest memories were from Alexandria, Sauk Rapids, Mason City, and her beloved Roseville.  Connie worked numerous jobs, but her favorite positions were in the dental field working as an assistant and then office manager.  She was an excellent seamstress. She volunteered with her church, the Roseville senior center, Presbyterian Homes and the United Methodist Women. She and Maurie were just two months short of 70 years of marriage.  Connie wanted to be remembered as a woman who led a Christian life and raised her family to have faith and compassion. Her goal was to be of help to others.

Connie was preceded in death by husband, Maurie, her sisters Helen and Georgia, and daughter-in-law, Carol.  She is survived by children Cheryl (Bruce) Olsen of Madison, WI, Steven of St. Paul, and Lisa (Phillip) Schuler of Mounds View; and her greatest joy, seven grandchildren Connie, Lindsay, Jenn, Courtney, Nick, Alex and Sarah and three great grandchildren Iktan, Gracelyn and Kinam; her sister Edith Knutson; and brothers-in-law Larry Heppner and Melvin Grundei.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Commons and the Arbor at Eaglecrest during the four+ years she lived there, and to the Brighton Hospice, during her last five weeks, for their excellent care and friendship of Connie. They also thank her friends, church staff and friends, and family members who visited her with such loving frequency.

On October 1, a Celebration of Life Service will be held for Connie and Maurie at Centennial United Methodist Church 1524 W. County Road C-2 Roseville, MN 55113.  Visitation at 1:30, service at 2:30, and a light meal to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Centennial UMC where Connie and Maurie were members for 57 years.

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