Verna Ruth Sedgeman

Funeral Service for Verna Ruth Sedgeman, 81, of Gilbert will be 11 AM Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at the United in Christ Lutheran Church in Eveleth with Pastor Emily Rova-Hegener officiating. A visitation will be held from 5-7 PM Tuesday (TODAY) at the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert and continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Gilbert Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to Care Partners. Verna Ruth Sedgeman died Friday, October 4, 2013 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. Verna was born on January 21, 1932 in Sparta to Ludvig and Marie Cecelia (Korpela) Gulbranson. She grew up in Sparta and attended school in Gilbert, graduating from Gilbert High School. Verna was united in marriage to George “Mert” Sedgeman on March 18, 1950 in Eveleth. The couple built a home on Ely Lake where they raised their family. Verna was employed by the Cluett Peabody Shirt Factory and later the Goodsports Company. Pursuing her passion for crafts, in 1983, Verna opened Verna’s Knots & Stitches Store in Eveleth. Verna was very active in the community doing volunteer work. She knitted mittens for local elementary schools, toe socks for Veteran hospitals, and bonnets for newborns. Verna was awarded the 2008 President Counsel Award for Civic Participation for Volunteer Service and the 2006 St. Louis County Volunteer of the Year. She served as the past president of the 8th District VFW Auxillary and 7 years as President of the local 4456 Auxillary. She was the past president of the Degree of Honor in Hibbing and their 1st Vice President for the State of MN. Verna was a former member of the Eveleth Does and a member of the United in Christ Lutheran Church in Eveleth. In her spare time, Verna was a Tupperware Sales Representative Consultant, baked and sold wedding cakes, and was a soloist for weddings and funerals. Survivors include: her husband of 63 years, George “Mert” Sedgeman: children, Merna (Randy) Conner of Kingman, AZ, Robert (Jackie) Sedgeman of Eveleth, Brenda (Mick) Wudinich of Eveleth, Glen (Kathy) Sedgeman of rural Gilbert, Tracy (Rick) Coldagelli of Eveleth; fourteen grandchildren: Christine (Mark) Mathieu, Caren (Eric Johnson) Conner, Cherie (Ron) Motley, Kim (Tom DeBaere) Gramm, Cory (Shelly Tanski) Sedgeman, Jennifer (Mike) Rouleau, Angela (Eion) Foote, Derek (Taylor) Wudinich, Jeffery Wudinich, Leah (John) Masonick, David (Olivia) Tokarczyk, Kyle (Tiffany Jenner) Coldagelli, Kelsey Coldagelli; and Nicole Esala Eleven great-grandchildren; six siblings, Lorna Mattila of Eveleth; Lawrence Gulbranson of Sparta, Nancy (Louie Wiirre) Maunu of Sparta, Gordon (Marge) Gulbranson of Eveleth, Gary (Sally) Gulbranson of Anchorage, AK, and Linda (Anthony) Starc of Eveleth; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; a grandson, Paul Conner; a great-grandson, Zachary Motley and a sister, Suzanne Gulbranson.