RENEE SONSALLA LARSON WIESER

March 11, 1943 - January 23, 2013

Renee Sonsalla Larson Wieser, 69 passed away peacefully on Wednesday January 23, 2013 at her home in La Crescent MN. After receiving her cancer diagnosis in early December 2012 she spent her remaining days with her family and friends reminiscing and reflecting her positive outlook on life and living. She was born on March 11th, 1943 to Michael and Merle (Beardsley) Sonsalla and grew up in Winona MN, graduating from Winona Senior High School in 1961. After high school she attended Winona State College until 1964 when she joined IBM and embarked on her professional career. Renee held various positions with IBM Rochester until her retirement in 2001. Renee married James Edwin Larson on August 29th, 1963 in Winona and together had three children: Mary (Richard) Steichen of Elk River MN, Melanie (Mark) Wegwerth of Barrington Hills IL, and Matt (Kate) Larson of Rochester MN. James (Jim) Larson died unexpectedly on January 12th, 1995. On October 23, 2004 Renee Married Leonard Wieser in La Crescent MN after meeting on a church pilgrimage in Italy the prior year. Together the two were parents and grandparents to 9 children and 27 grandchildren. In her early years Renee enjoyed summers on the Mississippi river in Wabasha with her family followed by winters in Minnesota snowmobiling and traveling with her family. Renee loved children and enjoyed being a grandmother to all children. Her later years were spent exploring international destinations with winters being spent in Lake Havasu City AZ. Renee is survived by her husband Leonard, children, and brother Richard (Shirley) Sonsalla of Byron MN, Sisters in Law Janet Cerney of Shoreview MN, and Dee Sonsalla of Wabasha, MN; Leonard’s children: Jake (Holly) Wieser, Jim (Audra) Wieser, Michelle Mauer, Debra (Todd) Tennyson, Timothy (Tricia) Wieser, Jason (Amber) Wieser and grandchildren, and Leonard’s 17 siblings and their spouses. Renee was preceded in death by her first husband Jim, brother William Sonsalla, and sister Beverley (George) Hoeppner. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:00 AM Saturday January 26th 2013 at the Church of the Crucifixion, 423 South 2nd Street. La Crescent MN 55947. Father Gregory Havel will be officiating with a lunch celebration of life immediately following in the school hall. Burial will be at St Felix Cemetery in Wabasha MN at 3:30 PM. Visitation will be at 4 PM Friday at the Church of the Crucifixion, concluding with a rosary service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will also be 1 hour prior to the church service on Saturday.