Eileen Cecilia Kutcher

ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA - Eileen Cecilia Nelles Kutcher, 92, passed away just after sunrise on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, while in the loving care of family and staff of the Presbyterian Homes in Arden Hills, Minnesota. Eileen was a long-time resident of Lakewood, Colorado and of Bloomington, Minnesota, Rapid City, South Dakota and Madison, South Dakota. Many years ago, on an early autumn day in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a little girl was born to Emaline and Carl Nelles of Madison, South Dakota. She entered the world on September 14, 1918; 11 years before the Great Depression and two years before the Nineteenth Amendment became law and women could vote. At about two months, she developed Spanish Influenza, caught up in a worldwide epidemic that killed millions. Imagine how terrified her parents must have been. For a while Eileen lost her vigor, but within a couple of months she bounced back. This resiliency served her well through her life. After graduating from St. Thomas High School in 1936, she attended Dakota State University (then Eastern State Normal College) in Madison for two years. She was a gifted writer and decided she wanted to major in journalism. So she transferred to the University of Missouri. To pay her tuition and room and board, she worked as a nanny for a local family. Her workload at the house was so heavy that she was unable to take a full load each semester and by 1940, short of money and credits, she returned to Madison as World War II started. She then worked at the local newspaper, where she met a young fellow, Joseph "Joe" Kutcher. When Joe entered the Army and was sent into the Pacific Theater, Eileen left Madison to work at a munitions plant in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1943, she returned to the University of Missouri and graduated with her bachelor's degree in journalism, one of the few women to do so at the time. She then taught school for one year in rural South Dakota before returning to Madison. As World War II drew to a close, Eileen and Joe married on August 16, 1945 and made their home in Madison. Through the years, Eileen followed Joe with his work which took them through Kennebec, Spearfish and Rapid City, South Dakota. Then in 1966, they moved to Bloomington, Minnesota where she worked as the Assistant Publicity Director at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. In 1973 they transferred to Lakewood, Colorado where they spent the next 37 years. Regardless of where they made their home, Eileen was known for her smile, her hospitality, her generosity of spirit, her love of people - she would take a plate of cookies for new neighbors or make soup for those lonely or sick. Eileen saw each person as special and shared in your sorrow, happiness or daily routine. And her grandchildren learned life lessons from their Grandma Eileen. "My sister and I learned how to bake bread in her kitchen in Denver, Colorado. I'm not sure what my favorite part of the actual baking was-perhaps the smell of the yeast or kneading the bread. I certainly loved sneaking little bits while it rose, too. But besides learning the ideal location to set the bread to rise and the importance of measuring ingredients, I learned one of the most important lessons of my life in that kitchen. I learned the everyday meaning of love and family. Grandma Eileen layered every visit with affection and warmth, and I gobbled it up with every slice of that heavenly, butter-slathered bread." (from http://jessicaeise.blog.com/2011/07/12/full-of-grace/). Eileen, a Catholic, was always an active participant in her parish and this was especially true at Christ on the Mountain Parish in Lakewood. She relished the changes that opened up opportunities for women to participate in religious life and was actively involved right up until she was nearly 90 years of age. She taught acceptance of others religious beliefs and lived by the "golden rule". Eileen is survived by her husband of 66 years Joseph Kutcher of Arden Hills, Minnesota; her sister Lee Nelles Leonhardy of Washington, D.C.; her children Kathleen Stechmann of Shoreview, Minnesota; Jo Linda (Thomas) Fleming of Seattle, Washington; Mary Salisbury of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Steven Kutcher of Denver, Colorado; Gregory (Maura Randall) Kutcher of North Mankato, Minnesota; and Louise (John) Eise of Kansas City, Missouri. She is survived by her precious grand-children David Stechmann; Ryan (Caroline), Andrew, Erin and Matthew (Sheena) Fleming; Nicole, Anthony and Analise Kutcher; Leah (Bob), Sarah and Margaret Kutcher; Justin, Jessica and Laura Eise; and great-grandchildren Peter and Evan Fleming. She was preceded in death by her parents, son Peter John Kutcher, brothers Thomas and Robert Nelles, sister-in-laws Margaret Kutcher and Eileen Nelles, brother-in-law Terrance Leonhardy, and son-in-laws David Salisbury and Eric Stechmann. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday July 23rd (gathering begins at 10AM) at HOLCOMB-HENRY-BOOM-PURCELL, 515 Hwy 96 W at Mackubin, Shoreview, MN. Burial will follow at a later date in Madison, South Dakota. Memorial contributions to a charity of your choice or to the Presbyterian Homes Foundation, 2845 Hamline Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113. Condolences may be sent to the family c/o Louise Eise, 13315 Timber Park Dr., Platte City, MO 64079.

Tributes

Eileen Cecilia Kutcher

September 14, 1918 - July 12, 2011

Tributes

Eileen Cecilia Kutcher

September 14, 1918 - July 12, 2011

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