Edna Molitor Kirchner, age 89, of Elrosa, Minnesota, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday, September 18, 2026, at Fairway Pines Senior Living in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa with Rev. Kevin Soenneker officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery.
Visitation will be from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church.
Edna Gertrude Fuechtmann was born on February 27, 1937, in Melrose Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, to Henry and Bertha (Wielenberg) Fuechtmann. As the oldest of thirteen children, she grew up on the family farm and attended local schools. On September 1, 1959, she married Elmer Henry Molitor in Melrose, Minnesota. Together, they raised five children and, from the ground up, built a successful family dairy farm that remains an enduring legacy. The farm was Edna’s proudest achievement; through her incredible drive and perseverance, she set an example that continues to guide her children.
After Elmer’s death on November 25, 1992, Edna married Robert “Bob” Kirchner on October 30, 1998. They shared many happy years together and spent their retirement in Tucson, Arizona, and Brainerd, Minnesota, until Bob’s death on April 27, 2024. Edna was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose greatest priority was always her family. She showed her love through countless sacrifices, unwavering support, and sheer determination. Her competitive spirit came through playing card games and fishing, and in the pride she took in watching her children and grandchildren play sports. She also enjoyed gardening, quilting, traveling, and participating in church activities. In her younger years, she tended a large and bountiful vegetable and flower garden that helped sustain her family and remains a cherished memory. Beneath her determination was a tender, protective heart, especially for children and animals.
She is survived by her children, Marlene (Mark) Spliethoff, Alvin (Kathi) Molitor, Linda (Ron) Benoit, Eugene Molitor, and Kim (Kym Gully) Stummer; stepchildren, Rick (Char) Kirchner, Debbie (Ernie) Hengel, Cindy (Pete) Daniel, Diana (Barry) Beckers, Joe (Laura) Kirchner, and Lori (Don) Tomsche; 12 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, 15 step-grandchildren, and 39 step-great-grandchildren; her surviving brothers and sisters; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Edna was preceded in death by her first husband, Elmer Molitor; her second husband, Robert “Bob” Kirchner; her parents, Henry and Bertha Fuechtmann; granddaughter, Ashley Spliethoff; and step-great-granddaughter, Loreha Tomsche.
Edna will be remembered for her gentle spirit, steadfast faith, devotion to her family, and compassion for others. The example she set through a lifetime of hard work and service will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
Memorials are preferred to support hospice care and local health care needs through the CentraCare Foundation. Memorial gifts may be made online through the CentraCare Foundation’s Sauk Centre Team/Greatest Needs fund at CentraCare Foundation Giving. Checks may be made payable to CentraCare Foundation with “Sauk Centre Hospice” or “Sauk Centre Greatest Needs” noted in the memo line and mailed to: CentraCare Foundation, 1406 6th Ave N, St. Cloud, MN 56303-1901.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.
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