Coralouise Zaffke

Coralouise Zaffke, 90, of Rochester, MN, and a former longtime Crookston, MN resident, died unexpectedly Tuesday, December 17, 2013, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. Coralouise was born in Walker, MN on May 6, 1923, the daughter of Warren and Rena (Culver) Hill. She grew up in Backus, MN and graduated from Backus High School in 1940. She went on to attend St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, and in 1944 earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education, and a minor in English. For the next year she taught music in the Backus public schools. On June 23, 1946 Coralouise was united in marriage to Clifford H. Zaffke, also of Backus. She remained in Backus while Cliff completed his studies at the University of Minnesota . Their marriage was blessed by the births of 6 children. After Cliff received his degree from the University the couple moved to Karlstad, MN, and he taught in the school system there. Cliff was a WW II US Army veteran and in 1950 he was called back to active duty during the Korean War. He rejoined Coralouise a year later and they returned to Backus, where he worked in the Zaffke family owned Backus State Bank. Cliff's career in banking took the family to Thief River Falls in 1956 and then to Crookston in 1958. While Cliff would soon become the President of the Polk County State Bank, Coralousie led the very busy life of a wife and mother to 6 active children. Coralouise and Cliff were very devoted members of the Trinity Lutheran Church, where she directed the children's choir for 19 years, served on several Church committees, and was a member and past-president of WELCA. She was an active member of the Crookston Civic Music League for many years. Coralouise substitute taught in the English Department of Crookston's Central High School throughout the 1960's and 70's. She and Cliff couple spent many years traveling, with one of the highlights being a trip made with the Mission Observer Team of the American Lutheran Church to Papua New Guinea. Coralouise's favorite pastimes included reading, crocheting, knitting, and doing needlepoint. Much of her hand-work was accomplished while she and Cliff were traveling. Cliff passed away on September 23, 1987. Coralouise continued to make her home in Crookston; comforted by her family, faith, and friends. Fellowship with dear friends over coffee, and hosting family and friend gatherings at the lake, remained an important part of her life. She also retained her sense of adventure, demonstrated by continued traveling, including trips to Norway and Alaska. In September of 2009 she moved to Rochester, MN and had been a resident of Shorewood Apartments. Coralouise's family and friends will remain forever grateful to have shared in her life.

Loving family members include her 6 children: Noel (Virgil) Olson of Alvarado, MN, Warren (Bette) Zaffke of Moorhead, MN, Naomi (Paul) Brown of Rochester, MN, Nan (Harold) Watson of Kettering, OH, Rev. Lane (Mary) Zaffke of Spring Grove, MN, and Lynn (Debra) Zaffke of Jacksonville, FL; 18 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren: Zachary (Kathryn) Olson, Elijah and Isabelle; Rachelle (Thomas) Muellenberg; Shan (John) Flatt and Hadley; Nathan Zaffke; Russell (Brandi) Brown, Aiden and Kingsley; Kara Brown and Abigail; Hillary (Peter) Waldum, Nora and Natalie; Henry (Jenn) Shuffle, Gilead and Wyatt; Laura Shuffle; Louise (Benjamin) Agley; Heather Watson; David (Angela) Watson, Margaret and Timothy; Andrew (Bekki) Zaffke, and Hagen; Isaac (Jennifer) Zaffke; Peter Zaffke; Benjamin (Crista) Zaffke; Aaron (Jennifer) Zaffke, Phineas and Caleb; and Stephen (Anna) Zaffke, Felix and Augustus; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. In addition to her beloved husband of 41 years, Cliff, Coralouise was preceded in death by her parents, Warren and Rena Hill; and a brother, Howard Culver Hill. May God richly bless the memory of Coralouise Zaffke.

The funeral service and celebration of the life of Coralouise Zaffke will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, December 28, 2013, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston with visitation for one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in the Oakdale Cemetery. The Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home is assisting with funeral arrangements.

Funeral Home: Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home 615 South Minnesota Street Crookston, MN US 56716

---

Previous Events

Service
Saturday, December 28, 2013
cemetery
Saturday, December 28, 2013