Mildred "Millie" Mae Gunnink

Woodland Hills Funeral Home 507-387-5504

 Mildred (Millie) Mae (Musolf) Gunnink passed away on March 30, 2022 at New Perspective in Mankato, MN at the age of 87. She was born March 22, 1935 to Edward and Pauline (Manz) Musolf in Estelline, SD. She attended school there and graduated from Estelline High School in 1953. Millie attended South Dakota State in Brookings, SD for two years as a journalism major. She attended summer school at Spearfish, SD obtaining a teaching permit for one year which allowed her to teach 2nd Grade in Southshore, SD. She attended Dakota Wesleyan University obtaining an English teaching degree and then taught at Pierre and Lake Preston SD, Madison MN and also  George and Rockwell City, Iowa. She went to summer school in Greeley, Colorado where she met Elwin Gunnink.They were married August 5th,1962 and moved to Rockwell City Iowa. In 1964, daughter Heidi Wyn was born and El took a new teaching position moving them to Mankato. Millie stayed at home, but created a neighborhood preschool with other neighbor moms and after Holly Jean was born in 1966, she later helped at Peter Pan Preschool when Holly attended. Millie worked part-time at TJ Hallmark in the Madison East Mall and eventually became the store manager. When Hallmark moved to the River Hills Mall, Millie worked part-time in the Hallmark section of Coach House Gifts. Millie volunteered in the community at the Blue Earth Co. Historical Society, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church where she was a member and sang in the choir, helped with VBS, Ladies Aid, LWMS, the Treasure Haus and New To You Thrift stores. Millie was active with the Blue Earth County Republicans, was an election judge for years, and helped with precinct caucuses. After she retired, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She and El loved to travel and visited Europe and many US states.

 Millie is survived by her daughter, Heidi Wyn (Joel Brinker), daughter, Holly Erdman (Brent) and sister, Janet Robey (John) and brother Leroy Musolf (Carol) and grandchildren, Kent Harris (Alaina), Alexander Harris (Rita), Christian Harris (Ashley) and Kyra Beske (Ben), Bethany Reuter (Alex), Tresa Reuter (Bryce), Shawn Reuter, Emery Erdman and great-grandchildren, Landen, Spencer, Trenton, Hannah and Quinn, She is preceded in death by her parents, husband El, sister Vera Wilks, grandson David Reuter, and son-in-law Daniel Reuter.

 Memorial services will be Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 2 P.M. at Woodland Hills Chapel in Mankato. Interment will be in Woodland Hills Memorial Park in Mankato.

 The Gunnink Family will greet friends on Sunday afternoon from 12 P.M. until the time of services at Woodland Hills Chapel. Woodland Hills Funeral Home of Mankato is handling arrangements.

  In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to St. Croix Hospice.