Cheryl
Elizabeth Joyce Geshick Gresczyk
October 10,
1945- June 24, 2014
Cheryl,
whose Ojibwe name is Aabitaagiizhigookwe (Half Way to the Sky Woman),
68, of Eden Prairie, MN, entered into the spirt world around midnight
on June 24. She had diabetes, lung cancer and heart issues.
Funeral
services were held on June 27 at 7 p.m. at Gichitwaa Kateri Parish at
3045 Park in Minneapolis with a funeral Mass on June 28. Burial was
held at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Wright, MN, near the cabin,
followed by a gathering and a meal at the cabin. Fr. Jim Notebaart
and Fr. Mike Tegeder were two of the celebrants.
was born October 10, 1945, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of
Joseph Geshick and Rose (Marsh) Geshick. Cheryl was a full-blood
Anishinaabekwe (Ojibwe) from Bois Forte Reservation. She married Rick
Gresczyk on April 6, 1974. She received her bachelor of science
degree in Education from the University of Minnesota and her master’s
degree from St. Thomas College. She was involved with teaching and
youth work all of her working years. She and Rick helped start the
Office of Indian Ministry and Gichitwaa Kateri Parish in Minneapolis.
She is
survived by three sons, Rick Jr. (Nicole) of Oakdale, MN, Rodger
(Annie) of Watertown, MN and Randy (Nichole) of New Brighton, MN.
They have
three more children adopted in the Ojibwe way. They are Theresa
Morrison (Pragedis Castillo) of Eagan, MN, Melvin Brazil-Geyshick
(Suzie) of Thief River Falls, MN, and Yoku Aso (Megumi) of Kumamoto,
Japan.
Rick and
Cheryl were foster parents for many years for Hennepin County and
very active in the American Indian community of the Twin Cities. She
enjoyed being a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She enjoyed
cards, crossword puzzles, TV, and pets, most recently Waabooz, their
poodle. She has two brothers, Joe and Ernie. She has several adopted
sisters, Gaye Hallberg of Bloomington, MN, Pat Northrup of Sawyer,
MN, and Shirley Krogmeier of Holyoke, CO. She is preceded in death by
her parents and several siblings. Her sister, Virginia, was very
close to her.
Casketbearers
were Leonard Geshick, Randy and Elias White, William BigBear, Jr,
Pragedis Castillo and Yoku Aso.
