Veda Sirek, 88

Veda Sirek, age 88, of New Prague, died peacefully with her loving family at her side on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital Rochester.

 On June 23, 1936, a blonde, sweet, little, blue-eyed baby girl, named Veda, the youngest of 8, was born in a small mining town of Kinney, in northern MN (known as the Iron Range).  Her parents were Dan and Angela Knezovich, immigrants from Yugoslavia who arrived in America in the early 1900's.  She grew up on a small self-sustaining farm...enjoying the rural life; yes, especially the little lamb she nurtured as a youngster when one of the ewes had multiples. "Much to her pleasure, Veda had a little lamb," which she enjoyed immensely.

 Veda was known to enjoy every stage of her life and lived with that concept always in her mind...enjoying whatever was there for her to be.  She was a sweet, fun-loving, athletic girl (sometimes even joining in a game of touch-football with her sisters, brothers and their friends.) Veda graduated from the Martin Hughes High School in Buhl, MN. She participated in many activities:  had the lead roles in Jr. & Sr. class plays, choir, high school city and marching band, cheerleading for many years in both high school and college and was  honored as a Buhl High School Homecoming Queen.  As was her agenda; she made the most of all that the gifts God gave her.

 Upon finishing high school she attended Virginia Jr. College in Virginia, MN, for 2 years, transferring then to the U of M, Duluth, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.  New Prague was her first teaching position where she met the man she loved dearly and married, Don Sirek, sharing their marriage for 63 years.  First date on Dec. 6^th, engaged March 28^th, married Aug 1^st!  Their love for each other was so apparent.  Soon into the picture arrived 6 children:  Mary Beth, Kathryn, Michelle & Michael, Roberta and Joseph.  Along with Don, she encouraged their children to maintain their faith steadfastly and become the best they could be in whatever their pursuit was. Her motto was "Love One Another."  When the children had their little "bad moments", she would have them stand by the banner hanging on the wall, which Sister Kathryn, a St. Wenceslaus teacher made, that said "Love One Another."  They stood there long enough to know what it really meant and embraced it.

 She was a devoted, loving mother interested and involved in the family activities...so devoted was she, that in certain circumstances she was called "Mrs. Sam Spade" by her children.  She believed strongly in empowering children and giving to others, serving as a substitute teacher for many years and active in the NP Girl Scouts for 9 years.   She was very active in the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church:  CCW President and Family Life Chm., organized the local MCCL, St. Wenceslaus Outreach Coordinator providing communion for those unable to attend Mass, Word & Communion Ministry, lector and communion distributor for many years.  Veda also served on the Board of Directors at the State Bank and attended many of the conferences with Don. She was a long-standing and active member of the Ladies' Golf Club and a member of the Queen of Peace Auxiliary prior to leaving for AZ for several years.  While in Scottsdale, AZ, she served several years on the Home/School Association at the OLPH Catholic School where Joe attended in grades 4-8.

 Veda spent many years with her bible studies and enjoyed the Ladies' Investment Group she initiated.  An excellent cook, she especially excelled at making ethnic foods, her signature ones being cabbage rolls, pork & dumplings & baklava. She enjoyed reading, travel, working in her beautiful flower garden, entertaining family and friends, golf, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, playing tennis & bridge.  Many hours were spent on her peaceful flower garden while living adjacent to the golf course. She was a prayerful, selfless, kind, compassionate and beautiful woman.  She was a convert to Catholicism and very much appreciated, practiced and lived her faith.  St. Therese of Lisieux was a saint that she graciously favored and gratefully often lead her to others.

 Veda enjoyed her travels with Don; four times to Belgrade, Niksic, Yugoslavia, as well as the Adriatic Coast, where she met many of her relatives.  They visited Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Dominican Republic and Mexico.  Her trip with Don to Medjugorje was so most faithfully experienced.

  Veda deeply loved her husband, Don, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family.  

 Veda is survived by her children, Mary Beth (Raul) Viruete, San Diego, CA, Kathy Sirek, Faribault, MN, Michelle Sirek, Fountain Hills, AZ, Mike (Dianne), NY & CT, Roberta "Bobbi" (Chris) Morris, Denver, CO, Joe (Olivia) Sirek, Tampa Bay, FL; 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Don, on July 22, 2022; siblings, Capt. Bill Beatovich, navigator, a WWII casualty over Dusseldorf, Germany on 1/23/45, Vlado (Irene) Beatovich, Helen (Gordon) Beam, Mary (Dr. Michael) Zakula, Eli Knezovich, Milan (Zora) Knezovich.  Surviving sister, Milli (Jim) Hill in San Clemente, CA.

 Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Fathers Eugene Theisen and Michael Miller officiating.  Mass will be live-streamed on npcatholic.org.  Visitation will take place that morning at Bruzek Funeral home from 9:00 to 10:30. Burial will occur after Mass at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery.

 In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Wenceslaus School for tuition assistance.  

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