Marie “Toots” F. Brueshoff
A life time resident of Shakopee, MN, and recent resident of Friendship Manor Nursing Home, Marie Florence Brueshoff, age 93, was reunited with her husband in heaven on Monday afternoon, July 14. 2014. A Celebration of Life Service will be on Friday, August 8, at 11 am, with visitation starting at 10:00 am, all at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 119 Eighth Avenue West, Shakopee. Pastor Linda McPeak will preside. Marie’s son Dave will be the urn bearer. Marie will be laid to rest next to her husband, at Valley Cemetery in Shakopee.
Marie was born in Shakopee on August 30, 1920, to William and Adah (Dunham) Schmagel. The older of two children, Marie grew up across from the train depot in downtown Shakopee. She gained her nickname “Toots”, because when the trains rumbled by her front door, her first words were “toot-toot”. The nickname stuck.
Toots attended Shakopee public schools and graduated from Shakopee High School in 1938. She was working in an office in town when she met her future husband Walter “Walt” Brueshoff, who had started a job at the Shakopee Ford Garage. A lunch time romance developed and Toots & Walt exchanged wedding vows on December 8, 1942, at the St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church parsonage. The marriage would last 60 years. They continued to live in Shakopee and raised two children, Jean and David.
For 25 years, Toots worked as a secretary for Imperial Refineries, a chain of gas stations throughout the Midwest. During the 1960’s, she and Walt owned and operated Riverside Repair, located next to the old river bridge in downtown Shakopee.
Toots was engaged in the lives of her five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. A service oriented woman, she truly loved people and relished helping them when in need. Toots also loved spending time at the lake cabin in northern Minnesota and delighted in leisurely visits from family and friends. She especially looked forward to those weekly Friday trips to Perkins with her son, after going grocery shopping. And, as everyone who knew her was aware, Toots loved the color red.
A life-long dedicated member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Toots was Baptized, Confirmed, was married and raised her family there. She was a woman who loved God, had a spirit of conviction and strong faith values. Toots was also a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and Order of the Eastern Star.
She is survived by her children, Jean (Jai) Gaur of Wilton, CT, David (Bonnie) Brueshoff of Apple Valley; grandchildren, Dan (Beth) Gaur, Andrea (Jason) Grable, Tim (Christina) Gaur, Ben Brueshoff, Amanda Brueshoff; great-grandchildren, Margaret and Andrew Gaur, Harper Grable; brother, Bill (Arlene) Schmagel of Rapid City, SD; other relatives and devoted friends
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Walt and parents. Blessed be her memory.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation, Prior Lake Chapel, proudly served the Brueshoff family. www.BallardSunderFuneral.com
