Muriel J. Sampson, age 91, of Burnsville, MN, passed away on September 7, 2023. A Celebration of Muriel will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 16, 2023 with visitation time one hour prior at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, 4565 Pleasant St SE, Prior Lake, MN. Lunch and Reception will be held at Bonnie and Doug’s house following services. Private Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.
Muriel was born on May 24, 1932, to Edmund and Elizabeth Gatzke in Chicago, IL. Family was important, and they always had several relatives living with them at any given time. She married Ernest J. Sampson on June 8, 1957, in Chicago, IL. They had three children, Wayne, Cathy, and Bonnie, and they lived in Chicago until 1971, when they moved to Minnesota for Ernie’s job. Muriel held many jobs during her life, but the best one was being a mom and grandma.
If you ever saw Muriel’s home, you would know that she loved to crochet. A neighbor had taught her to do the basics and she self- taught herself the rest! She made many afghans – even winning Grand Champion on many of them at the local county fair! You may be surprised that she was a big Vikings fan. You could often hear her yelling “go, go, go, go, go!” at the TV!
Traveling was one of her favorite things to do, whether it be just going on a day trip with the family, or off to exotic places like Cuba, Jamaica, and Holland! She went to many places with family and friends and enjoyed every minute of every trip.
Her Grandchildren could do no wrong and she loved each and every one of them. Muriel was fortunate enough to be able to take care of Jessie, Tara, Amy and Katie when they were little. She had 2 bonus Grandchildren which she loved with all her heart, Tyler and Brian, and was blessed with two Great-Grandchildren, Sophia and Ellie.
In her 91 years she lived through the depression, World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, 15 Presidents, Civil Rights Movement, Cold War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Nixon resigning, Fall of the Berlin Wall, Rock and Roll, the addition of Alaska and Hawaii as US States, and countless other historical moments.
She had a stroke in March of 2020 – the very beginning of COVID, which made it very hard on her and her family. They all made the best of the situation and are grateful for those at the Ebenezer Care Facility that took care of her.
Muriel will be dearly missed by her daughters; Cathy Sampson, Bonnie (Doug) Gauquie, Daughter-in-Law; Karyl Haskell, Grandchildren; Jessie Sampson, Tara (Steve) Hagen, Amy Gauquie, Katie Gauquie, Tyler (McKay) Haskell and Brian Kromer; Great Grandchildren; Sophia Haskell and Ellie Hagen, lots of loving friends and other relatives. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ernest, son, Wayne, parents, Edmund and Elizabeth Gatzke, and brother, Gene Gatzke.
Your smiling face, quick wit, and hearing you say “oh dear” will remain in our hearts and memory forever. Time to rest our dear Mom and Grandma. Until we meet again. With all our hearts, we love you.
