Veronica A. Kamphake, 94, Sauk Rapids

February 23, 1922 - September 15, 2016

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:30 a.m. Monday, September 19, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sauk Rapids for Veronica A. Kamphake, age 94, who passed away Thursday at the St. Cloud Hospital. Rev. Ralph Zimmerman will officiate and burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Melrose. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Sunday at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids and one hour prior to the services Monday at the church. Parish prayers will be at 4:00 p.m., followed by St. Monica’s Society at 5:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Veronica was born Feb. 23, 1922 in Roscoe to Joseph & Margaret (Buchholz) Kunstleben. She married Edwin Kamphake on Sept. 6, 1948 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose. They lived in Meire Grove and moved to the Sauk Rapids area in 1954. Veronica was a homemaker and also worked at Mimbach’s and X-Cel Optical, retiring in 1984. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Sacred Heart Christian Women (St. Monica’s Society). Veronica enjoyed playing cards, gardening, old time music, and camping. She enjoyed visiting with her family and neighbors and was known as the neighborhood watch lady. Veronica was a wonderful cook and her grandchildren especially enjoyed her dumpling soup. She was a loving, caring, strong willed woman who had a strong faith.

Veronica is survived by her children, Janet (Jay) Ahlstrand of Breezy Point, Joyce Chaika of Sauk Rapids, Jean (Allen) Keehr of St. Cloud, and Judy (Bill) Dickinson of Sauk Rapids; sisters, Bertha Haskamp of Sartell and Theresa Ertl of Avon; 8 grandchildren, 13½ great grandchildren, and 5 step great grandchildren. Veronica was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Edwin; son-in-law, Jerome Chaika; brother, Henry Kunstleben; and sisters, Martha Kunstleben, Rose Wensmann, Alvina Barthel, Matilda Moonen, and her twin sister, Monica Olmscheid.

A special thank you to Kathy Sauer, Dr. Bernard Erickson and the St. Cloud Hospital staff for the wonderful care given to Veronica.