Lennae A. Kosmatka

Lennae Kosmatka passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on January 8th, 2022 at the age 68. She was surrounded by her family at the beginning of her new adventure.

Lennae was the only daughter, born to Leonard and Shirley (Hanson) Yonke on July 11, 1953 in Thief River Falls (TRF), MN.  Growing up on the family dairy farm, she attended elementary school in Holt, MN and graduated from Marshall County Central in Newfolden, MN in 1971.  Furthering her education, she obtained a degree in bookkeeping at North Valley Vo Tech in TRF.

She met the love of her life, Jim Kosmatka, at a dance in TRF in the spring of 1972 and they were united in marriage on October 6, 1973 in TRF, MN.  They called Santa Ana, CA their honeymoon home for 18 months while Jim was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station before moving to their home in Grafton, ND. Lennae briefly worked at the flower shop before starting a family, where she found joy and purpose as a stay at home mom to her 3 children. She enjoyed spending time with her family, involving herself with 4-H, Girl Scouts, and church activities. Once her children were grown, she worked 10 years as a bookkeeper for Simonson Lumber and then 11 years as a cook for the Head Start program, finally retiring in the spring of 2018 with the aspirations of enjoying her many hobbies, traveling with her husband and spending time with family and friends.

Lennae was a faithful member of the St. John’s Catholic Church in Grafton, belonging to several bible study groups, the Circle of Friends Homemakers and the Grafton American Legion Auxiliary. Her favorite activities include enjoying God’s great outdoors by fishing, camping, traveling and riding bike. She enjoyed playing games, spending time with her kids, grandkids, family and friends and watching her flower gardens bloom. She and Jim shared the love of dancing and enjoyed it whenever possible.

She is survived by her husband; Jim Kosmatka, her children: Brian Kosmatka, April (Marc) Quillen, Sheri (Jason) Steidl-Weig; her 4 grandchildren: Jada & Paige, Avery & Archer; Brothers: Chester (Marla) Yonke, Marvin (Carol) Yonke and David (Denise) Yonke; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard & Shirley Yonke and her mother-in-law, Rose Kosmatka.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of Grafton.  Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church.  Inurnment will be at the St. Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery of Warsaw, ND in the spring.