Gwen Stehr

Gwendolyn “Gwen” Rebecca Stehr, nee Scharpen of Zumbrota, MN was called home to her Lord on 10/7/2026. She was 83 years old. She was born April 9, 1943 to Henry Arthur Scharpen and Phyllis Rebecca Scharpen, nee Vieths in Red Wing, MN. Gwen was baptized, confirmed and married at St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Goodhue, MN. A 1961 graduate of Goodhue High School, and Miller Hospital School of Nursing in St. Paul, MN in 1963. She then went to work as an LPN at Red Wing City Hospital, Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN and Zumbrota Community Hospital in Zumbrota, MN. She married Ralph E. Stehr on February 16, 1963 and was married 52 years. She worked as a dental assistant/secretary for Dr. Dols of Goodhue for 8 years and then as church secretary for United Redeemer Church until retiring in 2004. She enjoyed family gatherings, attending grandchildren’s events as they grew up, decorating for holidays, flower gardening and lawn mowing. She worked on committees at church, sang in the choir, worked at the Horticulture Department at the Goodhue County Fair and as an election judge for township and city elections. She was a 4-H leader for the Goodhue Gesundheits for a number of years. She helped organize the first meeting of the Cross Country Gals Homemaker group that continued for over 50 years, and also served on the committee for the first Goodhue High School All-Night graduation party in 1984. She enjoyed working on family genealogy and scrapbooking.

She is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Erickson (Kelly) Bolin of Mazeppa and son Mark (Lisa) Stehr of Goodhue. Grandchildren: Jordan Erickson (Michaela Oelkers) of Baldwin, WI; Matthew Stehr of Red Wing; Tyler (Emilee) Stehr of Winthrop, MN; Joey (Cody) Miller of Red Wing. Great Grandchildren: Jolee, Emryn, Reese and Ezekiel Stehr and Tucker Miller. Sisters-in-law: Arlene Scharpen, Karen Stehr, Elizabeth Stehr, Mary Jane Swee and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Phyllis Scharpen, husband Ralph Stehr, brother Virgil Scharpen, Niece Gayle (Scharpen) Krause, brothers-in-law Roger Stehr, Richard Stehr and David Swee and a nephew, Jon Stehr.

Pallbearers (Grandchildren): Jordan Erickson, Matthew and Tyler Stehr, Joey Miller and Ben and Peyton Bolin.

Funeral service will be 3 p.m. Sunday, October 18, 2026 at Christ Lutheran Church, Zumbrota. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. until the time of the service at the church. Burial will take place in the Zumbrota Cemetery. A reception and meal will follow the service at the new dome Christ Lutheran School, 1050 Jefferson Drive. Memorials are preferred to Christ Lutheran Church or School.  A livestream of the service will be available and can be viewed at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements handled by Mahn Family Funeral Home, Larson Chapel.