Chris Apitz

Agnes (Chris) Thyra Marie Christensen Apitz
7/8/1928 � 3/19/2015

Chris Apitz was born on July 8, 1928 in Jackson Minnesota. She was raised in Jackson and graduated from Jackson High School in 1946.

Chris worked in a drug store in Jackson during high school and when home from Mankato Teachers college. It was at Mankato where she met her future husband, Earl Apitz, while helping people evacuate during the Minnesota River flood of 1950.

She graduated from Mankato Teachers college in 1949.

Chris and Earl were married on March 8, 1952, and got trapped by a late winter snowstorm in Minneapolis trying to get to their honeymoon in northern Minnesota. They had one daughter, Lynnette, who was born in 1953.

Chris and Earl settled in Le Center Minnesota where they both taught school, Chris taught first grade and Earl taught Science and Industrial Arts.

After retirement Chris and Earl spent time on their 70 acre farm outside of Montgomery Minnesota.

A former student of both Chris (1st grade) and Earl (Industrial Arts), Jeannie Wohlers, began stopping by the farm to ask Earl's advice about her own property. They became close friends and Jeannie asked Chris & Earl if she could call them Mom & Dad. With Lynnette's blessing Jeannie became Earl & Chris' adopted daughter.

Earl bought his first Harley Davidson Motorcycle when he was 70, without telling Chris, who was visiting friends in Hawaii. After she got home they both embraced motorcycling. Chris even earned her own motorcycle drivers endorsement.

Chris loved living in the country and, along with Earl, tended to their horses, gardened and canned the harvest and also enjoyed entertaining family and friends. She loved music; playing the piano and organ and singing were favorite times. Chris also loved to travel and with Earl explored this continent and her beloved Denmark, Norway and Germany.

The birth of her grandchild Cody was a highlight of her life.

Chris was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment in 2004 and after Earl passed away, required at home care and subsequently assisted living arrangements. She moved to Memory Care in Traditions of Montgomery in 2009. Visits from friends and children were always the best part of her day.

Chris's family would like to thank the staff at Hospice Advantage for caring for Chris the last few weeks of her life with such caring and compassion. She passed away peacefully in her sleep.

A remembrance and celebration of Chris's life will be held at Le Center Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Private burial will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.

Arrangements are with the Le Center Funeral Home in Le Center. 507-357-6116. www.lecenterfuneralhome.com