Geraldine "Gerry" Margie (Pederson) Altonen Obit

GERALDINE "GERRY" MARGIE (PEDERSON) ALTONEN, passed away peacefully at Heartwood Care Center June 16, 2026. Geraldine was born in Crosby, June 20, 1939, to Marjorie Pederson (Shannon) Oscar Pederson who were from Ironton. Geraldine was a graduate of the Crosby-Ironton High School, class of 1957. She met Wayne ”Tez” Altonen in 1956 at school, they were inseparable. They soon married on May 21,1960, in Crosby. They moved to South Minneapolis where they loved and raised five children. Gerry worked as a secretary for Salem English Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, The University of Minnesota Agricultural Extention Office, was treasuer of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Crosby, and head of the Crosby-Ironton School All-Class Reunion. Gerry and Tez retired in 1998 and moved back to Ironton. They remodeled the house that Gerry grew up in with help from all the kids and other family and friends. They lived there together until Wayne’s death in 2021. Gerry is preceded in death by husband Wayne “Tez,” her parents, Oscar and Marjorie Pederson, Aunts Olive Wood and Kathleen Peterson. She is survived by her children and grandchildren: Richard Altonen of Ironton, Grandsons, Cody and Riley Altonen of Plymouth; David (Melanie) Altonen of Coon Rapids, Grandson Jordan (Dylan) Altonen of Brooklyn Park, Granddaughter Allie Altonen of Minneapolis;  Denise Altonen (Debra Gilmore) of Blaine;  Kathi (Victor) Guzman of Brooklyn Park, Grandsons Nicholas Guzman (Lauren Shomion) of Plymouth, Anthony (Ellie) Guzman of Brooklyn Park; Virginia “Jena” (Edmund “Joe”) Anderson of Princeton, Granddaughters Claire (Wyatt) Lawrence of Princeton, Julia Anderson of Princeton, Millie (Cole) Elton of Pease and Ella and Audrey Anderson of Princeton; great-grandchildren, Gunnar and Kora Altonen, Oliver Lawrence and Chester Guzman; Sister, Virginia “Ginny” Larson of Deerwood; Nieces, Kim Taylor of Crosby, Angie Hayden of Coon Rapids, Shannon Larson of Brainerd; Liz (Gary) Kilgo of Florida and Sarah Altonen of Colorado; Nephews, Mick (Julie) Taylor of Deerwood, Jeff (Angelle) Taylor of Emily, Sean Larson of Deerwood and Skyler (Elva) Altonen of Arthyde. Gerry’s family would like to thank: the staff at Sterling Point Assisted Living in Princeton, St. Croix Hospice, and the Heartwood Care Center in Crosby. We are forever grateful for their ongoing care and dedication to our mom. A Celebration of Life for Gerry will be at the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby on Friday, July 10,from 1 to 4 p.m. Inurnment will be at the Beaver Cemetery on Saturday, July 11 at 11 a.m.