
Stella A. Cyriacks, 89, of Annandale, died Monday, July 1, 2019, at the Annandale Care Center. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 8, at Zion Lutheran Church in Annandale with Rev. Thomas Queck officiating. Burial followed at Corinna Lutheran Cemetery in Corinna Township. Visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 7, at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel in Annandale with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation continued one hour prior to the funeral on Monday at the church. Memorials are preferred to Zion Lutheran Church in Annandale. Stella Anne Cyriacks was born January 15, 1930, to Rev. Herbert and Martha (Steinke) Kothe in Niagra, North Dakota, about 45 miles west of Grand Forks, North Dakota. She was baptized at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Niagra. In 1936, her father accepted a call to Zion Lutheran Church in Springfield, Minnesota, where Stella was confirmed. Stella graduated from Springfield High School; she was athletic and loved cheerleading, basketball and swimming. Stella went on to earn her Associate of Arts Degree from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato. She taught for two years at a Lutheran country school near Red Wing and for two years at a Lutheran school in Richfield. She continued her education at the University of Minnesota and in 1956 earned a degree in History. While at the University, she was involved with Synchronized Swimming. Stella worked for one year at Prudential Insurance Company on the Comptroller’s staff. On Aug. 25, 1957, she was united in marriage to Marvin Cyriacks at Concordia Lutheran Church in Fairhaven. They lived for a short time in Merced, California while Marv completed his service in the U.S. Air Force. They moved to Annandale, Minnesota where they were blessed with three children. Stella studied German at St. Cloud State University, earning her degree in 1984. She taught German for two years at Cathedral High School in St. Cloud; she continued to teach German through the Quest Program at Annandale High School until retiring in 1997. Stella also taught piano and organ lessons out of her home for many years. Stella was a member and past President of the Annandale Improvement Club. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Silver Creek and Zion Lutheran Church in Annandale. She was active with LWML and was a Sunday School Teacher at Zion Lutheran Church. Stella loved music and was the church organist and choir director at numerous churches over the years. Stella had a joy of traveling especially to Germany, Austria and state parks in the United States. She also had a passion for learning as could be seen by the three college degrees that she earned. Time with family was important and she loved the time she spent watching sports with her husband, Marv. Stella is survived by her daughters, Marla of Brooklyn Center and Patrice of St. Louis Park; sisters and brothers, Dorothy Meyer of Buffalo, Herbert (Jan) Kothe of Suverna Park, Naomi (Darold) Wold of St. Louis Park, Helen (Jon) Larson of New Brighton, Richard (Carolyn) Kothe of Eagan, Rev. Kenneth (Katie) Kothe of St. Michael and Connie (Richard) Helgeson of St. Michael; and sister-in-law, Theodora “Teddy” Kothe. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Herbert and Martha Kothe; husband, Marv in 2017; son, Bret in 2004; brothers, Theodore, Edward and David Kothe; and sister Grace Neumann. The casket bearers will be Brian and David Kothe, Bob and Russell Bushman, Bruce Larson, and David Trautman. Rev. Ken Tatkenhorst will provide the music for the service. Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial and Cremation Services of Annandale.