Constance P. Tesch, 94, of Waconia

Constance P. Tesch, 94, of Waconia, died Monday, July 24, 2017, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson.
Funeral services were held Friday, July 28, at the Johnson Funeral Home in Waconia with the Rev. Bob Alsleben officiating.
Honorary casket bearers were her great-grandchildren. Casket bearers were Stephen Tesch, Scott Tesch, Randy Draeger and Neil Frahm. Interment was in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Waconia.
Constance P. (Barrie) Tesch was born June 28, 1923, in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Gerald and Meta Barrie. She was adopted as an infant in Minneapolis and was the couple’s only child. She grew up with her family in Hutchinson.
She met Harold Tesch in February 1946 on a bus as she traveled to Minneapolis while Harold was traveling back from World War II to get some civilian clothes. She was the only passenger on the bus and Harold Tesch asked to sit by her. From that day on, Connie’s “Old Bird” won her heart. The couple wrote letters and later Harold Tesch would drive to Hutchinson for weekly dates with her. She was his one true love for the last 71 years. Together, they made their home in Waconia and raised three boys.
Mrs. Tesch was mostly proud of her family and enjoyed sharing memories of her mother and cousin “Muggs.” Her hobbies included cooking and baking. She made the best chocolate marshmallow cake, pies and hearty meals for her family. She loved holiday gatherings, spending time with family and friends and debating politics. Her favorite music included Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand. Her favorite food was pasta. She worked at Tonka Toys for many years and also at Kraft Foods as an assistant for a chemist lab. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Waconia.
She is survived by her loving family: husband, Harold Tesch; sons and daughter-in-law, Harold “Chipper” Tesch Jr. of Shorewood, James and Peggy Tesch of New Auburn and Timothy Tesch of Clearwater; grandchildren, Stephen and Jessica Tesch, Melissa (Tesch) and Randy Draeger, Scott and Tanya Tesch, and Elizabeth (Tesch) and Neil Frahm; great-grandchildren, Amanda, Jake and Julia Tesch, Coleton, Trenton and Grace Draeger, Mason, Brianna and Nathaniel Tesch and Luke, Mickalyn, Betsimay and Taten Frahm; extended family, Chick and Susan Bievier, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Meta Barrie; cousin, Margaret “Muggs” Bievier; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Aaron and Lilly Tesch; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Lawrence Tesch, Paul Tesch and Dorothy (Tesch) Laabs.
Arrangements were with the Johnson Funeral Home in Waconia, www.johnsonfh.com [1].