Hazel Delores Engstrom, 90, of Eau Claire, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, August 16, 2009, at Clairemont Nursing&Rehab Center in Eau Claire. \r\nShe was born on May 21, 1919, to John B. and Hilda J. (Peterson) Gilbert in Eau Claire.Hazel graduated from the Eau Claire School of Cosmetic Art and worked as a beautician in Eau Claire. Hazel still held her beautician license and was still was giving perms and styling hair at the age of 90.\r\nHazel married John Erick Engstrom on September 12, 1943, in Eau Claire. \r\nShe was a member of the Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd since 1956.\r\nHazel was an avid flower gardener known especially for growing and sharing her beautiful African violets. She loved picking berries and enjoyed fishing. She was very proud of her Norwegian heritage traveling by herself to Norway, Sweden, and Finland in 1978 to work on her family's genealogy. Her family will always remember her incredible traditional Scandinavian meals.\r\nHazel was very proud of her 5-generation family. At age 88, Hazel made close to 30 quilts for family members as Christmas gifts.\r\nHazel was proud to be a foster parent to over 36 children.\r\nHazel is survived by her seven children, Paul (Sharon) Engstrom and Kathy (Juel) Smith both of Eau Claire, Maxine (Bob) Brown of Union Grove, Jan (Kerry) Stewart, John (Joan) Engstrom, Dave (Vicki) Engstrom and Mary (Jay Johnson) Kamke all of Eau Claire; nineteen grandchildren, Steve (Biertie Duff) Gunter, Rob (Nikki) Brown, Kim (Greg) Stilwell, Eric Nelson, Jana Nelson, Scott (Debbie) Smith, Nancy (Bruce) Tibbett, Bradley Smith, Melanie Smith, Tara (Steve) Cance, Jodi (Dan Fisher) Stewart, Jeff (Peggy) Engstrom, Joel Engstrom, Mike (Angie) Engstrom, Kevin (Grace Burgess) Engstrom, AnG (Sam) Shreffler, Renee'(Dan) Dawson, Mackenzie (Mathew Adams) Kamke and Jay Kamke; seventeen great-grandchildren, Maxwell and Roman Tibbett, Nicole Smith, April and Jeff Gunter, Bobby and Kyndall Brown, Kylie and Gracie Stilwell, Ashley (Chris) Brott, Austin Cance, Jacob and Addison Engstrom, Emma, Dane and Abbigayle Engstrom, Kaitlyn, Logan, Alexander and Porter Dawson; one great-great grandchild, Jaelynn Epps; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Erkel of Woodbury, MN and Ethel Engstrom of Altadena, CA; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.\r\nShe was preceded in death by her husband, John in 2003; her parents; a great granddaughter; Rachelle Gunter; a sister, Marie Dary; and brother, LaVerne Gilbert; and son-in-law, Howard Nelson.\r\nFuneral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 20, 2009, at Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd with Pastor Donald Wisner officiating. Burial will be in Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and an hour prior to services at the church.\r\nThe family would like to thank Dr. Weiss, the 4300 wing nurses and staff at Luther Hospital and the Palliative care nurses and staff at the Clairemont Nursing&Rehab Center for the kind and loving care they gave Hazel the last few weeks.\r\nMemorials are preferred to the donor's choice.

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