Agnes Joyce Coudron

Mass of Christian Burial for Agnes Coudron, 92, of Marshall, will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 17, 2023, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall.  Visitation will be Sunday, July 16, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a CCW Rosary at 4:00 p.m. and a Parish Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Marshall.  Visitation will continue on Monday from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at the remembrance center.  Interment will follow the service at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Marshall.  A livestream and recording of the service will be available at www.holy-redeemer.com.

Agnes Joyce (Hamerlinck) Coudron was born March 2, 1931 to Henry and Sadie (Koltze) Hamerlinck on a farm in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. Agnes grew up with one brother and six sisters: Robert, Margaret, Lucille, Mary Ann, Bernice, Kathleen, and Barbara. When Agnes was two years old, she moved along with her family to a farm east of Minneota. There she attended country school through the second grade, walking to school each day with the neighboring children. When St. Edward parish opened a Catholic school, she transferred there from 3^rd through 8^th grade. She then attended and graduated from Minneota High School. Agnes’ love of the land developed early as she spent her youth working on the family farm, milking cows, and farming with draft horses. She especially liked working with the horses and was quite happy when the family got their first riding horse, a mare named Bill, when she was eight years old.

Faith and family were the cornerstones of her life. On November 19, 1951 Agnes was united in marriage to John J. Coudron at St. Edward Catholic Church in Minneota. In their marriage of over 65 years, Agnes and John were a wonderful example of love and devotion to each other. Together they farmed in Stanley Township, eventually helped by their eight children: Virginia, Cathy, Diane, Greg, Mark, Bernadette, Mary and Joseph. Agnes loved farming alongside John; working the land and raising crops and livestock. She not only enjoyed farming, she was an excellent manager and was a great help to John in the business and financial side of the farm as well. She also loved to garden and fresh produce was a staple of family meals. John and Agnes retired from actively farming in 1985, but continued to live on the land until 1999, when they moved to Marshall, Minnesota.

After retiring and becoming empty nesters, Agnes and John enjoyed traveling through every state in the continental United States as well as Alaska and Hawaii, and also to the Panama Canal and Canada. They especially looked forward to trips to see their many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Always active in her church, Agnes served as vice president and then president of Holy Redeemer Council of Catholic Women. On April 28, 1996 she was awarded the Bishop’s Medal of Service for outstanding service and commitment. For many years she was a member of the Funeral Committee: cooking in Carlin Hall and making hot-dish for funeral luncheons. Using another of her many skills, Agnes also sewed the baptismal gowns for little ones and adults.

Cooking and baking were other passions, and Agnes was especially known for her chocolate chip cookies which were a favorite of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Some of these cookies even traveled cross-country and overseas. Holidays were always graced by her homemade cinnamon bread, which was devoured by everyone and for which the recipe remains a mystery.

In her later years, Agnes finally had some time to pursue her joy of oil painting and, although largely self-taught, she became a quite accomplished artist. Nature, birds, flowers, landscapes and wildlife were frequent subject matter. She entered the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wild turkey stamp contest over several years and placed third and fourth in the state. She also donated prints of her art to the Prairie Home Hospice Ball Silent Auction for many years.

Agnes died on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at the Avera Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall.

Grateful for having shared her life are her children: Virginia Coudron of Brookings, SD; Cathy (Randy) Van Leeuwe of Ghent, MN; Diane (Mike) Dotson of Brookings, SD; Gregory (Mavis) Coudron of O’Fallon, MO; Mark Coudron of Boyceville, WI; Bernadette (Kevin) Black of Austin, TX; Mary (Mark Lane) Coudron of Maple Grove, MN; and Joseph (Cathy) Coudron of Hugo, MN. Grandchildren: Eric (Sonja) Van Leeuwe, Jeremy (Kailie) Van Leeuwe, April (Charles) Einck, Mackenzie (Kevin) Olson, Whitney (Joseph) Graham, Shelby (Dan) Egan, Jackson Coudron, Milo Black, honorary grandchild Chloe Allison. Great-grandchildren: Sophia, Lexi, August Van Leeuwe, Charlie Einck, Ryker Olson, Colt and Oakley Egan: Step-grandchild Christina (Brett) Luger, step-great-grandchildren Leighton and Lennon Luger.

Agnes was preceded in death by her husband John Coudron, her parents Henry and Sadie (Koltze) Hamerlinck, her sisters Margaret and Mary Ann, her great-grandchildren Madison and Sheridyn Van Leeuwe and step-grandson Connor Folsom, as well as many other family and friends.

Blessed be her memory.

Memorials may be sent to:

Holy Redeemer Foundation

Holy Redeemer Catholic Church

503 West Lyon Street

Marshall, MN 56258