Monica J. Kriesel, age 62 of Glenwood, died Sunday, August 16, 2026 at Alomere Health in Alexandria. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 24th at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood with Father Joe Vandeberg officiating. A Rosary prayed by the Christian Mothers will be Sunday the 23rd at 3:40 p.m. followed by visitation from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. Visitation will also continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Glenwood. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood.

Monica J. Kriesel, age 62 of Glenwood, died Sunday, August 16, 2026 at Alomere Health in Alexandria. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 24th at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood with Father Joe Vandeberg officiating. A Rosary prayed by the Christian Mothers will be Sunday the 23rd at 3:40 p.m. followed by visitation from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. Visitation will also continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Glenwood. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood.

Monica Jean Boelke Kriesel, the daughter of Cyril and Frances (Scheller) Boelke was born February 11, 1964 in Glenwood, Minnesota. She grew up in Glenwood and attended Glenwood High School where she graduated from in 1981. She also attended St. Benedict’s College in St. Joseph, Minnesota.

On April 26, 1986, Monica was united in marriage to Daniel Kriesel of Zimmerman, Minnesota. This marriage was blessed with two beautiful children, Elizabeth and David. Monica and Dan made their home in Zimmerman for a few years before moving back to Glenwood. Monica worked at various businesses after moving back to the Glenwood area, but her most cherished employment was that of being an outstanding wife to Dan and a wonderful mother to her two children. Monica enjoyed living life to the fullest. Fishing was at the top of her list of things she enjoyed along with gardening, canning, exploring the North Shore every year, collecting rocks, crafting, reading and most of all cooking. She was an excellent chef, known to be the best “soup maker” in the family. She especially enjoyed keeping family traditions and learning to make recipes that had been handed down from past generations.

Monica was diagnosed with lung cancer 11 years ago and after treatment, was able to be in remission for several years before it came back two years ago. She faced it with courage and strength, continuing treatments and fighting as long as she could.

Monica is survived by her husband of 40 years, Dan of Glenwood; children, David (Anna) Kriesel of Glenwood and Elizabeth Kriesel of Starbuck; three precious grandchildren, Keira age 9, Tyris age 5 and Brinx age 3; her five sisters, Sharon Duggan of Andover, MN, Donna (Doug) Fiala of Princeton, MN, Madeline Barsness of Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Debbie (Roy) Melara of Miami, FL, and Joanne (Byron) Braaten of Glenwood. She also has a very large extended family and an unending list of friends who admired and loved her very much.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Cyril and Frances Boelke and her three brothers, Craig, Tom and Bobby.