Eulalia Anne (Trueblood) Fox of Winona, Minn., died Oct. 2, 2017 at her home in Winona, surrounded by family. She was born Nov. 18, 1920 in Ericson, Nebraska, to Harry and Marcella (Kelly) Trueblood. Times were difficult and her English father left the family alone for quite frequent and long trips to find work on bridges and roads. Her fierce, red-haired Irish-Catholic mother instilled in Eulalia the blessings of working hard, being grateful for what one had, and inheriting an Irish quick wit and sharp tongue - and red hair.
The Trueblood family, which eventually included seven children, moved around Nebraska to follow Harry and his work, living in section houses in places like Spaulding, Rogers, Linwood, Morse Bluff, Albion, Seward, Stockholm and Beaver Crossing. It was in Morse Bluff where the family, alone with just Marcella, encountered a burning cross in their front yard - the KKK intended to scare the Catholics. Eulalia and her younger brother Larry would often walk the rails looking for "slack" coal to fuel the stove, and during the Depression, she went to live with her eldest sister Lucille and her husband, where she attended country school near Clarkson, e...[more]
tually going to high school in Seward. Eulalia longed to be a teacher, passing the ninth-grade entry exam at age 12, ending her schooling with her diploma at age 16. She met and married Gale Eugene Fox in Beaver Crossing on March 21, 1939 and the couple had adventures traveling for Gale's work throughout the Midwest on Chicago and Northwestern railroad.
Eulalia and Gale welcomed five children and Eulalia worked various jobs baking and cooking at Menkes Café in Exeter, in the Exeter tag factory; proof-reading, darkroom and typesetting in Milwaukee, Asco, Kresge's and Togs & Toys in Winona and working at the Regional Center in Norfolk. Eulalia was famous for her "twist" doughnuts. She was an accomplished baker, cook, quilter, gardener, seamstress and knitter, and loved technology, becoming an early adopter of all types of computer programs and uses, social media and videoconferencing. She studied and documented her family genealogy and loved music, traveling to Hawaii, Ireland and Costa Rica as favorites, camping, boating and story-telling. She made many friends in Exeter, York and Norfolk, NE; Eureka Springs, AR; and Winona, MN. Gale and Eulalia welcomed numerous foster children from Winona Catholic Charities and foreign-exchange students into their family and were gentle and loving with all children- related or not. Eulalia taught her children, grandchildren, great- and great-great grandchildren about the power of love and acceptance, based in her love of the Lord. "Just love one another," was a quote in a feature story about her in a January, 2017 Winona Daily News article. "Overlook the little things. Enjoy the ride. It all goes by so quickly."
Eulalia was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Bud, Larry, Jack and sisters Grace, Lucille and Donna; her beloved husband Gale in 2008; her daughter Cheryl McKamy, son-in-law Maurice McKamy, granddaughter Troi Anne Baker, and grandsons Timothy and Joseph Harre.
Eulalia is survived by daughters Gayla (Francis) Harre of York, NE, Nancy (Rick) Dignan of Huntsville, AR, Malia Fox (Rod Seitz), and son Tim (June) Fox, all of Winona; 18 grandchildren Kevin Harre (Lisa), Kelly Bartling (Steve), Gale McKamy (Jami), Sean McKamy, Kurt Harre (Allison), Todd Burt (Lynn), Michaela Chapin (Joe), Joel Burt (Stacy), Patrick Fox, Joshua Fox, Jason Liles, Keturah Jessie (Jason), Jere Liles, Elijah Bremer (Nikki), Nathaniel Bremer (Holly), John Fox, Samara Storovich, Dylan Fox, 36 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to share gratitude to the St. Croix Hospice team, especially Eulalia's "little squirt" (Amy), and Leah. As well as her attentive aides Tracy, Nicki, Shafaq, Nadine, CJ, Fr. Jim & Ann. In her words, "you are all so wonderful". Fly with the angels, celebrate with your loved ones and find your seat at your Creator's table.
There's still time to send flowers to the Visitation at the Visitation Commons of St. Mary's Church from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM on October 6, 2017.
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