"We are so sorry to hear that Yvonne has passed on. She had such a welcoming, fun loving personality. Even when we saw her in the later stage of Alzheimer's, she was sparkly and positive and so very engaging. Our hearts go out to Doug and the rest of the family and friends who are mourning the loss of a beautiful spirit. Bob and Margo Tessman"
In loving memory of
Yvonne Quady (Hollerbach)
April 4, 1942 - December 20, 2022
Yvonne Josephine Hollerbach Quady
Born April 4, 1942
Died December 20, 2022
Age 80
Yvonne leaves behind a legacy of volunteering, fun, fudge, and brownies. Anywhere she went, she arrived with a pan of treats and a plan for fun that often included, "someone is gonna end up embarrassed and I'm ok with that."
Yvonne and Doug built a life on the water, with their house on Twin Lake and cabin on Gun Lake, raising their children, Tammy and Tim. She enjoyed being active in church with Doug for her entire life, and volunteered for numerous causes. She was the glue that held many circles of friends together, and she always knew where Doug's socks were.
Her working life was spent selling tickets at local events, which led to a position as a receptionist at the Minneapolis Convention Center, a job she held for decades.
The highlight of her lifetime of volunteering were her years as a registered clown with a nonprofit organization. She brought joy to childcare and eldercare centers as her moniker, Erski, a name she chose to sound like "her ski," in honor of her skiing years.
Her favorite place in the world was the family cabin on Gun Lake in Aitkin, MN. She spent her time up north hosting family and friends with her trademark fun, pranks, baked goods, and a mean card game of 500.
She enjoyed many years of downhill skiing in Colorado with Doug, Tammy, and Tim; the Falk cousins, Mike, Steve, and Larry; and family friends who rounded out the ski crew. While everyone else skied the black runs, she always stuck to the blue runs, saying she was "a cruiser, not a bruiser," and remaining the one member of the group who escaped injury over the decades.
Since the age of 14, Joyce Johnson was the best BFF she could ask for and was her sidekick for all things travel and Disney, lunch, cards, and each being godmother to the other's firstborn. Joyce kept track of Yvonne's keys and passport, and especially took care of her heart every time life presented a patch of rocky terrain.
Doug's brothers, Bruce and William Quady, were true brothers to her, and the fact that they were in-laws was only a technicality.
When Tim and Lisa married, Lisa's parents, Bill and Leah Franke, became family. For 30 years, the extended Quady-Franke family has celebrated all holidays and milestones together.
Her favorite Hollerbach relatives, sister Juanita, aunt Rose, and cousin Bill, all preceded her in death. The four of them are now reunited, playing practical jokes on one another, laughing all the way.
Her husband Doug, her kids Tammy and Tim and Tim's wife, Lisa, and her granddaughters Allison and Samantha will carry all the best parts of her forward in this world.
There were categories of life where Yvonne took all she could get: Chocolate and ice cream, of course, as well as time at the cabin, skiing in Colorado, and machinery (the bigger the lawn mower, the better).
There were categories where she gave her all: her sense of humor, hospitality and baking for others, being a grandma, volunteering, being Erski the clown, and bible study.
And there were things she enjoyed on a more selective basis: water skiing despite her fear of open water, a margarita without salt ("Whoop! That's so strong!"), collecting speeding tickets, and at age 76 she up and got a matching tattoo with granddaughter, Alli.
The list of things she utterly refused in life is short: Mornings, no question. Also milk, eggs, mushrooms, gravy, and blueberries.
Throughout five years of increasing Alzheimer's symptoms, Yvonne never let go of her feisty attitude against it. If you would like to make a donation in her name, please visit the Alzheimer's Association website at alz.org.
The family requests that you pop into your clinic or pharmacy for a covid vaccine. Please protect not just yourself, but those around you. Yvonne tested positive for covid four weeks prior to her passing and never recovered.
Visitation at church 1 hour before service. Celebration of Life 12pm (noon) on Friday, May 12, 2023 at Nativity Lutheran Church, 3312 Silver Lake Road, St. Anthony, MN 55418 (612-781-2766) with luncheon to immediately follow.
Preceded in death by:
Adoptive mother Florence Hollerbach Borstad.
Father George Hollerbach.
Mother- and father-in-law Elsie and Doug Quady Sr.
Sisters Juanita Hollerbach Vanderpoel (Tom), and Nancy Borstad Jeffers (Jeff).
Survived by:
Husband Doug Quady.
Daughter Tammy Quady, son Tim Quady, and daughter-in-law Lisa Franke Quady.
Granddaughters Allison (partner Andrew) and Samantha Quady.
Brothers "in-law" Bruce Quady (Katherine Hedin) and William Quady.
Nieces Elizabeth Hedin (Matt Petersen) and Emily Hedin (Adam Thomas).
Dearest friend, Joyce Johnson.
"Co-parents," Bill and Leah Franke.
The extended Hollerbach, Quady, Falk, and Franke families.
Tributes
"Yvonne was such a wonderful friend. She was fun, smart, trustworthy, spontaneous, wise, and loved so much. We made some clown clothes together and decided we both hate bias tape! We practiced how to dye clown wigs--big fiasco but a lot of roaring laughter. She was one of the best hostesses I've known and everyone was welcomed with a smile and open arms. I loved her. Jan Gatzmer"
"Doug, I am so sorry to learn of Yvonne's passing. The smile on her face is how I remember her. She was so full of positive energy. My dad will be there to welcome her to heaven!!"
"Blessings to all who loved Yvonne "