Sheila Garceau, age 86, of Foley, passed away peacefully Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at her home.  A memorial mass celebrating the life of Sheila will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, August 5th at St. John’s Catholic Church in Foley.  Visitation will be held Friday evening from 4-8 and also one hour prior to services Saturday, all at St. John’s Catholic Church.  Rev. Michael Wolfbauer will officiate.  Interment will be in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Foley.  

Sheila Ann Garceau was born on April 10, 1931 of Foley, Minnesota to William and Gladys (Bauerly) Kotsmith.  The oldest of seven children, Sheila attended Foley High School and was involved in numerous activities, including: cheerleading, band, theater and speech.  After high school she attended the College of St. Benedict until she met her one and only love, Paul Garceau.  They married on September 4, 1950 at St. John's Catholic Church in Foley.  She worked as a bookkeeper at the A.M.P.I. Creamery and then as a bookkeeper for Coborns.  Sheila was a lifetime member of St. John's Catholic Church and belonged to St. John's Christian Mothers, The Rosary Society, Our Lady's Rosary Makers, and the Foley American Legion Auxiliary.

Sheila was a lifelong resident of Foley and raised her eight children with unconditional and supportive love.  Her life was centered around her faith and family.  Her favorite thing to do with the family was to go camping and sing around the bonfire.  Sheila enjoyed playing cards, especially bridge and hand-and-foot, and loved feeding and watching the birds and tending to her flowers in her back yard.  Sheila was also an avid Twins and Vikings fan, even when they didn't give her much to cheer about.

Sheila's legacy is her dedication to her family, rarely missing a baptism, first communion, graduation, or a wedding.  She will be remembered for her genuine interest and care for others, and her welcoming, kind and generous spirit.  A welcoming cup of coffee and her delicious baked goods awaited everyone who stopped over.

Sheila is survived by her eight children; Ted (Karen) Garceau, Foley; Paula (Tom) Oven, St. Cloud; Anna Marie (Harry) Herbst, St. Cloud; Jeanne (Dave) Jaeckels, Clear Lake; Cathy (Dave) Kantor, Foley; Bill (Diane) Garceau, Foley; Tom (Sheila) Garceau, St. Cloud and Mike Garceau of Duelm; 25 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren; siblings:  Bill (Joan) Kotsmith, Mary Jane Grow, Kay Lee Auers, Sally Borgert, Terry (Sharon) Kotsmith, and Ginger (Buzz) Weiser; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; loving husband, Paul (1989); four grandchildren:  Cecelia and Michael Herbst, John Garceau, and Jake Jaeckels; daughter-in-law, Julie (Kearin) Garceau; three brothers-in-law:  Jim Auers, Bob Borgert and Jerome Grow.

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