Georgia Schleinitz

Georgia Lu (Fletcher) Schleinitz
66 years old
September 10, 1947 – July 2, 2014

Georgia Lu (Fletcher) Schleintitz, 66, Kelly Lake, passed away on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, at Cornerstone Villa in Buhl, MN at 3:07 AM, just two weeks after being diagnosed with metastatic cancer. Her last breath and heartbeat were while holding her daughter Shenda’s hand sitting by her bedside.

Georgia Lu Fletcher was born in Virginia, MN to George B. and Ella Lucille (Mulford) Fletcher on Wednesday, September 10, 1947.  She and her brother, Gary B. Fletcher, were raised in Kelly Lake, MN.  She raised her only child, Shenda Marie (Gustafson) Skalski, two homes away from her parents, as love and family were most important in her life.  She was a lifelong resident of Kelly Lake until the last two weeks of her life when she could no longer stay in her home.  She loved the people of Kelly Lake, who became like family.  Georgia also had a love of the lake, trains, and the memories of the past.

Georgia Lu Fletcher graduated with honors from Hibbing High School in 1965.  She was always proud that her class was one of the largest classes in school history.  She held fond memories of her high school years.

Georgia’s passions were the many family get-togethers at Stingy Lake and living out her second childhood with her only grandchild, Ella Kathleen Skalski.  Georgia loved to dance to the good ol' Rock-N-Roll music of the 60's, 70's and 80's with her daughter, Shenda.  A family favorite was watching and listening to Elvis.  A highlight of the holidays was listening to Elvis Christmas songs in the car while looking at Christmas lights through Hibbing with her daughter and granddaughter, Ella K.  She also enjoyed playing the organ by ear side by side with her daughter for 40 years.  She took great pride in her home, yard, and flowers.  The TV shows that gave her comfort over the years were The Carol Burnett Show, The Golden Girls, anything with Chevy Chase, Pink Panther, Ella K’s cartoons, Joel Osteen, and Murder She Wrote.  Her laughter was most unique and will always be remembered.

Her peace came from her faith, having been raised in the Kelly Lake Methodist Church, where her mother, Ella Lucille, was the organist for 38 years and her father, George B., sang hymns for weddings and funerals on numerous occasions.  Her faith in God and Jesus gave her strength and hope during trials, tribulations, losses, and pain.  She persevered with the Lord’s supernatural peace as to not let on her weakness to loved ones in her last days.  She wanted to be strength to her daughter, Shenda, and her granddaughter, Ella K., as they were losing their Gam, Nora Mattson, who died at Cornerstone Villa on May 27, 2014.

Georgia leaves behind a legacy of faith, hope, wisdom, courage, humility, integrity, strength and unconditional love.  She lived her life according to genuine love as written in 1st Corinthians 13.  She stated in one of her last days to her daughter, “Our days may have been cut too short, but at least we found LOVE.  This is MOST important in life.  Most people don’t even know what the word means.”

Georgia was preceded in death by her mom, Ella Lucille (Mulford) Fletcher and her father, George B. Fletcher of Kelly Lake, MN; her brother, Gary B. Fletcher, of Vadnais Heights, MN; special family of years past; Kathleen, Eugene, and Greg Skalski, who became her family; and special friends Dave Wohlers and JoJo Terzich of Kelly Lake, MN and “Crazy Bill” Stark of Hibbing; and her favorite dogs, Corky and Cindy, whom she was looking forward to living with forever in Heaven.

Georgia leaves behind her only child, Shenda (Jim) Skalski of Stingy Lake, MN; her only granddaughter, Ella Kathleen Skalski, the light of her life and only 5 years old, of Stingy Lake, MN; a sister-in-law, Janice Fletcher, of Vadnais Heights, MN; a cousin, Nancy Fletcher, of Henderson, NV; her aunt, Beve Mulford, and cousin, Jeanie Mulford, both of Duluth, MN; cousin, David Mulford, of Texas; nephew, Greg(Tonya) Fletcher, and niece, Kim Fletcher; Jeff Skalski of Peoria, AR; Brandy Skalski of Hibbing, MN; the Missouri Fletchers; wonderful friends Davey(Barb) Ruzich, the Ruzich Family, the Pierce Family, Tom Tuin, and too many to mention of Kelly Lake, MN; Tod MacLeod of Hibbing, MN; special old friends Ardelle (Mike) Berklich, Barbara (Berk) Gorman, Darby and Patty Sater, Stanley (Donna) Fink, and the Gustafson family. The family wishes to thank Range Hospice for the love and support in both Georgia and Gam’s end days.

Georgia’s wishes were for a graveside service, which will be held in the chapel at Maple Hill Cemetery, Hibbing, at 1:30 PM on Monday, September 29, 2014. Pastor Roland Weaver of Open Door Church and Pastor Alex Ramos of Kelly Lake Methodist Church will officiate. No flowers, please. The family wishes cards to be sent to Dougherty Funeral Home and special online memories to be sent to www.doughteryofhibbing.com.

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