Constance “Connie” Elizabeth Kubista, 86
Constance “Connie” Elizabeth Kubista passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on September 11, 2025, after 86 joyful and adventurous years.
Born in Owatonna to Arthur and Anna Ihrke, Connie spent her life in the Owatonna and Medford communities. She married Richard (Dick) Ruzek, and together they had four children. Later, she married David Kubista, and they made memories of attending fairs, parades, and festivals. Connie’s pride and joy came from the family she built and the life she shaped with resilience, independence, and deep love for her children and grandchildren.
Connie was a woman of strength, humor, and a heart full of love and kindness. She worked for many years in the Owatonna Public Schools as a “lunch lady,” as she proudly called herself, where she delighted in greeting students each day with a smile. She later enjoyed a second career in retail, first at Brett’s Department Store and then at Carter’s, where her love of fashion, conversations, and special way with children made her a natural. Recognized often for her warmth and exceptional customer service, Connie turned every interaction into a moment of connection.
Connie loved shopping. “Retail therapy” and “attacking the sale racks” were common phrases. She loved having a “barley pop” and appetizers after a shopping trip.
Family was always at the center of Connie’s life. She was a devoted and enthusiastic grandmother who loved attending a sporting event, concert, or community parade. She loved to spoil her grandchildren with hugs, thoughtful gifts, and of course, stylish outfits. Becoming a great-grandmother was another treasured chapter in her life. She never missed a birthday, and her cards, always signed with care, were a small but lasting symbol of her love.
She had a lifelong affection for animals, especially the many cats and dogs she welcomed into her home over the years. To Connie, pets were not just companions; they were family. Her faith was another steady part of her life, and she found great joy in singing at church. She loved the theater, cherished her travels, and especially delighted in her trips to Jamaica and Mexico.
Connie will be remembered for her resilience, her wit, her sense of style, and most of all, her unwavering love.
She is survived by her children Steve (Deb), Todd (Lynn), Melissa (Craig), and Kirk; grandchildren Sarah (Chad), Jesse (Dave), Jenna (Jacob), Danelle, Lindsay (Josh), and Dylan (Paige); great-grandchildren Paige, James, Riley, Piper, Norah, Lenny, Aurora, and Brooks; and her beloved cat, Bessie Mae. She was preceded in death by her parents, Art and Anna, four brothers, one sister, and many dearly loved cats and dogs who, no doubt, greeted her with wagging tails and gentle purrs.
Generous to the very end, Connie donated her body to Mayo for research, leaving a gift for future generations.
A Celebration of Connie’s Life will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at St. John Church (1301 Lincoln Ave S., Owatonna), with Pastor Dave Klawiter presiding. Friends may greet the family beginning at 10:00 AM at the church.
In remembrance of Connie, memorials may be directed by the family to the Steele County Humane Society. For more information or to leave an online message of condolence, go to www.megercares.com
Connie lived life to the fullest, and her love, laughter, and light will remain forever in the hearts of those who knew her. 🦋💕