Jeralene Staska, 82, Medford
Jeralene Dorothy Staska (Stavenau) passed away Jan. 1, 2026, in Medford.
Memorial service will be 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, at Good Shepherd Church in Owatonna. Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the funeral at church starting at 9 a.m.
Jeralene was born in Mankato, to Harold and Dorothy Stavenau, one of five children. In her teens, she moved to Owatonna, where she met and married George Staska in 1961. Jerelene “Jeri” would be mother to three boys and a daughter. Jeri and George would divorce in 1995. She lived the vast majority of her life in Owatonna, only moving to Medford late in 2025.
She was a career bookkeeper at various local companies, and even an owner herself of the Cotton Patch, a quilting store in Owatonna. Her great attention to detail in her job crossed over to her passion for quilting. During her life she made thousands, yes thousands, of quilts for her family, friends and especially her church. It never escaped her, the simple comfort and security her quilts would bring those who sheltered beneath them. Her quilts were filled with vivid colors and complimentary patterns and were used for baptisms, crisis situations, and simply to comfort those in need. Today her quilts continue to keep people warm all over the world.
Jeri was a passionate reader her entire life, never far from a book to finish or a new book to start. She loved to tidy her flower beds and a well-kept lawn. During her life she was also an avid baker, from early in her life making wedding cakes to later producing dozens of different holiday treats each Christmas, including her beloved sugar cookies. Banana bread was also a signature pleasure Jeri liked to bake and give out to family and friends, restoring faith in humanity one loaf at a time!
She is reunited with her creator, her parents, son Brian Staska, grandchild Kaidin Minowa, brother Donald Stavenau and sister Helen Cherry.
She is survived by sisters, Carol Michels (Pat) and Linda Phinney (Pat); sons, Brad Staska (Jodi) and David Staska (Jaime) and daughter Connie Minowa; grandchilden, Ben Staska (Chantel), Nick Staska (Kaia Elstad), Nova Minowa, Aurora Minowa, Haven Minowa, Brooke Goligoski, Kaitlyn Goligoski, Maddie Staska, Savannah Staska and great grandchild Briggs Staska.