Ann Goerdt

Ann Cecilia Goerdt, 82, of Breckenridge, MN passed away the morning of July 3, 2021, in the dignified care of St. Catherine's living center of Wahpeton, ND. A prayer service will be held at 7 PM, Wednesday, July 7, 2021, at Joseph Vertin and Sons Funeral Home with a visitation starting at 5 PM and a Christian Mother's Rosary at 5:30 PM. Visitation will continue Thursday, July 8, 2021, and begin at 10 AM at St. Mary's Catholic Church officiated by Father Leo Moenkedick and Father Ken Popp, followed by her Funeral Mass at 11 am.  A live stream of the services is available on the Funeral Home’s website. Arrangements have been entrusted to Joseph Vertin and Sons Funeral Home.

Ann was born in rural Wilkin County at her family’s home to Albert and Loretta (Tryba) Nennig. She attended a small country school until transferring to Campbell High School for a year. After moving to Fairmount, ND, she graduated from Fairmount High School in 1956.  On May 30, 1959, Ann married Norman Goerdt at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Fairmount, ND. The two would move to the Breckenridge-Wahpeton area to settle down and raise their family of seven children.

Ann was a kind, caring woman, who was a devout member of her church and an active member in the community. She volunteered at St. Francis Home/Hospital, the Leach Home, St. Catherine’s Living Center, Richland-Wilkin Pro-Life, as well as various other community events throughout her life. Her career encompassed working at St. Francis Hospital as a ward clerk, a legal secretary for two different law firms, and finally, as a Deputy Court Administrator for Wilkin County for nearly thirty years.

She was a gifted pianist and organist, playing faithfully for masses, weddings, funerals, nursing homes, etc., from the age of 16 until the Covid 19 shutdown.

After her diagnosis last year, Ann continued her journey in life, ending with a valiant, dignified fight with cancer. The most important things in Ann’s life were her faith and her family, raising seven kids, and being blessed with 23 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Ann is survived by her seven children, including Gregory (Linda) Goerdt, Kent, MN; Scott (Sandra) Goerdt, Apple Valley, MN; Colleen (Don) Braaten, Lakeville, MN; Jennifer (Terry) Zenker, Eagan, MN; Brian (Karla) Goerdt, Northfield, MN; Nancy (Barry) Bishop, Lemmon, SD; and Melissa (Jason) Quam, Wyndmere, ND; 23 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; her sister Donna Doran, Breckenridge, MN; and her brother, Nicholas (Elizabeth) Nennig, Grand Junction, CO.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Norman Goerdt; her parents, Albert and Loretta (Tryba) Nennig; her brother, Robert Nennig and his wife, Francis Nennig; her sister, Catherine Burke and her husband, Bruce Burke.

The Goerdt children would like to thank the staff at St. Francis Hospital and the CHI Hospice team for the wonderful care they gave Ann. They are also grateful for the loving compassion, dignity, and respect St. Catherine’s staff gave to Ann at the end of her life.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home.