Cleopha Pongratz

Northview - North Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive
North Mankato, Minnesota 56003
507-388-2288

Cleopha "Cleo" Pongratz, age 71 of Good Thunder, died peacefully surrounded by family Sunday, July 7, 2013.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 12, 2013 at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Mankato. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Thursday with a 6:30 p.m. Prayer Service at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary. Memorials are preferred to the Mayo Clinic Gastrointestinal Cancer Program for pancreatic cancer research (SPORE)located at Mayo Clinic,200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905 or please call 1-800-297-1185 for more information.

Cleo was born April 3, 1942 to Hubert and Susanna (Dietemann) Renne in Mankato. She attended Loyola High School. On August 4, 1960, Cleo was united in marriage to Steven Pongratz at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. They were blessed with four children. Cleo was artistic and enjoyed needlework projects and gardening. She was especially accomplished at home canning and was pleased to share the abundance of the garden. Cleo and Steven enjoyed traveling in their motor home visiting friends and family. They particularly liked Arizona and Las Vegas as Cleo was known to be a frugal gambler. Cleo had a talent for mastering the difficult and excellent at what she set out to do. Cleo was a member of the ladies auxiliary of Mankato Eagles #269, and she enjoyed local bingo nights. Cleo thoroughly enjoyed the company of her many friends.

Cleo is survived by her husband, Steven; four children: Liz Pongratz, Barb (Frank) McCloskey, Bill (Darcy) Pongratz, and Rick Pongratz; brother, Dick (Fran) Renne; brother-in-law, Mike (Carol) Pongratz; sister-in-law, Charlotte (Richard) Sweeting; and two lifelong friends: Audrey Richter Spear and Jerry Coopman.

Cleo was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law: Eileen and Oscar Seys.