Josée (Blom) Sturm

Josée (Blom) Sturm, age 97, of Mankato died, September 9, 2023 at Generations in Mankato.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church.  Visitation will be Monday, September 18 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary and will continue one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be at Woodland Hills Cemetery, Mankato, MN.

Josée (Blom) Sturm was born on October 9, 1925 in Bruxelles, Belgium to Remi and Marie (Carillon) Blom.  She went to school at Soeurs de Charité.  Of course, her youth was spent living under German occupation during World War II which contributed to her desire never to be wasteful of anything and always show kindness to those you love.  She met the love of her life, Donald Sturm while working in her father’s dry-cleaning shop.  Donald, an American soldier, brought his uniforms in to be cleaned.  Despite the language barrier love blossomed.  In February 1947 Donnie brought Josée home to meet his family, and large it was since his mother was one of 18 while Josée had only one sister Yvonne.  They were wed on May 10, 1947.  They made their home together in Mankato where they raised four wonderful children Marilyn, David, Christian and Blaine. Becoming an entrepreneur was always a dream for Josée.  She realized that dream when she owned a sample shop and as she operated Norseman Imports for more than a decade.  Many customers eventually became friends.  After Donnie retired, they would spend winters in North Myrtle Beach SC.  They rented a condo from Vanna White (Yes from Wheel of Fortune) who became a family friend.

Josée leaves a lasting legacy with her children; daughter, Marilyn (Jerry) Carstensen of Champlin; sons, David (Diane) of Mankato, Chris (Melinda) of North Mankato and Blaine (Brenda) of Coon Rapids; 18 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandson.  She is also remembered by her sisters-in-law, Leola Johnson of Osage, IA and Peggy (Eugene) Fallenstein of Mankato, MN; and many nieces and nephews; niece, Nancy (Yves) Haftel of Lille and her family of Paris, France are the few remaining relatives in Europe.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donnie and sister, Yvonne Krys.

Many thanks to Generations and Ecumen Hospice for their loving care.