Pelagie "Mike" C. Snesrud

Captain Pelagie “Mike” Carrie Snesrud

August 20, 1951 – March 18, 2021

On Thursday, March 18, 2021, Pelagie “Mike” Snesrud, 69 of Holmen, passed away from kidney cancer in the comfort of her home. Mike was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She went peacefully, surrounded by the ones she loved the most and those that loved her equally in return.

Mike was born on August 20, 1951 in Minneapolis, MN to Douglas and Florence (Leach) Kelm. She grew up in Shakopee, MN and graduated from Shakopee High School, class of 1969. She went on to receive her Nursing degree from Winona State University in 1974. While in college, she took a chance and agreed to a date with her anatomy lab partner. They were a perfect match. On September 3, 1971, she married Glen R. Snesrud and together they enjoyed 49 ½ wonderful years of marriage. The first ten years of nursing took her to Bloomington, MN and Lawrence, KS where she was involved in public health, hospital and clinical nursing. In 1982, she joined the Commissioned Core US Public Health Service where she served 27 years as a commissioned officer, earning the Navy equivalent of an O-6 Captain. She served three deployments: one to Arkansas during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and twice to Nigeria distributing polio vaccinations. For the next 20 years, she served as the Director of Public Health Nursing for the Fond Du Lac Indian Reservation in Cloquet, MN. That is where they settled in and raised their four children. Eventually, after the kids were grown, Mike took her final position with the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA. She worked as the Senior Tribal Liaison for Policy and Evaluation for eight years until she retired in 2010.

Mike was always an active community member, which was only enhanced through her children and grandchildren. She, with Glen by her side, was ever present in all things the kids did. She was not only there for games and practices, but was involved as coach, leader, mentor and supporter. Mike believed that one shouldn’t complain about something unless they were going to do something about it. She practiced what she preached. Mike was President of the Cloquet Youth Baseball and Softball Organization, Girl Scout Leader and board member for the Girl Scouts of MN/WI as well as the National Girl Scout Council. She was an elected member of the board involved in merging the American Lutheran Church with the Lutheran Church in America into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She was President and Treasurer of The National Alaska Native America Indian Nurses Association and Chairperson for the National Indian Cancer Foundation. It would be remiss if we forgot to mention that she was a very avid reader and local member of the infamous book club, “Winos Who Read.”

Following her retirement, Mike and Glen moved back home to be closer to their beloved family. Mike enjoyed fishing, playing travel agent to her and Glen’s many vacations with family and long-time friends, sixteen glorious years of wintering in Hawaii, visiting and collecting from micro-breweries, cheering on her prized MN Vikings, cooking up feasts, and everything related to those grandbabies. Whether it be through ice cream and freezies, eleven different meal options, an always filled candy jar, or a shopping spree, her grandkids knew she was always their cheerleader, excitedly listening to all their accomplishments. They also already knew the answer was yes if they asked Mama Mike for anything.

Mike was the epitome of strength, determination, work ethic and loyalty. She had a pride for her culture and her family that was unmatched. She strove to be different and was an advocate for many. No doubt, she will have her purple painted toes in the warm sand, an IPA in hand and continue to challenge anyone willing on the taboo subject of their choice.

Mike was preceded in death by her parents, Douglas and Florence Kelm and her brothers, Pierre Arnold and Bradley Kelm. Her heart continues in the lives of her husband, Glen Snesrud; her children, Tara (Bill) Suffrins, Heather (Steve) Bartlam, Mathew (Heather) Snesrud, Jeremiah (Alyssa) Snesrud; her grandchildren, Alexa, Grace, Calvin, Hudson, Charlotte, Autumn, Davis, Bennett, Brahm, Alex, Owen; her sister, Patricia Cates; her nephews; many beautiful and cherished family and friends.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 25, 2021 from 3:00pm until 6:00pm at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, 907 Sand Lake Road, Onalaska, WI. A private funeral service will take place on Friday, March 26, 2021 at Holmen Lutheran Church in Holmen, WI. Pastor Matt Toso will officiate. A burial will take place at a future date. Flowers and condolences can be sent to Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 907 Sand Lake Road, Onalaska, WI 54650 or 418 Russell Dr. S, Holmen, WI 54636.