Woodbury, MN - Vera Eleanora Killian, 99, returned peacefully to her eternal home on Mar. 18 at Stonecrest Senior Living Center in Woodbury.

Vera was born on Dec. 23, 1926 in Hutchinson, MN. Her parents and older brother Herbert were from Berlin, Germany before emigrating to MN and settling in the Hutchinson farm community where Vera's life began. The family returned to Berlin in 1934 to visit relatives and were tragically prevented from returning to the U.S. because of the ensuing war.

Vera returned to the U.S. in 1947 at age 20 and lived with her Aunt Ana in Chicago. She worked at Sears and Sunbeam in Chicago while saving money to bring her parents back to Minnesota in 1949. While roller-skating with girlfriends at the Hub in Chicago, Vera was asked to skate by Bill Killian - her future husband. His ability to roller-skate backwards impressed Vera among Bill's other qualities and they married a year later.

Bill earned a Forestry degree from Purdue University and moved with Vera to Georgia in 1956 to work for Georgia Kraft paper company. Daughter Nancy was born in 1957 and son Doug in 1959. The family enjoyed southern life before moving to Wisconsin in 1965 where Bill managed state parks before retiring in 1981. Their last stop was Hudson where Bill and his team developed Willow River State Park. Vera enjoyed raising her family and supporting her parents in Buffalo, MN.

Summers were enjoyed at the family cabin in northern WI with endless hours of swimming, boating, reading and games of Sorry with Vera's two grandsons.

Vera formed close friendships at the Germanic-American Institute in St. Paul. She attended Damenklub, Stammtisch, Deutsche Tage and other activities while practicing her German.

Vera's Christian faith was important throughout her life, including membership at Bethel Lutheran Church in Hudson and St. Andrew's Lutheran in Mahtomedi. Her faith brought her through difficult times, including the loss at a young age of her brother Herbert and two grandsons, Keith and Craig.

Vera will be remembered for the deep love she showed her family and friends, including Stonecrest tablemates and other residents. One of Vera's favorite activities was playing Scrabble with friends. Nancy and daughter-in-law Kris Killian were constantly by Vera's side over the past year as she faced more health challenges.

The Killians are grateful for the Stonecrest and Optage Hospice Service teams' loving and supportive care of Vera, especially after she broke her hip three days before passing. Special thanks to Debi, Marlo and Stephanie.

Vera is preceded in death by parents Pauline and August Mueller, brother Herbert, husband Bill and grandsons Keith and Craig. A Celebration of Life for Vera is scheduled at St. Andrew's Lutheran (900 Stillwater Rd. in Mahtomedi) on Fri., Mar. 27 with visitation at 10 a.m., service at 11 a.m. and lunch to follow. The service will be live-streamed at https://saintandrews.org/funerals/. Memorials in Vera's name can be addressed to: The Foundation of St. Andrew's, 900 Stillwater Rd., Mahtomedi, MN 55115.