Kazimiera Brewinski

Kazimiera "Kaza" Brewinski, 91, Grand Forks, ND, died Sunday, May 26, 2013 at Altru Hospital of Grand Forks. Kazimiera Cwikla was born August 2, 1921 in Ujazd, Poland, the daughter of Tomaz and Jozefa Cwikla. There she attended grade school and worked on the family farm. In 1943, she, along with her soon to be husband, Marion Brewinski, were taken by the Nazis into Germany and placed on farms as forced laborers until the war ended. While in Germany, they were married and lived in Schwabisch Hall, in a displaced persons camp until 1950, when the opportunity to immigrate to the United States presented itself. Kaza saw this as the "open door" for her; it was the path she was going to take-a good place to raise her family. It was what she had dreamt of as a young girl growing up in Poland, when listening to the letters being read from an uncle whom had migrated to America. With the sponsorship of Fr. Paul Koehler, pastor of St. Jude's of Thompson, ND, and the parish, Kaza and Marion arrived in Thompson, ND, June 8, 1950, with two children. That became "home" for the next six decades. There she worked during the planting and harvesting of potatoes for local farmers and became an employee of the Thompson Café. When the Kuklok family moved their business to Grand Forks, they took Kaza with them, where she worked until a work related injury forced her to retire. Thompson was home! She raised her family of four there and made sure of their education. At home, she enjoyed cooking ethnic foods, taking care of her garden, doing yard work, and keeping tabs on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; always making sue that they had more than plenty to eat. Survivors include her daughters, Sofia (David) Brewinski-Quigley, Carnation, WA, Marian (Rod) Fetter, Minneapolis, MN: sons, John (Judy) Brewinski, Grand Forks, ND, and Paul (Trish) Brewinski, Bemidji, MN: grandchildren, Kelly Thacker, Kristen Edwards, Andrea Brewinski, Nathan Brewinski, Joshua Brewinski, Mike Brewinski, Matt Brewinski, Jacki Brewinski-Gross, Jon Fetter, and Marc Fetter: nine great-grandchildren ( and one more soon to arrive). She was preceded in death by her husband, Marion in 1997. Visitation will be on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, 6-7:30, with a prayer service at 7:30 at the Amundson Funeral Home of Grand Forks. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 A M, May 29, 2013 at St. Jude's Catholic Church of Thompson, ND, with visitation an hour prior to the service. Burial will be at St. Jude's Catholic Cemetery of Thompson, ND.