Renja Sigurdson, age 85, of North Branch passed away January 5, 2026 at Ecumen North Branch. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 10th at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cambridge. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery.
The service will be livestreamed and a link will be posted when available. Click here to watch the livestreamed service.
Renja (Pawlutz) Sigurdson was born on October 13, 1940, in Minsk, Belarus, to Antonia and Edward Pawlutz. Her early life was marked by resilience and courage. At the start of World War II, she fled with her mother and sister to Germany, while her father, Edward, was declared missing in action. Later, her mother married Reinhold Fritz, and together they raised a family of six.
In November 1955, Renja and her family immigrated to the United States aboard the USS General W.C. Langfitt, sponsored by St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church of Edina. They settled in Minneapolis, where Renja attended Minneapolis North High School. She was a member of the Modern Dance Club (Advanced Group), served on the commencement committee, and graduated with honors. In 1959, her family moved to Crystal, MN.
On April 28, 1963, Renja married Stuart A. Sigurdson at Faith Lilac Way Lutheran Church, where she had been a member since 1959. Together, they built a home in Maple Grove and raised four children: Roland, Troy, Chris, and Tanja. In 1973, the family moved to rural North Branch, MN, in the Weber community, where Renja embraced the life of a farm wife and mother.
Renja’s professional career included roles as a bank teller, property assessor, and other county positions. She proudly earned her associate’s degree from Cambridge Community College. She enjoyed music, gardening, baking, ice skating, Minnesota sports teams and listening to WCCO Radio (Paul Harvey/The Rest of The Story). Above all, Renja was a devote Christian, a disciple of Christ who shared her faith openly through conversation and prayer. Her life was marked by a deep commitment to serving her family, her church, and her community.
Renja will be remembered for her love of flowers and gardening, her generosity, and her unwavering kindness. She delighted in sharing the fruits of her labor, whether fresh produce, canned goods, or baked treats, with friends and neighbors. She was always ready to lend an ear, offer encouragement, and speak passionately about faith, family, and the immense blessings of life in the United States. Her ability to stay connected with her children and grandchildren was remarkable, and her love for them was boundless.
Renja Sigurdson died January 5, 2026 in North Branch, Minnesota at the age of 85 years and 84 days. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Raymond, husband Stuart and son Roland. Renja is survived by: sister Larissa (Wolfgang) Wolf-Hechtl of Duluth, MN and sister Fredi (Dale) Ketchum of Ramsey; son Troy (Sheila) of Buffalo, MN and their three daughters Jessa (Sam Dahle and granddaughter Eleanor), Jordan (Matt Reiner and granddaughter Nora) and Jayna; son Chris (Kristen) of Sartell, MN and their four sons Colten, Talon, Quentin and Easton; daughter Tanja (John Tanke) of Lake Crystal, MN (daughters Isabella, Ava, Sophia (Logan Slater); daughter in law Stacey of White Bear Lake and her daughter Natalie.
Renja’s life was a testament to faith, family, perseverance, and love. She will be deeply missed.
Renja was a dear person who loved her Lord and Saviour Jesus. Her faith clung to his righteous gift of everlasting life won for her through his life, death, and resurrection. She is now with him and all the faithful who have preceded her. She so looked forward to the day she would be with Jesus. She will be dearly missed by everyone at St. John Luth. – Weber. In her earthly life she escaped the communist takeover of eastern Europe after World War II and came to America. She has now, by the love of God in Christ Jesus, escaped from this valley of tears to her Heavenly home. I miss her – but I know my redeemer lives and so I know I shall she her again. My these verses give comfort to all who love Christ and Renja.
Philippians 3
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Renja will be missed by our family and by our church. Her love of gardening and the tips she gave will live on in the flowers and vegetables we grow. I’m overjoyed she has left this garden of toil for the endless gardens of joy in God’s holy house. I’m so blessed to have had her friendship on this Earth. Her advice and perspective will be deeply missed.
Throughout my career, I’ve met plenty of personalities, characters, and people — but none as special as Renja.
What made Renja so special wasn’t just her professionalism—it was her humanity. She knew when someone needed help before they asked. She had a way of lightening the mood without minimizing the seriousness of what people were going through. She remembered birthdays, asked about your family, and made people feel seen. That kind of presence can’t be replaced.
Renja’s nickname name at work was Run ya.
That’s because she literally ran to get work done and to help others.
When Renja retired we kept in touch. She was so awesome and kind and cared about me and my life. She talked about her Children and Grandchildren so much I felt I knew them as well. Renja always shared her faith with me and I with her. She loved her lord and Savior and told me at the end of her life how much she was looking forward to heaven.
I loved Renja and it’s comforting to know how happy she is in heaven with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Renja and Stuart were good friends to our family. After they moved to Cambridge it was harder to see them, but we kept in touch with phone calls, Christmas letters and an occasional drive to see them. Stuart and my wife passed away within months of each other. Renja was a wonderful support and friend for years after that. She would keep going and made sure I did too. Her gardens were one of her many joys. She was spirited, determined and best of all loved the Lord. I know she is in heaven reunited with many loved ones that went before her. Much love and hugs to her children and grandchildren.
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