Margarete Gertrude Kostiuk passed away on her 103rd birthday, October 11, 2022. Margarete was born in 1919 in Losser, Holland, to Hendrick Van Der Zouw and Auguste Hof Van Der Zouw. Margarete longed to sing and excel in opera. She left home and found a job in Bonn as a housekeeper for a dentist who was a Nazi official, making enough money for two years of vocal lessons. At the age of 20, after seeing a notice for a ”big organization” which was looking for talent, she made a momentous decision. She packed up what she could and boarded a train for Cologne. There she became part of the Cologne Opera House chorus. She fell in love with an American soldier, Nick Kostiuk, in Germany during World War II. Following the War, Nick and Margarete made their way home to International Falls, MN. Margarete became a naturalized
United State citizen on May 13, 1952. During a marriage that lasted 44 years, Nick and Margarete would go on to raise six boys, all of whom Margarete held a very special and unique bond with throughout their lives. Margarete was known for an abundance of caring and giving during her time on Earth, from volunteering at the physical therapy department, to endless hours spent working with the VFW, American Legion and Military Order of the Cooties, to playing in the Second Wind Harmonica Band. Above her volunteering, Margarete most enjoyed bringing smiles into kids’ lives through her God given talent of playing music and singing. Over the years, thousands of kids throughout International Falls and the surrounding areas were blessed to hear the delight of music from Margarete playing her harmonica and singing at school assemblies, classroom visits and sporting events. This joy was magnified during the Holiday season when those same kids were able to imagine in awe as they were greeted and entertained by Margarete portraying Mrs. Claus. But beyond her community engagement and volunteerism, Margarete’s love of her family was her cornerstone in life. Countless hours were spent with her boys sitting around her kitchen table, listening with a smile as they talked about their lives. During Halloween, Margarete always made special gift bags for her grandkids. She also made sure, regardless of the time of year, there were always fresh baked cookies in the cookie jars. For years Margarete hosted Christmas at the Kostiuk residence, surrounded by her boys and their families, while playing Christmas carols on her harmonica and handing out gifts to each of the grandkids, along with dozens of loaves of fresh baked bread to all of her sons.
Over the 75 years that Margarete was a mother, never did she miss calling each son individually on their birthdays and singing Happy Birthday to them.
Despite her small stature and mild demeanor, Margarete was fiery and passionate, especially for her family. She was a fierce defender of her boys, through it all, right or wrong, and never swayed in her allegiance to them, while telling every single person she met how good her boys were and how proud of each of them she was.
No family is perfect. No parent is perfect. But the love and special relationship Margarete had with each one of her sons was perfect in its own individual, personalized way.
Margarete was preceded in death by her parents, Hendrick and Auguste, sisters Gertrud and Janise, and brothers Hendrick and Willi. She is also preceded in death by her husband, Nick and longtime partner Wayne Sampson.
Margarete is survived by her sons, Nick (Becky) Kostiuk, Henry Kostiuk, Jerry (Sharon) Kostiuk, Mike Kostiuk, Roger (Marilyn) Kostiuk and Willi (Kami) Kostiuk. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held for Margarete on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at the Backus Community Center at 11:00 am. A luncheon will be provided immediately after the service. In lieu of flowers or gifts, monetary donations are being requested in which the Kostiuk family will use to create a music scholarship for students in the International Falls and surrounding areas in honor of Margarete. All donations can be sent to Green Larsen Mortuary.
