Maple Plain – Carolyn M. Grandstrand was born February 12, 1944, in Grand Forks, ND to Roy and Elizabeth (Johnson) Copeland. Carolyn married her high school sweetheart Rodney Grandstrand on April 8, 1961. They moved to Long Lake in 1964 and to Maple Plain in 1965 where they made their forever home raising five children.
Carolyn and Rod have been active members of Christ Lutheran Church in Maple Plain for over 57 years, raising their children in the Christian faith. Carolyn was a Sunday school teacher, assisted with the youth group activities, served on the church counsel, various women’s groups, prayer chains, and quilt club.
Carolyn enjoyed sewing and passed that love to her daughters. Carolyn has made many wedding, bridesmaids, and flower girl dresses over the years. She sewed clothes for her children when they were little and loved sewing daisy kingdom dresses for two of her granddaughters with matching doll dresses. Carolyn took up quilting later in life and made some beautiful quilts for her family. All who has one truly cherishes it. Besides sewing, Carolyn enjoyed counted cross stitch, puzzles, and word finds.
Carolyn and Rod raised their children to love traveling and camping. When the kids were school age, every year Carolyn and Rod would take them on a two week camping vacation. From Rapid City, SD; the circle trip around Lake Superior; Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons to Wisconsin Dells. Also, several weekend getaways to several KOA’s and Jellystone Park.
In 1988, Carolyn chartered the Maple Plain Lioness Club as Vice President, along with her daughter, Brenda as President. Carolyn worked at the Maple Plain post office for 33 years where she met just about everyone in town. After her retirement, she and Rod traveled with their airstream. They belonged to the Wally Bram Airstream Club and owned a lot at the Airstream Park in Clear Lake. They went on and planned many caravans across the country with the Airstream Club. She took a term as vice president and then president over at the park. These times were very cherished, as they met new friends and had so many laughs over the last 30 years.
Carolyn is survived by her husband of 63 years, Rodney Grandstrand, Maple Plain; two daughters, Valerie (Gary) Enfield, Cook; Brenda (Jim) Thieschafer, St. Cloud; three sons, Brian (Patty) Grandstrand, Chaska; Bradley (Tammy) Grandstrand, Dayton; Corey (Tracy) Grandstrand, Stillwater; eleven grandchildren, Heather Boisclair, Sauk Rapids; Tom Wedan, Maple Plain; Chris Boisclair, Sartell; Jenna Grandstrand, Hopkins; David Wedan, Maple Plain; Stuart (Rocque) Grandstrand, Hawley; Sarah (Eric) Voje, Maple Grove; Blake Grandstrand, Stillwater; Mitchell Grandstrand, Dayton; Collin Grandstrand, Eau Claire, WI; Katelyn Grandstrand, Dayton; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Marion (Glenn) Halvorson, Fosston and two brothers, Bob Hart, Vancouver, WA; Bill (Angie) Copeland, Hayesville, NC, many nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters Virginia McGlynn, Arlene Erickson, two brothers Leland and Gene Copeland, Stepdad Art Swenson and two stepbrothers, Daryl and Alan Swenson.
Carolyn Grandstrand died on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, at the age of 80 years, 2 months, and 28 days. She will be missed. May her memory be blessed.
Carolyn loved her time at Haven Homes and she touched many people that lived and worked there.
Carolyn Grandstrand, 80
