Lorraine A. Harty

Lorraine Ann (Wandersee) Harty, age 88 of Cannon Falls, died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Thursday evening, February 1, 2024 after a long battle with cancer.

Lorraine was born to Walter and Frances Wandersee in Morgan, MN, on October 20, 1935. She moved many times. She lived in Sleepy Eye, Bird Island, Winnebago, then to Waterville, where her parents bought the Red Top Cafe. She graduated in 1953 from Waterville High School, where she and her classmate and sweetheart, Bob Harty were homecoming queen and king. She married Robert "Bob" Harty on June 23, 1954. They settled in Rochester for about 16 years and then moved to Cannon Falls in 1972.  She worked at Kid Duds for a while and then they purchased the Goodhue County Hatchery. They renamed it Cannon Farm and Garden Center which supplied eggs to the bakery, hospital, and schools, along with other garden supplies. Then she worked at the high school as an attendance secretary. They lived on a beautiful 5 acres in Sogn Valley for almost 50 years, and then when the home got to be too much, they moved in to Cannon Falls. She loved her grandkids, baking, flowers, and birds. After retiring in 1998, they did a lot of fishing and traveling, which she and Bob loved to do.

She is survived by her husband of over 69 years, Bob; her children, Doug (La) of Cannon Falls, Robert "Irv" (Cheryl) and David (Jane), all of Surprise, AZ, Debra (Kris) Strickland of Cannon Falls, Tim (Susan) of Waddell, AZ, and Jeff (Anne) of Cannon Falls; 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren; sisters, Mary Rome of Waterville and Darlene Anderson of Apache Junction, AZ; brother, Richard Wandersee of Leesburg, FL; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; granddaughter, Angela Strickland; grandson, Eric Harty; brothers, James and Charles Wandersee; sister, Jane Keith; and many sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, February 7 at 11:30 am, with visitation from 10:30-11:30 am, at St. Pius V Catholic Church, Cannon Falls.

Active urn bearer will be grandson, Mason Harty. Honorary urn bearers will be her grandchildren, Arin Monticalvo, Rachel Harty, Sarah Wormington, Mike Strickland, Angie Wimberly, Melissa and Ryan Harty, Bennett Harty, and Blake Found, and her great-grandchildren, Cole, Kennedy, and Nolan Harty, Kalea and Kai Monticalvo, Lilly Foster, and Zoe and Casey Reis.