Alice L. Illies

1948 - 2025

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Alice Ludvine Illies, age 76, announces her passing May 14, 2025, at her home in Andover. The daughter of Gerhard and Zitta Poepping, Alice was born in Melrose Sept. 21, 1948. She attended St. John's–St. Andrew's School in Greenwald and graduated from Melrose High School.
In 1965, at a Springhill Ballroom dance, she met the love of her life, Tom H. Illies, and they were married June 25, 1966. They moved to the cities, where she ran an in-home daycare and worked in banking and accounting over the years. Together, they had three children: Melissa Sibell (Andrew Okolo), Jason (preceded in death in July 2004) and Heather Boe (Chad).
In their earlier years of marriage, many Friday nights were spent laughing with their card club group. Alice loved to travel to Las Vegas with her sister and brother-in-law, even convincing her mother and an older brother to join them one year. Once Grand Casino Hinckley opened in Minnesota, you could often find her at a One-Eyed Jack machine or enjoying a multitude of concerts with Tom or her daughters.
Along with being a devoted wife, mother and aunt, Alice was a loving grandmother to eight and great-grandmother to four. She is also sister to Wilbert Poepping and Carol Deters. Alice was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, four brothers, one grandchild, and her son, Jason.
A viewing was 6-8 p.m. May 21 at Kozlak-Radulovich Funeral Chapels, 1385 107th Ave. NE in Blaine, with a prayer service at 8 p.m.. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 22, at the Church of St. Timothy, 707 89th Ave. NE in Blaine, with visitation an hour prior.