Date of Birth:
Saturday, June 22, 1929
Date of Death:
Thursday, September 18, 2025
Age:
96 years old

Teresa Elizabeth Allen

Teresa “Terry” Elizabeth Allen (Gerads, Fakler) passed away peacefully after a brief illness on September 18, 2025 at the age of 96 in her home at Aviva River Bend in Rochester, MN, where she had lived since 2020. Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mom, Aunt, Grandma, Great Grandma…to so many who loved her.

Terry was born June 22, 1929, in Krain Township in rural Freeport, MN, to Martin and Mary (Roettger) Gerads.  The fifth of nine children, she was only allowed to attend school through 8th grade, even though she loved school and wanted to continue her education. She then stayed home to help on the family farm until 1949 when she applied and was accepted to the vocational nurse training program at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN.

While in Rochester, she met Frederick “Fritz” Francis Fakler.  They were married on August 22, 1950, and welcomed their first of nine children in July 1951.  While their family grew, they moved often, to states including Wyoming, Colorado, and Kansas. In 1962, they settled in Albert Lea, MN, and while there welcomed their two youngest children.  In November 1967, Fritz passed away suddenly, leaving Terry to raise nine children on her own.

In 1980, Terry met James “Jim” Francis Allen through a Singles & Solos club in Albert Lea. They both loved to dance and would often go to dances at the Eagles club on their dates.  On June 13, 1981, Terry and Jim were married and then lived and worked on his family farm near Ellendale and Geneva, MN, for many years until moving to Albert Lea several years following retirement.  After nearly 40 years of marriage, Jim passed away in January 2020.

Terry loved her family very much and enjoyed spending time with them whenever she could.  She particularly enjoyed seeing the little ones.  At the time of her passing, she had 17 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren – and one on the way!

Terry had many hobbies, including knitting and gardening.  She made seemingly endless quantities of dish towels and dish cloths for family and friends and donated countless items to the “Mission Store” to raise funds for the mission work of the Fransiscan Sisters in Ecuador.  She also knit beautiful cream-colored afghans for each of her 9 children and 17 grandchildren that will be treasured always.  Terry always had a beautiful and bountiful garden, especially after moving to the farm with Jim.  She loved to grow beautiful Gladiolas and would dig up the bulbs every fall and replant them every spring to ensure a healthy crop that she immensely enjoyed and loved to share.

Terry also really enjoyed playing cards and completing jigsaw puzzles. And she was competitive! Family gatherings weren’t complete without many hands of 500 and / or Skip-Bo being played. She definitely passed down her love for games to many.  It would be interesting to know how many jigsaw puzzles she completed during her 5 years at River Bend, many of which are hanging on family members’ walls.

Terry particularly loved fresh fish (especially Walleye!) caught and prepared by her family.  Freshly cooked green beans, beets, sweet corn, squash, and sliced tomatoes from the garden were also among her favorite things.

For many years while her kids were growing up, on a shoe-string budget, Terry would rent a small cabin by Cedar Lake near Upsala, MN,for one week each summer for a family vacation.  She welcomed many extended family members to spend time with the family at the lake.  So many wonderful, unforgettable memories were created during that week that will be cherished.

Terry is survived by her children, Betsy Pelzer of Rochester, MN; Paul Fakler of Chatfield, MN; Susie (Paul) Foxwell of Byron, MN; Greg (Stefanie) Fakler of Blythewood, SC; Tim Fakler of West Bend, IA; John (Theresa) Fakler of Phoenix, AZ; and Ann (Byron) Todd of Cleveland, MN; her 17 grandchildren, Randy, Rich, Suse, Teri, Jennifer, Michelle, Marcus, Michael, Matthew, Mark, Marguerite, Catherine, Sarah, Erin, Christopher, Danita, and Ellis; her 14 great grandchildren, Gezelle, Zachariah, Josiah, Zemirah, David, Adelaide, Logan, Liam, Lincoln, Quinn, Frederick, Luke, Clare, and Serena; her sister, Veronica Salazar of Sartell, MN; and her brother, Martin Gerads of New Hope, MN.

Terry was preceded in death by her husbands, Jim and Fritz; her son, Jerry Fakler, and his wife, Sue; her son, Steve Fakler; three brothers, Paul (Ceil) Gerads; Hubert (Elaine) Gerads; Gregory (Dorothea) Gerads; three sisters, Elinor Gerads, Sr. Bertha Gerads, Sr. Joan Gerads; and her parents, Martin and Mary Gerads.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 27, 2025, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rochester, MN with a meal immediately following at the church. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Rochester.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.