Agnes “Dell” Tjader 08/14/2025

Agnes “Dell” Wandella Tjader died peacefully on August 14, 2025 after 99 years of a life rich in faith, family and friends.

Dell was born on August 2, 1926 to Alex and Agnes Highstrom.  After several moves around the country, the Highstrom family settled in Siren, WI, where Dell graduated High School and held her first Depression era jobs: housecleaning, babysitting, sorting cukes at the local pickle factory and working at Nelson’s dry goods store!  Living “just across the field” from the Tjaders, she and her 7 siblings had many escapades with the 9 Tjader kids, including her future husband, Gordon, and the long history of the Tjaders and Highstroms began.

Dell’s first great adventure as an adult was taking the train to Seattle during WWII to work as a Rosie the Riveter at the Boeing Company.  When the soldiers returned home Dell did too, and married Gordon.  Her brother, Ancel, married Gord’s sister, Ruth, and with a $200 investment from each couple, Tjader & Highstrom Tree Service went into business.  Gordon and Dell started married life in a small trailer they pulled from job site to job site, then built a home in New Richmond, WI in 1953, where they raised 4 children.  One of their greatest pleasures as their kids were growing up was spectating at the games of their athletic sons.

The bedrock of Dell’s life was her faith and she was a committed and active member of the First Baptist Church of New Richmond, where most of her dearest friends were made.  She was an enthusiastic hostess and her home was always open.  She found great joy in having a house or table full of friends and family.  Dell’s grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren were always welcomed and loved and she spent countless hours with them through the years: babysitting, game-playing, attending sporting events, traveling and going to the Lake.  She prayed for each of them by name every day.

Dell is preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband, Gordon, infant son, Gregory, daughter-in-law, Mary Kay, sons-in-law, Mickey and David.  She will be missed by her sons, Jeff (Polly), Tom and Jim (Kris), daughter, Susan, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church (341 North Shore Dr.) in New Richmond.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, followed by a luncheon at the church.  Interment will be in Mud Hen Lake Cemetery in Siren, WI at 2:30 pm.  Memorials may be given to First Baptist Church in New Richmond.

Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services