Tanya Sazama

Tanya Marie Sazama, 39 of Richville, MN passed away Saturday, May 13, 2017. She was surrounded by many loved ones after a hard fought battle with cancer.

Tanya was born July 1, 1977 in New York Mills, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Tanya grew up in Richville and attended St. Henry's Catholic and Perham Public Schools. She was united in marriage to Rick Sazama on October 11, 1997. After high school Tanya attended MState in Detroit Lakes where she obtained a degree in business management. In August 2001, Tanya and Rick purchased the family owned business, Wagon Wheel. Tanya's greatest passions in life were her four children Hunter (20), Mason (13), Rhagen (5) and Cassidee (3). Much of her free time was spent making memories with her husband, children, in-laws, mother, MANY siblings (who Rick will now forever be smothered by), nieces and nephews. She loved to make people smile by cracking jokes, which she did up until the last moments of her life. She had an unwavering faith in God and love for her church family.

Surviving Tanya is her husband Rick; four children Hunter, Mason, Rhagen and Cassidee; her mother Barb (Dave Nagel) Torgerson; her father Larry (Eileen Kusick) Kawlewski; her siblings, Tracy (Todd) Becker, TamiJo Hopwood, Tara (Jeremy) Skogen, Tina (Mike) Troje, Joseph Kawlewski, Jonathon (Catrena) Kawlewski, Jacob (Blossom) Kawlewski, Trisha Kawlewski and Tory Kawlewski; mother and father-in-law Art and Carol Sazama; brother-in-law Brian (Michelle) Sazama; sister-in-law Jodi Sazama; along with MANY nieces & nephews.

Preceding Tanya in death was her brother Jared Kawlewski; grandparents Donald and Betty Torgerson; and her brother-in-law Alan Hunter.

Tanya's legacy lives on in the life of her children.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Henry's Area School.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 18 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. with parish prayers at 7:00 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church near Perham. Visitation will resume Friday, May 19 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. followed by the funeral Mass at 11:00 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Tanya's Memorial Folder