Mary Ann M. Marquardt

Mary Ann M. Marquardt, age 88, passed away peacefully on February 15, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love, strength, and selfless devotion to her family and community. Memorial Service will be held Friday, February 20, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Henderson, Minnesota, with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will take place at a later date at Brown Cemetery.

Mary Ann was born on September 13, 1937, to John and Frieda (Soehl) Moeller on the family farm in Nicollet County. Raised with the strong values and steady work ethic that farm life instills, she attended country school through the eighth grade before graduating from Gaylord High School in 1955. Her compassionate heart led her to pursue nursing through the Bethesda Hospital Nursing Program, where she earned her R.N. degree.

On January 2, 1960, she married the love of her life, William “Sonny” Marquardt, at Trinity Lutheran Church. Together they built a home filled with warmth and laughter and were blessed with two daughters, Lori and Kristine. When her girls were born, Mary Ann devoted herself wholeheartedly to being a homemaker, a role she embraced with pride and never truly retired from. Caring for her family was not simply what she did; it was who she was. Years later, Mary Ann renewed her nursing license and returned to work at Arlington Hospital from 1987 to 2009. Nursing was never just a job, it was an extension of her nurturing spirit.

Mary Ann was known for her strong will, open mind, and unwavering selflessness. She made sure everyone else was cared for before considering herself. Her kitchen was the heart of her home, always filled with the comforting smells of home-cooked meals and fresh-baked treats. No one ever left her house hungry, and her shelves were always lined with carefully prepared canned goods, a quiet reflection of her farm roots and her desire to provide. She carried a simple but powerful outlook on life: “This too shall pass.” Through joys and hardships alike, she remained steady, faithful, and hopeful. Deeply proud of her German heritage, Mary Ann especially enjoyed attending Heritagefest each year in New Ulm, celebrating tradition, music, and community. Her faith was central to her life, and she was an active and devoted member of her church, always willing to lend a helping hand wherever needed. She was also a proud patriot, dedicating more than 40 years of service as treasurer of the VFW Auxiliary.

Above all else, Mary Ann treasured her family. She is survived by her daughters, Lori (Brad) Butler of Le Sueur, MN, and Kris (Rick) Bauer of Annandale, MN; her granddaughters, Justine (Jason) Bemis and Anna (Ryan) Schmidt; and her beloved great-grandchildren, Jed, Jude, and Jaylen Bemis, and Everett Schmidt.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, William; her siblings, Hans (Darlene) Koellner and Bill (Jean) Moeller; and siblings-in-law, Joe & Elaine Marquardt, Robert & Marion Woehler, and Bob & Edith Schleeve.