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.