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Mary Ann Schlichter, 92, Owatonna

Mary Ann Schlichter, 92, Owatonna, obituary

Mary Ann Schlichter, devoted wife to Vincent, and loving mother, died peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at The Brooks in Owatonna.

Mary Ann was born Nov. 7, 1931, to Gustaf and Mary Marie (Record) Kruger. She spent her early life being raised in a large family in Austin. Mary Ann was five when her father died, and she did odd jobs to help out her widowed mother.

She met Vincent Schlichter, and they married on June 24, 1948, at St. Augustine Church in Austin.

Mary Ann and Vincent were a devoted couple, married for 71 years. Mary was a full-time farmer’s wife and homemaker. Her and Vin raised their family on their Rose Creek farm. They attended St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Rose Creek. Mary devoted many hours working tirelessly toward helping migrants, providing meals to those in need, and organizing clothing drives. She was president of her unit at the church and helped with many a funeral meal, making quilts for the poor, knitting and crocheting blankets and donating them to various charities. She was never afraid of hard work and kept an impeccable home, always fighting the dust of the country. She was always looking after others and often ignoring her own needs.

She was a full-time caregiver for Vin after his cancer diagnosis. She handled all of his appointments, handing out meds, fixing special meals, and nursing him back to better health. Vin would often say he couldn’t have made it without her by his side. Mary Ann made many sacrifices to keep things running smoothly. One such sacrifice was leaving the farming community she loved and moving to Rochester, so Vin could be closer to the doctors. She left many wonderful rural friends that she cherished. When the Mayo Clinic opened a location in Arizona they moved to Phoenix, where they spent the rest of their retirement. Mary soon made more friends and became a favorite in her neighborhood. She had been given a bike for Mother’s Day and was seen riding it around the neighborhood and to the local mall. She was also an avid walker. She met with a group of women every week at the mall. She called them her mall walker group, but the inside joke was that none of them made an effort to walk, except for Mary. The club should have been called the coffee group. She treasured meeting up with them as it gave her a break from her caretaker duties. In Phoenix, Mary and Vin attended St. Joan’s Catholic Church. She and Vin had a lovely home in Phoenix and often welcomed friends and family.

Mary Ann loved to travel, she always had her bags packed and ready to go! She was known for always packing snacks and was prepared for anything. One of her grandkids once joked that maybe Grandma was a secret agent because she seemed to have EVERYTHING in her

purse. Vin and Mary Ann traveled to many countries including: The UK, Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, the Caribbean, thru the Panama Canal, and to South America, and to most states in the US. Recently, she was able to attend the Schlichter family reunion where she loved seeing all her and Vin’s family. When packing for the event, she added a picture of Vin to her suitcase. One of her wishes was to travel more but she never had the chance due to her age.

In 2019, Mary moved back to Minnesota, settling into independent living at The Brooks in Owatonna. She had a routine every day that included coffee, bingo, more coffee with some chocolates and banana cream pie mixed in, playing games and cards, and walking. Many thanks to the people at The Brooks for taking good care of her.

Mary Ann will be remembered for her friendliness, empathy, unhinged energy, love of picnics and the State Fair.

Mary Ann is survived by her children Barbara (Tim) Gingrass, Oxnard, Calif.; Harold Schlichter, Rochester; Norbert (Shauna) Schlichter, Adams; Sherri (Larry) Wick, Eden Prairie; and John (Debbie) Schlichter, Owatonna; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; her rural friends in Rose Creek; and her city friends in Phoenix. She has one surviving sister Jeanette Dennison, Austin.

She was preceded in death by her husband Vincent, grandson John Paul Thiele, daughter-in-law Karen Schlichter, four brothers: Clarence, Bobby, Chester and Kenny; and two sisters Edna (June) and Vernice.

A funeral Mass for Mary Ann and Vin will be at St. Peter's Church, 300 Maple St. SW, Rose Creek at 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. Friends may greet the family at the church beginning at 10 a.m. Burial to follow services at St. Peter's Cemetery.

For more information or to leave an online message of condolence, go to www.megercares.com.

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