Mary Kuchenbecker Obituary 2023 – Patton Funeral Home and Cremation Service

Mary Kuchenbecker, age 93, of Blue Earth passed away Sunday, September 17, 2023 at Mayo Clinic-Mankato. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 21 at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Blue Earth with Fr. Jeff Dobbs takes over. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Blue Earth. Online condolences may be left at www.pattonfh.com

Mary Sophie was born in Storm Lake, IA on December 19, 1929. Daughter of Anton and Bertha (Gilas) Alvin. She was baptized at Storm Lake and confirmed at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Mapleton, Minnesota. I graduated from Huntley High School in 1947, and after high school I entered teacher training for a year at Blue Earth, graduating in 1948, my last semester at Blue Earth. I went to teach in a rural school for two years.

On December 29, 1949, she married Gerhard Kuchenbecker of Goquin at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Winnebago. They lived on various farmsteads until they moved to the current farm in 1960.

Mary worked as a farm partner, home health aide, and nurse’s aide. She loved gardening, and flowers and vegetables were her favorites. She also enjoyed knitting, sewing, and playing the accordion. She and her husband took several vacations, including northern Minnesota, Canada, Alaska, Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, Italy, Lourdes, France, and the Netherlands, with her daughters Kathy and Ruth. Her first love was God, her church, her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. She was a member of the SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church and the Catholic Daughters. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Blessed be her memory.

Mary is survived by her children, Donald (Judy) Kuchenbecker of Blue Earth, Kenneth (Sarah) Kuchenbecker of Wreck, Iowa, and Ruth (Franz) Schultz of Elmore. grandchildren, Heather (Trent) Smit, Dan Kuchenbecker, Andy Murphy (Britney Bell), Adam (Jocelyn) Murphy, Michelle (Darren) Schweiger, Mike (Ann) Anders and Marcy (John) Splinter. great-grandchildren, Cody, Samantha, Hadley, Justin, Allie, Dillon, Nathan, Brittney, Aaron and Nicole. his brother-in-law Steve Gerken, sister-in-law Leta Aleven as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers Theodore, John and Tony, and daughter Kathleen Gerken.

In lieu of flowers donations to Girls & Boys Town, EWTN or SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church would be appreciated.