Mary Ann Pflipsen

Mary Ann C. Pflipsen, age 95 of New Munich, passed away on Sunday, October 25, 2026 surrounded by her family at the Cura Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Friday, November 6 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, November 5 and from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, November 6 all at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 4 p.m. immediately following with a rosary by the St. Ann’s Christian Women and Catholic United Financial.

Mary Ann Catherine Fischbach was born April 29, 1931, in Lake Henry Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, to Ovide and Othilda (Kinzer) Fischbach. She attended school through the eighth grade and later worked as a cook at Chicks Riverside in Melrose, Wunder Bar and Earls in Greenwald, Charlie’s Café in Freeport, and Das Golden Wohnheim in New Munich.

Mary Ann was united in marriage to Donald Pflipsen on June 8, 1950, at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church in Lake Henry. Together, the couple owned and operated Pflipsen Trucking until Don’s passing in 1993.

Mary Ann was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich, St. Anne’s Christian Mothers, and Catholic United Financial. Mary Ann was an excellent cook and baker. When she wasn’t cooking, she enjoyed embroidering, doing puzzles, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Survivors include her children, Robert (Dianne) Pflipsen of Albany, Diane (Donald) Gilk of Paynesville, Donna Theiler of Melrose, Michael “Mickey” (Marlene) Pflipsen of New Munich, Mary Lou (Ronnie) Bussmann of Grey Eagle, Mark (Mary) Pflipsen of Upsala, and Ruth Wiechmann (significant other, Greg Stang) of New Munich; 18 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, three step great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and one step great-great- grandson; siblings, Alvin (Clara) Fischbach of Cold Spring, Valerian Fischbach of Compton, Illinois, Omar (Grace) Fischbach of Cold Spring, and James Fischbach of Forest Lake.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Pflipsen on May 6, 1993; infant son, James Pflipsen; son-in-law, Eugene “Gene” Theiler; grandson, Ryan Pflipsen; parents, Ovide and Othilda Fischbach; siblings, Celestine (Bernice) Fischbach, Alzira Radermacher, and Wilfred Fischbach; and sisters-in-law, Rita Fischbach and JoAnn Fischbach.