Mary Wenning

Mary Wenning, age 80 of Melrose, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at her home in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 8 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Mitchell Bechtold officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. The Mass will be livestreamed, and the link can be found at www.oneinfaith.org.

Visitation will be from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Monday, June 8 at the church in Melrose.

Mary Schaefer was born December 7, 1945 in Greenwald, Minnesota to Norbert and Leona (Schleper) Schaefer. She graduated from St. Benedict’s High School in St. Joseph, Minnesota. On October 1, 1966, she was united in marriage to Donald Wenning at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Greenwald. Throughout her career, she was employed in the office at Melrose Hospital while helping her husband at Wenning’s Decorating Center in Melrose. She later worked as a cashier at Snyder V&S in Melrose before retiring from Coborn’s in Melrose, where she also served as a cashier.

Mary was a devoted member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose. She was active in St. Mary’s Christian Women, served as a Parish Council member, and was a Eucharistic Minister. She enjoyed spending time playing cards, creating beautiful handmade greeting cards for family and friends, sewing, quilting, and working on jigsaw puzzles. Her creativity and warm spirit will be fondly remembered by all who knew her.

Survivors include her loving husband of 59 years, Donald Wenning of Melrose; children, Sharon Gribble of Woodbury, Linda Wenning of Chisago City, Dan (Tanya) Wenning of Minnetonka, and Nancy (Patrick) Schacherer of Mendota Heights; grandchildren, Chase, Kolton, Grant and Garon Gribble; Lizzy and Dylan Godden; and Charlie, Peter, and Elsie Schacherer; sister, Alice Schaefer; step-brothers, Melvin, Donald (Janet), James (Mary), Richard, and Charles (Cheryl); and step-sister, Louise Mohs.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Norbert and Leona Schaefer; brother, John; grandchildren, Rhyanne and Max; step-sisters-in-law, Doreen Schaefer and Betty Schaefer; step-brother-in-law, Art Mohs.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.