Marie Reuter

Mary (Marie) Elizabeth Reuter (Palzer) of rural Mazeppa, MN went to her heavenly home on Wednesday, March 30, 2011. She had been lovingly cared for at Seasons Hospice in Rochester, MN following a couple of pleasant months at Madonna Meadows Assisted Living Center in Rochester, MN.

She was born July 26, 1920 and graduated from Mazeppa Public Schools. On June 2, 1942 she married Peter John Reuter and lived on a farm outside Mazeppa where she raised 8 children and helped farm the land for most of her life.

Marie is survived by her children: Nicholas (Bernice) Reuter of St. Cloud, MN; Lawrence (Rill) Reuter of Winona, MN; Patricia (James) Downs of Powell, OH; Rita (Paul) LeDuc of rural Lanesboro, MN; Betty (Ron) Marchionda of Columbia, MO; Jacinta Maritato (Tony) of Moorhead, MN; Maggie (Gene) Schmitz of Warsaw, MO and Francis (Dianne) Reuter of Mazeppa, MN. She was a loving and devoted grandmother to 20 grandchildren: Nathan, Michael, Linda, Victoria, Laura, Amy, Heidi, Thomas, Susan, Nancy, Chad, John, Marissa, Michael, Claudia, Vanessa, Ashley, Brandon, Nasha, and Aubrey. All 15 of her great-grandchildren had a special place in her heart: Ben, Sara, Katie, Devon, Jacob, Alex, Jason, Scott, Grace, Phillip, Isabelle, Olivia, Rowan, Addie, and Bennett Michael.

Marie is preceded in death by her husband, Peter John Reuter and her parents, Anna (Poncelet) and Casper Palzer of Mazeppa; sisters: Patricia Palzer (in infancy), Rosalia LaVan, Ann Kretchmer, Antoinette Nuchols, Sister Gabriella (Cecelia) Palzer; and brother: Christian Palzer.

Marie is survived by her brothers and sisters: Augustine Palzer (Helen); Anthony Palzer; Francis Palzer (Beverly); Benedict Palzer (Irene); John Palzer; Betty Limbocker; and Josephine Befort (Sylvester) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Marie was an avid gardener and her extraordinarily beautiful bouquets of flowers were a regular donation to many area churches. She was always willing to share blooms, cuttings, and root stock with family, friends and strangers. Marie also was an accomplished seamstress and loved to sew and make quilts. She spent many hours a week composing letters and sending cards of appreciation and affirmation to friends and both family & extended family. She was active in St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in the Altar Society and Ladies Aid.

Marie loved the adventure of travel. She went on many road trips throughout the continental USA with Peter; visiting family, friends and enjoying the scenery. Marie and Peter also traveled to Germany and Austria on several occasions. In more recent times, she traveled: to Israel, Medjugorje, Italy & Los Angeles. Through her journeys, Marie was able to meet Jay Leno and had the honor of kissing the ring of Pope John Paul II. These were a couple of Marie's most favored memories as she enjoyed watching The Tonight Show and adored the Pope.

Visitation for Marie will be at the Mahn Family Funeral Home - Larson Chapel in Zumbrota on Sunday, April 3, 2011 from 3:00 until 7:00 PM, a time for sharing of memories will begin at 3:00 and a rosary will be held at 6:30 PM; visitation will resume on Monday April 4 for one hour prior to the mass at the church. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Robert Myers on Monday April 4, 2011 at 11:00 AM at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Mazeppa. Burial will be in the church cemetery.