Anne L. Doyle

 Wells, Minnesota native, Anne L. Doyle, 98, died on November 8, 2024, at Laurel’s Peak Rehabilitation Center in Mankato, MN, with her son, Preston and neighbor, Marge at her bedside. 

  Her funeral Mass will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in North Mankato at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 22, 2024. Fr. Paul van de Crommert will be officiating with Deacon Preston Doyle assisting. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Anne will be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery, St. James. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

  Anne was born November 3rd of the same year the first woman swam the English Channel, 1926, to Fannie Preston (Knause) and Lawrence Preston. She often talked about her good fortune of growing up on a self-sustaining farm, tending a large garden and working hard raising thousands of turkeys during the Great Depression. She already strived for achievement during her years at Wells High School by playing cello in the orchestra, being a repeated trophy winner on the speech team, and playing piano. 

  Near the end of WWII she dared to be a woman ahead of her time, leaving the farm and attending medical school far away at Michigan State University, graduating with a degree in medical technology in 1950. Also while attending MSU, she was crowned “Medical School Prom Queen.” Together these earned her the nickname given to her by her dad of, “Little Miss Independence.” 

  While studying at Michigan State, Anne took another bold step and converted to Catholicism. This would lead to her being known as a pillar of the Catholic faith throughout her life by anyone who became acquainted with her. She received the Winona diocese Bishop’s Medal in 1985. 

  In 1950, Anne returned to Wells and used her medical skills running the laboratory at the Wells Municipal Hospital. She married her once high school sweetheart, John B. “Jack” Doyle at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Easton, MN in 1951. She was choir director at that same church for 7 yrs., even cutting a record of their Christmas Midnight Mass performance in 1955. After starting a family with the birth of daughter Brenna (Davis) and son Preston on the Doyle farm near Easton, they moved to St. James, MN, in 1958, where sons, Douglas, John, and Michael were added. 

  Anne continued her musical talents there by being the choir director at St. James Catholic Church. She later received an award from the parish for not only being a church trustee, choir director and a soloist for 29 years but for being involved in nearly every facet and committee of the parish whenever it was needed. All this without ever receiving any pay. For decades Anne also financially supported many piano students with scholarships who were studying with a well-known St. James piano instructor. 

  During her time in St. James, she served for many years on the boards of the Watonwan County Historical Society and the Region 9 Southern MN Growth in Business and Agriculture Assoc., Countryside Council, and was president of the Winona Diocese Council of Catholic Women and also of the American Assoc. Of University Women. Anne also served on the city Planning Commission, was a Charter member of the St. James ambulance crew, and received awards for leading in the Watonwan County American Cancer Society. She was appointed by Gov. Al Quie to help in the process of selecting a president for both Mankato State University and Southwest State University. Anne was particularly proud of receiving the Service to Mankind Award in 1982 from the Sertoma Club for her lifetime of community service to the St. James area. 

  Professionally, she also taught biology and earth sciences at Sleepy Eye High School in 1968 after returning to Mankato State University to get her teaching certification. After that she was a federal quality control agent at Tony Downs Foods in St. James. Anne was the Hospital Education Director and Assnt. Nursing Administrator for both the Watonwan Memorial Hospital and Madelia Community Hospital from 1978-1997. Whenever possible she rode her red Kawasaki motorcycle to work those years. 

  In her husband’s early years working as a State Farm Insurance agent in the 1960s, Anne acted as Jack’s secretary, juggling many hats. At that time the agent’s office was in the front room of his home. In 2000, Jack retired from State Farm after 42 years and they moved to Mankato. 

  Cultivating her farm roots, Anne was a serious gardener throughout her life. While in Mankato, Anne supervised gardening projects at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. She liked snow skiing. Anne enjoyed golf and bicycling until she was in her 80s. She loved sailing her catamaran while living on Long Lake. Anne was an obsessive traveler, dragging Jack along to over 30 destinations in the USA, Europe, Canada, and Australia. Touring Scotland at age 90 was her last trip. 

  Anne read books constantly, mostly historical, religious or novels, until her final several months. Anne, never afraid to discuss a topic, was known for expressing her strong “opinions”. She was also an artist in her middle years, enjoying oil painting and drawing. Being a member of the Prairie Star Quilters, she was most proud of the work she did for decades creating complex geometric Americana patterned quilts, often made of over 800 pieces. She worked for months on each one until nearly every one of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren had at least one to remember her by. Many of these will be displayed on the church pews during her funeral. 

  We will remember you, Anne, as a shining example of the pioneer spirit of the last of “the greatest generation.” 

  Anne was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Betty Preston (Watson), NE; brother, Jacob, (Doc) Preston, CA; her husband; her eldest child, Brenna (Davis); and daughter-in-law, Katrina Doyle (Feeser). 

  Left to remember her are her children, Deacon Preston (Judy) Doyle of Mankato, Douglas Doyle of North Hills, CA, John (Connie) Doyle of Mesa, AZ, and Michael (Dianne) Doyle of Alexandria, MN; son-in-law, Jim Davis of Mesa, AZ; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

 In lieu of flowers, Anne requested memorial donations be given to the Haitian Health Foundation, www.haitianhealthfoundation.org

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