Mary Ann Oberle

Beloved mother, grandmother, wife and sister, Mary Ann (Sieberg) Oberle passed away after a long illness on August 1, 2024, surrounded by her loving family in Mankato. Born in Eagle Lake, Minn., on January 2, 1932, Mary Ann lived a long and fulfilling life, leaving school at age 16 to find work in Mankato, and ultimately marrying the love of her life, Anthony Oberle, in 1954 and subsequently raising five children in their West Mankato home.

The consummate homemaker, Mary Ann supported her husband in his work by making that West 9th Street home a joyful and loving place to grow up. She gave up the family yard to a ball field, golf hole, basketball court, football field and most famously a skating rink, where she taught her kids to skate and opened it up to the neighborhood for pickup hockey games and figure skating.

With her kids growing, Mary Ann finished her studies and acquired a G.E.D. so she could return to work, first at Mankato Free Press and later at Shari Candies. Her hands were never idle at home, where she launched a green recycling campaign, often telling her children and grandkids that “everything has a second purpose.” 

Reserved by nature, Mary Ann had a quick wit in quiet conversations, was an avid gardener, baker and candy maker and always a very loving and giving grandmother.

In 2019, Mary Ann, who had spent much of her retired time volunteering at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church (where she was a charter member) and Hillcrest Nursing Home, moved to Primrose Assisted Living (now Mankato Lodge) and spent her final days joking with and enjoying the camaraderie of the staff there. She leaves us now with heavy hearts and warm memories of a life well-lived and a rest well-earned.

Mary Ann is survived by five adult children, Robert (Margaret), Nokomis, Fla., Joseph (Lora), Fridley, Gail Kelly (Daniel), Red Wing, Patricia (Paul Cullen), Minneapolis, and William (Kathy), Mankato; brother, Ollie Sieberg, Mankato; and sister-in-law, Maggie Oberle, Mankato; 11 adult grandchildren: Jason, Alice Fahey (John], Tony, Seth, Teddy (Molly), Paige, Hunter (Kate) and Grace Oberle and Nate Kelly (Aly), Amanda Knudsen (Robert) and Katie Kelly; and three great-grandchildren: Casey, Addison and Megan Fahey. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Anna and Leo Sieberg; her husband, Anthony; grandson, Elias; sisters, Marcella (Schimek), Delores (Gens), Loretta (Severns); and brothers, Marvin, Raymond and Cletus; brothers-in-law, Richard Oberle, Thomas Oberle, William Ratcliff, Louie Schimek, Bud Severns, Earl Gens; and sisters-in-laws, Agnes Sieberg, Jeanne Sieberg, Joeann Sieberg, Patricia Oberle and Virginia Ratcliff.

Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, August 12, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. Visitation will be Monday, August 12, from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Mankato. Mankato Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials are preferred to St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church and Mayo Clinic Hospice.

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