Mary Kotthoff

Mary (King) Kotthoff, age 90, passed away on August 21, 2021 at Water’s Edge Assisted Living. 

A Funeral Service will be held Thursday, August 26 at 11:00 a.m. at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary.   Visitation will be Wednesday, August 25 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Northview and will continue one hour prior to the service.  Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery.  Memorials are preferred to Mayo Hospice, SS. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, or the donor’s choice. 

Mary was born February 20, 1931 to Homer and Margaret (Richardson) King in rural Northfield, MN.  She was baptized and confirmed at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in Northfield.  After graduating from Northfield High School in 1949, she attended Mankato Teacher’s College (now Minnesota State University - Mankato) and then taught first and second grades in Cannon Falls, Rapidan, and Mankato (Franklin and Kennedy Elementary.)

Mary was united in marriage to Joseph L. Kotthoff on September 13, 1952 at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in Northfield, MN.  She was a member of SS. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Mankato where she taught C.C.D., was chairman of the Guild, and worked at funeral lunches.  Mary was also a 50-year member of The Catholic Daughters.

The greatest joys in Mary’s life came in 1959 and 1960, when she and Joe adopted their sons, Tom and Mark, from Catholic Charities in Winona, MN.  Mary’s other “joy” in life came from her ladies’ card groups… bridge club when she lived on Atwood Drive, and the “500” club when she lived in Oxford Cottages.  It didn’t matter if she won or lost, but the talking and dessert were always great!

Mary was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  She is survived by her son, Tom and his wife Patti, grandsons, Matt (and his wife, Kinzie) and Ryan Kotthoff; son, Mark and his wife Peggy, grandchildren, Craig, Jennifer (and her son, Colton) and Andrew Kotthoff; sister-in-law, Judy King; nephews, Chad and Todd (Colleen) King; nephew, Jon Kotthoff and niece, Dena (Jared) Pagel.   Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Joe in 2010; brother, Paul; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dean and Betty Kotthoff; nephews, Kent, Shane, and Kraig King; and niece, Julie Kotthoff.

Mary’s family would like to thank the staff at Water’s Edge and Mayo Hospice for the wonderful and caring support that was given to Mary in her last few months of life.