Nellie Meinhardt

Nellie Meinhardt, 100, of Mankato, died April 5, 2022 at Ecumen Pathstone Living in Mankato.

Visitation will take place from 4-6 p.m., Monday, May 9, 2022 at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Dr., in North Mankato.

Nellie was born on November 1, 1921 in Hays, PA to Nicholas and Marguerite (Herbert) Pecora. She attended parochial schools in Hays and Homestead, PA and graduated from Homestead High School in May 1939. She then attended Burroughs Business School in Pittsburgh, PA. She worked as a bookkeeper before entering the U.S. Naval Reserve (WAVES) in 1943. She was responsible for payment aboard ships during World War II, maintenance of payroll records, and processing payments and benefits due to enlisted men until she was discharged in May of 1949. She married Stephen Meinhardt at the U.S. Naval Receiving Station in Brooklyn, N.Y. on November 25, 1948. She was a homemaker from 1949 to 1962. Stephen and Nellie moved to Mankato in 1959, where Nellie returned to work as a bookkeeper for Gamble-Skogmo and later Independent School District 77, from which she retired in 1985. She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in North Mankato and American Legion Post 518. Nellie had many hobbies over the years, including antiquing, quilting, and playing cards. She loved to shop with her daughters and granddaughters, and she played bingo regularly with her longtime friend Marilyn. One of the highlights of her life was Honor Flight on May 21, 2011, when she traveled to Washington, DC with other World War II veterans.

Nellie is survived by her daughter, Barbara Menton of Mankato; granddaughter, Rachel Schuler of Plymouth; sister, June Elliott of Delaware, OH; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stephen; son, Stephen Curtis; daughter, Gayle; granddaughter, Emily Newhouse; brothers, Eugene and Ralph; sister, Jay; and son-in-law, Jim Menton.

Her family sends a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Ecumen Pathstone Memory Care and Mayo Hospice for the kind and compassionate care they provided.