Mary Gail (Von Ohlen) Krull, 80, of Plymouth, Minnesota, passed away at her home on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Gene; children, Susan (Jeff) Shellberg, Mark Hotzler, Scott (Manny) Krull and Christopher (Jeri Thurber) Krull; brother, Rodney Von Ohlen; five grandchildren, Parker Donley of Bemidji, Minnesota, Morgan Anderson of Underwood, Minnesota, Ryan Shellberg of Minneapolis, Nichole Hotzler of Iowa, and Graves Krull of Minneapolis; four great-grandchildren; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews who were dear to her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Viola Von Ohlen; and grandson, Daniel Shellberg Antrim.
Mary came into this world on July 21, 1942, in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. She grew up on a farm near Alpha, Minnesota, attended country school through the sixth grade and graduated from Jackson High School in 1960. She moved to the “Cities,” attended the Minnesota School of Business, married Jerry Hotzler, and had her first two children, Susan and Mark. In 1969, Scott became her son at age 18 months, when she married Gene Krull. Christopher was born to this union in 1973.
In her 40s, with all of her children in school, Mary returned to school earning an Associate of Arts degree from North Hennepin Community College. She then attended Augsburg College on a merit scholarship where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and communication.
While Mary loved literature and the written word, her real professional interest was social work. Not having a degree in social work, she earned certification through “on-the-job” training and worked as a social worker at several nursing homes in Minneapolis as well as Siren, Wisconsin, after a move to rural St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin.
Mary and her family lived in several locations in Iowa and Illinois, eventually returning to Minneapolis and later moving to a small farm in Wisconsin.
Mary loved music having started piano lessons at age 7. She was accomplished on the piano as well as the organ and played organ in her home church at age 16. Additionally, she was a pianist/organist at several of the churches the family attended. She was also a vocalist and sang in the church choir when not playing for church. Mary also loved to knit and she knitted many dozens of pairs of socks. She also started a prayer shawl knitters group at her church in Wisconsin. Reading was another favorite hobby with much interest in history, especially local history.
Mary was positive about life and brought joy to those around her to the very end. There will be a Celebration of Life/memorial service at North Valley Lutheran Church in rural Centuria, Wisconsin, on Saturday, June 17, at 11 a.m. Donations in her honor may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alz.org.
God, give strength to those who mourn Mary and may she never be forgotten.
