Mary Arndt

Mary Catherine (Kelsey) Arndt of Lewisville, 81, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Madelia Health Hospital.

Mary was born on Sept. 20, 1942, in Madelia to Mark and Mary (Rohe) Kelsey. She grew up on the family farm with her nine siblings and was active in 4-H as a child. She attended Mater Dolorosa Catholic School through eighth grade and graduated from Madelia High School in 1960 where she was Homecoming queen. She went on to get her registered nursing license studying side by side with the nuns at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

She married Vern W. Arndt on Nov. 25, 1963 — just celebrating 60 years together. They were lifelong members of Fieldon Lutheran Church. They were blessed with four children: Todd, Troy, Tamy and Trisha.

Mary worked at Truman Retirement Home, Lake Crystal Retirement Home and dedicated the last 25+ years before retirement to the Madelia Clinic including home-care services. Mary took medical mission trips to Guatemala and she was a long-time member of the local Lions Club, volunteering any occasion she could. Upon retiring, she took up watercolor painting and has gifted many beautiful keepsakes to family and friends. Mary went on many trips in her lifetime with family and friends. She loved spending time in northern Minnesota and especially loved to hear the loons on the lakes.

Mary’s life was dedicated to love — she was the epitome of love. She loved her family, she loved her friends, she truly loved the Madelia community as a whole and this love was based on her great love of Jesus. She was selfless in every aspect of her life, always advocating for the underdog, the elderly and the less fortunate. She cared deeply for everyone, she kept close connections and she genuinely loved you whether you were her spouse, child, grandchild, great-grandchild, sibling, niece or nephew or one of her hundreds of friends. She kept you close to her heart and prayed for you daily. She knew when your birthday was, knew what to say when you were hurting and she loved good conversations and great laughs. She was one of a kind and will be missed by so many.

Mary is survived by her husband, Vern, four children, 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren — son, Todd (Glenda) Arndt of Lewisville, grandchildren: Tedd (Anna) Arndt, Alyson (Cheri) Green, Katelyn (Corey) Wiederhoeft and great-grandchildren: Macey, Walker, Tyler, Raylan, Case, Adalynn, Laramie, Avery and Lawson; son, Troy (Annette) Arndt of Vernon Center, grandchildren: the Rev. Joshua (Ivy) Arndt, Caleb (Katie Fourniea) Arndt, Danielle (Pete) Bateman and Ethan Arndt and great-grandchildren: Anastasia, David, Elijah, Joseph and Maeva; daughter, Tamy (Dave) Munsen of St. Peter, grandchildren: Anna (Jack) Kortuem, Mariah (Anthony) Guerreo, Matthew Munsen and Ava Munsen, and great-grandchildren: Quinn and Krew; daughter, Trisha (Ryan Bode) Arndt of Watertown, grandchildren: Emma (fiancé Dylan) Ragner, Sam Ragner, Ben Ragner and Nathan Ragner; siblings: Maynard (Sandra) Kelsey, Kenneth (Sally) Kelsey, Ruth Willock, Janet Fuchs, Steve (Sue) Kelsey, Chris (Steve) Dumke and Richard (MaryJo) Kelsey; brother-in-law, Loren Arndt; sisters-in-law, Marlene Arndt, Delona Bonkoski and Linda (Eldon) Reckard; and many nieces and nephews. Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Mark and Mary Kelsey; brother, Milton Kelsey (USMC); and sister, Elizabeth “Bit” Kelsey.

Visitation was Monday April 1, from 4–7 p.m. at Salem Lutheran Church in Madelia and continued from 9–10:30 a.m. preceding the service at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2.