Mary Ellen Gans

Mary Ellen was born in Saint Cloud, Minnesota on October 8, 1929 to John and Magdalene (Gaetz) Graham. Mary Ellen Graham graduated from Cathedral High School in 1947.

She met Howard "Howie" Gans and they were married on October 3, 1953 at Holy Angels in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. A few years after they married they moved to the “Cities” for Howie’s job and established Excelsior as their home for the next 50 plus years.

Mary worked for Minneapolis Moline in the early days, later volunteering for many years helping students at Excelsior Elementary with legendary Kindergarten teacher Kay Carlson. Later in life she decided to try working in banking and ended up working over 20 years at the Wells Fargo in Excelsior meeting many colleagues and customers who became friends.

She was a terrific cook when younger, hosting dinner parties, family BBQ’s, and Holidays while Howie worked the grill. Later in life, when widowed, she cooked for her grandkids as she said “I eat to live, not live to eat”, perfecting a Banana Bread that to this day is requested when they come home. For many years in retirement, her and Howie spent winters in Mesa with friends and family. When Howie passed she and her sister Claire began a new tradition in Mesa spending years enjoying the sunshine away from Minnesota winters including this year when she passed away from complications from GI bleed.

Her Catholic faith was central to her life. She attended in person Mass into her late 80’s and then almost daily via her iPad. She was a member and then director of the St John’s parish funeral lunch committee for many years providing families comfort. For many years she also played cards with a ladies group at Island View Golf Club over lunch.

She was preceded in death by Husband Howie 1995, her parents and brothers Jim, Bernie, Donny, and Tom. Sisters Helen and Colleen.

She was survived by her Son John (Jennifer) Victoria, MN, Grandchildren Patrick, Newport Beach CA, Clare, Minneapolis, Thomas, Victoria, two sisters, Claire Graham and Rita Pfeffer, sister-in-law Ellen Gans, and over 25 nieces and nephews.

Service Information:

Details regarding the service will be shared at a later time, most likely late February or early March at St John the Baptist in Excelsior. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Mary’s honor to St John the Baptist Church in Excelsior or a charity of your choice.