Mary Ann (Shields) Guck, age 94, passed away on Friday, September 1st, 2023 at Pine Harbor in the Perham Living Nursing Home surrounded by many of her family members.
Mary Ann was born to Charlie and Regina (Berns) Shields in the old St. James Hospital in Perham on May 25, 1929. She was baptized in the St. Joseph Church and was brought to their family home south of Richville. The family then moved to Perham, and she was enrolled in St. Henry’s Catholic School and graduated from Perham High School in 1947.
Mary Ann was married to Lawrence Guck, a neighbor and friend of the family, on September 28th, 1949. They farmed in the St. Joe area and then in Butler, Sebeka, and Menahga. They then moved to Perham, where they helped raise turkeys, until Lawrence began working at the Post Office in Perham.
Mary Ann was a busy housewife, raising her 11 children. Later she worked at the Red Owl store in Perham. She was active in church work wherever they lived. She enjoyed piecing comforters together and embroidering. She liked to play cards and she and Lawrence loved to go dancing. She was a member of the East Otter Tail Historical Society, Catholic Daughters, Christian Mothers, St. Agnes Mission Circle and was the President of the American Legion Auxiliary for several years, and was a member of the Perham Lakes Lions, where she earned the Melvin Jones award.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Regina Shields; her infant brother, Patrick; her infant sister, Dorothy; husband, Lawrence; and son-in-law, Craig Wagner.
Surviving Mary Ann are her 11 children, Mike (Karen), Tom (Karen), Kathy (Dick) Martin, Joe (Janice), Jean (Mike) Hendrickx, Ken (Pam), Alan (Lori), David (Deb), Sue Wagner, Rita (Mark) Wagner, and Jeff (Tricia). Also surviving Mary Ann is her brother, Joe (Agnes) Shields; many grandchildren; and great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at Schoeneberger Funeral and Cremation Service in Perham on Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. and Parish Prayers at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Friday, Sept. 8, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Perham followed by the Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at St. Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery in Perham.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Henry’s Area School Sponsor-A-Child program or to Stanislaus Communications (Perham Area Catholic Radio).
Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service, Perham, MN (218) 346-5175 www.schoenebergerfh.com