A Celebration of Life Service for Mary Kazemba, age 88, of Jackson, Minnesota, will be held Friday, January 16, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux Valley, with a time of visitation and gathering one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Sioux Valley Township Cemetery.

Mary Katherine (Bares) Kazemba, daughter of the late Milo and Bessie (Gerlach) Bares, was born on February 6, 1937, in Jackson, Minnesota. She was baptized on March 26, 1939, at the First Methodist Church in Jackson and later confirmed on April 2, 1950, also at the First Methodist Church in Jackson. Mary attended Jackson High School and graduated with the Class of 1955.

On December 4, 1966, Mary was united in marriage to Loren Kazemba. This union was blessed with seven children: Doug, Donald, Ross, Rodney, JoLynn, Jolene, and Terry. Through the years, Mary worked alongside her family on the farm and truly enjoyed the life and work of a farmer's wife. In 1992, Loren and Mary moved to Jackson, where Mary was also employed as a Pharmacy Technician at Throndset Pharmacy.

Mary was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux Valley, where she faithfully served as a Sunday School teacher, Ladies Aid member, and church custodian.

She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, sewing, gardening, and coloring.

Mary Kazemba passed away peacefully on Friday, January 9, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society – Sogge Memorial in Windom, Minnesota.

Mary is survived by her children: Doug (Sharon) Kazemba of Yankton, SD; Donald Kazemba of Fredericksburg, IN; Ross Kazemba of Storden; Rodney Kazemba of Sussex, WI; JoLynn Nerhus of Windom; Jolene (Randy) Lenz of Adrian; and Terry Kazemba of Sioux Valley; fourteen grandchildren; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; her sister, Millie Swanson; brother, Galen Bares; sisters-in-law, Myrna Farrar and Joan Bares; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Loren Kazemba; her parents, Milo and Bessie Bares; granddaughter, Heather Kazemba; brothers, Roger Bares and Steve Farrar;  parents-in-law, Martin and Nellie Kazemba; brothers-in-law, Marvin (Barb) Kazemba, and Art Swanson; sister-in-law, Lois Kazemba; daughter-in-law, Patty Kazemba; and son-in-law, Brant Nerhus.

Blessed be the memory of Mary Katherine Kazemba