A Mass of Christian Burial, to honor the life and legacy of Mary Ellen Stenzel, age 92, of Heron Lake, will be held Tuesday, April 7th at 10:30 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heron Lake. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Heron Lake.

A visitation for Mary Ellen will be held on Monday, April 6th, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Visitation will continue Tuesday at the church for one hour prior to the service.

Mary Ellen (Haberman) Stenzel was born on September 30, 1933, to Herman and Irene (Brady) Haberman in rural Jackson County, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith. Mary Ellen attended Heron Lake High School, graduating with the Class of 1952, and later continued her education at the Minneapolis Business School. She then worked at First Bank Corporation in Minneapolis.

On June 9, 1956, Mary Ellen was united in marriage to Robert Clement Stenzel at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dundee, in a double wedding with her sister, Darlene and Benny Seifert, who were adorned in matching bridal gowns. Together, Mary Ellen and Bob were blessed with four children, Cathy, Pat, Kenneth and Thomas. Mary Ellen devoted herself to her family as a homemaker and found great joy in baking and caring for those she loved. She rarely missed her children's sporting events and school activities, a devotion that continued as she proudly cheered on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

After marriage, Mary Ellen was employed at the Heron Lake Bank and later worked for many years as a legal secretary for John I. Halloran and Patrick Costello, Attorneys at Law. She retired in 2004.

Mary Ellen had a warm and outgoing personality. She enjoyed long walks with her beloved dog, Jake, well into her later years. Family vacations brought her great joy, while creating lasting memories that were filled with laughter and fun. She took pride in planting a large garden each year and preserving its harvest to enjoy through the winter months. Her generosity was felt in the small, thoughtful ways she cared for others, through her embroidered dish towels and the baked goods that she so often shared with friends and neighbors.

She found happiness in mowing lawn, tending her flowers, reading and playing board games with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Time spent with her friends was always special, whether golfing, playing cards, traveling, or taking trips to the winery or the Spencer Fair. Mary Ellen also gave generously of her time, lectoring at Mass, serving as the secretary of the Heron Lake Senior Citizens Center, volunteering at the Heron Lake Food Shelf, and organizing volunteers to do hair at the Heron Lake Nursing Home. In 2015, Mary Ellen was honored as the Jackson County Senior Citizen of the Year.

On Saturday, March 28, 2026, Mary Ellen was called home and received the gift of eternal life, surrounded by the love of her family.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Cathy Lundstrom of Clarissa, Pat (Colleen) Stenzel of St. James, Kenneth (Terri) Stenzel of Heron Lake, and Thomas (Cheryl) Stenzel of Gonvick; 12 grandchildren, Kari (Brad) Tollerson, Matt (Megan) Lundstrom, Chris Lundstrom (Cory) , Heidi Stenzel, Sam (Adam) Schroeder, Nikki (Mark) Snitily, Tyler (Ivy) Stenzel, Derek (Mara) Stenzel, Devyn Stenzel, Gabi Stenzel, Madison (Joe) Woods, and Danae´ Stenzel; 12 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Allen (Joan) Haberman of Webster City, IA, and Gary (Sandy) Haberman of Cold Spring; sisters-in-law, Patricia Stenzel of Heron Lake, and Dorothy Menke of Mountain Lake; as well as many nieces, nephews, relatives and dear friends.

Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Stenzel; son-in-law, Wayne Lundstrom; parents, Herman and Irene Haberman; sister, Darlene Seifert; parents-in-law, Alfred and Caroline Stenzel; and brothers-in-law, Benny Seifert, Jim Stenzel, and Al Menke.

Blessed be the memory of Mary Ellen Stenzel, a devoted and selfless wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, friend, and neighbor, who found joy in life's simple moments and made everyone around her feel loved.