Mary Anne Olivia Bennett (Kertzscher, Birkey)

Mary Anne Olivia Bennett was born September 27, 1937 in Leipzig, Germany. Mary Anne transitioned from her earthly home August 16, 2024 to her eternal abode surrounded by family, friends and a cloud of witnesses at her lake retreat on North Long Lake in Brainerd. 

Her father, Friz Kertzscher, was born in Leipzig. Her mother, Florence Isackson, from Larsmont Minnesota met Fritz in the Canary Islands. They were married on a ship traveling to Morocco. After visiting family in Germany, being denied a visa (because of Fritz’ diagnosis of active tuberculosis) to travel to the USA, the newly-weds had to remain in Germany.

During WW II, the family lived in Magdeburg on the Elbe River. Brother, Ernst Paul was born in 1939. Fritz was drafted into the German army, died of TB during basic training. During that time, Mary Anne was hospitalized for six months with bovine TB. Through all the wartime challenges, carpet bombings, the family remained staunch US citizens. After a major air raid, the family fled to Oma’s home in the village of Borna by Leipzig. 

After the war ended, Mother worked for US military government. The family left Borna before the Russian occupation and wandered a year as displaced persons throughout Germany. 

June, 1946 we arrived in Larsmont and started a new journey; learning English, being the ”enemy” children on the school bus, hosting my first birthday party with liver and onions. My grandfather, Ole Haakon Isackson and I would set nets on Lake Superior. I would sell fresh fish to the summer tourists.

A move to west Duluth, Merrit Elementary School, West Junior High school and Denfeld High School broadened my horizons. Girl Scout activities through high school and playing cello in the Duluth Junior Symphony-plus babysitting jobs kept me busy.

A Hunt Scholarship to the University of Minneapolis, traveling the summer of 1958 to Norway and Germany, being involved in dormitory leadership, serving as a residence hall counselor on the St Paul campus’ Bailey Hall-the first coed dorm at the U, loving the challenges of student teaching and landing a teaching position the beginning of my senior year at St Louis Park Junior HS---all were good memory makers.

July, 1959 Mary Anne married Thomas Glenn Birkey, a medical student. Teaching art for three years and holding down four other part time jobs got TGB through medical school, and internship at Hennepin General Hospital. Five months of travel throughout Europe in a Volkswagen Cabriolet was a satisfying interlude before 21/2 years of Navy Service as a Flight Surgeon and Navy Dependent.

First son, Christopher was born in 1963 in Pensacola, Stephen followed in 1965 at Balboa Hospital -San Diego. In 1969, Peter arrived in Montevido, Minnesota where the Birkeys settled and enjoyed small town living. In 1971, daughter Martha Jang, born in 1965 joined the family from South Korea.

Camping trips in the pop-up camper, gardening-weeding, family cooking and canning projects, trips back to Europe, skiing, building a lake cabin, participating in a variety of 4-H and school sports activities-the list goes on. 

For Mary Anne, volunteering in arts related activities, serving on the Governor’s Commission on the Arts, Board member Minnesota Alliance for the Arts in Education, Minnesota International Health Volunteers, writing grants for the historical society and schools, leadership in AAUW, church youth group advisor, part-time teaching und so weiter. 

The family volunteered in Khao I Dang, Khmer Holding Center Thailand. Mary Anne’s global outlook on the displaced person, refugee, immigrant challenges has always been in the forefront of her thinking. 

After the children graduated from high school, the couple separated. Mary Anne was employed by the Burnsville Eagan Savage school district in 1987. A master’s degree was obtained in counseling-with peer leadership and arts emphasis from the University Wisconsin, River Falls. After a divorce in 1990, she met Mr Wonderful, Donald Bruce Bennett. They were married in 1994 and have enjoyed a synergetic loving relationship. Activities included railroad and model train collecting and layout building, playing cello in community orchestras and ensembles, leadership support for the Lakes Area Music festival in Brainerd, Nisswa Stamma leadership, hosting musicians, workshops and friends, travel, glamping, pontoon buffets.

Don’s son Scott (Kari) and children Ellen, Zach(Ella) and Grace have completed the roster of eight exceptional, above average grandchildren: Kelly and Katie Kiewel, Makenzie, Taylor and Abbey Birkey. Brother Ernst Paul (Pat) children Erich,(Wendy) Kip, Heidi (Todd)and many friends from around the globe have been supportive and steadfast friends.

Special thanks to all the friends, church members, prayer partners, hospice staff who have journeyed with us through these years of living with UG (the Uninvited Guest-esophageal cancer) A major shout out to Donald Bruce for his steady loving care.

Two memorial celebrations are being planned: one will be held at 1:45 pm on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at  Brainerd UCC church and another at 1:45 pm on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at the Presbyterian Church of the Apostles in Burnsville. 

Mary Anne is buried at Lakeview Cemetery, Palmers, MN - a green cemetery.