Mary Olson Nienow of Iron Mountain, Mich., formerly of Stewartville, died Sunday, April 10, 2011, following a brief courageous battle with cancer at Golden Living Center East in Rochester.
Mary Louise Olson was born Dec. 20, 1953, in Rochester. She grew up in Stewartville, attended Stewartville schools and graduated in 1971. She was married on Aug. 12, 1972, to Robert L. Nienow and they were later divorced. She attended Rochester Area Vocational School in it's technical nursing program. Mary was employed at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester as a unit secretary and was one of the first dispatchers for the Mayo One ambulance service. She was a longtime Greenway Cooperative employee in Rochester and managed the Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant in Southeast Rochester. Mary moved to Michigan in 2006 to live near her daughter.
She was a past member of St. Bernards Catholic Church in Stewartville. She enjoyed sewing doing artwork and painting, bowling, word games, her dogs and especially time spent her family.
Survivors include her mother, Violet Olson of Stewartville; three sons and a daughter, Jennifer (Jessie Nichols) Nienow of Iron River, Mich., Kristopher Nienow of Burnsville, Brandon Nienow of Spring Valley, and Joshua (Tanya) Nienow of Cottage Grove; seven grandchildren, Benjamin, Ashleigh, Kylie, Ella, Samuel and Nicholas Nienow, Lily Nichols; James Schwanke of Red Wing; special friend, Gary of Iron Mountain; three brothers and three sisters, Phillip (Jo) Olson of Perham, Peggy (Steve) Thompson of Dodge Center, Michael Olson of Medford, Ore., Jennifer (Al) Whipple of Rochester, Janelle (Mike) Mitchell of Spring Valley and Jeff (Melody) Olson of Prior Lake; many nieces and nephews; and her "boys", Bruiser and Gibson, Woof Woof! She was preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grandparents and beloved mother-in-law. Sara Nienow.
A time of remembrance will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2011, at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Stewartville, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., with Rev. Matt Fasnacht officiating. A private family burial will take place at a later date.
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The family suggests memorials to Flights of Mercy in Michigan or Mayo Hospice.
Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville.
