Mary Catherine (Wagner) Kodet

Mary Catherine Kodet, 86, of New London, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on November 19th.  Family and friends are invited to reminisce and celebrate the life of Mary with visitation starting at 9:30 am, Saturday, November 25th at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, 680 153rd Ave NE, Spicer, MN, with her Mass of Christian Burial to be at 11:00 am.  Interment will be in the church cemetery.  Funeral arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar.  www.hafh.org.

Mary was born in Morton, on January 14, 1937, to parents Leo and Veronica (Theisen) Wagner.  She graduated from Morton High School.  In 1955, she married Roger Kodet and to this union five children were born.  They made their home in Redwood Falls for 39 years before moving to their home on Lake Andrew (New London) in 1992. 

While living in Redwood Falls, Mary was a kindergarten aid at Reed Gray Elementary for eleven years.  As her own children were leaving home and pursuing their careers, Mary decided to continue her passion for nurturing and educating young children.  As a mother and grandmother, she attended Southwest State University and received a Degree in Elementary Education in 1986.  Mary taught at the elementary school in Belview for ten years.  After retirement, she continued as a substitute teacher in the New London- Spicer School District for several years.  She was a pioneer in bringing the University of Minnesota monarch butterfly education program to grade school classrooms.

In her early family years, many hours were devoted to her children as she led girl and boy scout troops, taught religious education, and organized the family for their unforgettable family camping and road trips throughout the United States.  As she settled into her retirement life on Lake Andrew, Mary and Roger attended Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church and she served in various ministries throughout the years.  Mary loved living on the lake and being outdoors; her hobbies included gardening, swimming, reading, knitting, sewing, feeding the birds, and their annual snowmobiling trips to West Yellowstone.  She often made visits to GlenOaks Nursing Home of New London, bringing fruit and bananas to the residents; she became known as the “Banana Lady.” 

Her family was very important to her, and she cherished the time spent with them.  Survivors include her husband, Roger, their five children: Paula (Mark) Person, Deborah Stanton, Mark (Becky) Kodet, Thomas (Sue) Kodet, Charles (JoAnne) Kodet, eleven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, James Wagner and Maurice Wagner, and sisters, Doreen Alexander and Arliss Rex. 

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