Mary Ann Studanski

Mary Ann Betty (Haase) Studanski was born March 13, 1940. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family at noon on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The timing felt especially meaningful, as Easter was her favorite holiday – a day of hope and new life. She was 86 years old.

A Christian Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, April 12th, 2026 at 1 PM with desserts following at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 14085 Pike Lake Trail NE, Prior Lake, MN 55372.

Memorials may be given to Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).

Mary Ann grew up on a farm in Bertha, MN. Mary Ann enjoyed school and attended country school until 8th grade and continued on to Bertha-Hewitt High School. She graduated as Valedictorian in 1958 and was active in speech, drama, and music. She played the clarinet and sang as a choir soloist. At the age of eight, she began taking piano lessons. With the support of her parents, she developed a lifelong love of music, becoming an accomplished pianist and later playing the organ at church. Music remained one of her greatest joys throughout her life.

Mary Ann earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College in Moorhead in 1962, majoring in English and Business. While there, she sang in the Concordia Choir, which also performs a Christmas concert at Orchestra Hall. Upon graduation, she taught English, typing and short-hand at Sauk Centre High School for one year, where she was deeply appreciated by her students. Then she worked at IBM in downtown Minneapolis and shared an apartment with her dear friend, Judy Kleinman.

In 1963, Mary Ann met the love of her life, Jim, at a supper club in Sauk Centre, during homecoming weekend. They were married in 1964 and began a life together filled with adventure, moving frequently in the early years of their marriage. They lived in Sioux Falls, SD (where Peggy was born); Santa Ana, CA; Niles, IL (where Tom was born), Lincoln and Omaha, NE and Wichita, KS as Jim worked as a store manager for S.S. Kresge. In 1972, they settled in Plymouth, where they lived until Jim’s retirement, later making homes in Sauk Centre, Belle Plaine, and finally Prior Lake.

After dedicating 10 years to raising her family, Mary Ann built a long and successful career as a legal secretary, working at several law firms until her retirement in 2005. She loved working and staying active, and even in retirement, resumed part-time work - taking the bus downtown well into her 70’s.

Mary Ann and Jim shared a love of golf and spent many happy years playing in couples’ leagues. In 1987, they built a home in Rio Verde (a golfing community), Arizona, where they enjoyed many winters as snowbirds until 2021. The family treasures the many special memories made there, surrounded by the beauty of the desert landscape.

In addition to music, Mary Ann enjoyed knitting, bowling, reading, walking and golfing. She was a devoted member of her Lutheran church and found comfort in her favorite Bible verse, Psalm 23. She shared a lifelong bond with her cousin, Ellen Haase Dalen, with whom she remained very close, attending school reunions together every year. She was also an avid fan of the Twins, Timberwolves and Vikings. She loved being a grandmother and found joy in supporting her grandchildren at their many activities. Mary Ann will be remembered for her beautiful smile, goodness, and deeply caring nature. Her warmth, kindness, and uplifting presence touched all who know her, leaving a lasting legacy of love and generosity.

Mary Ann is preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Mary Haase; and siblings, Wilbert/Wilma (twins that died at birth), Harlan (died at age 6), Laverne, Elvin (lost in the Korean Conflict), Erna Rausch, Delbert and LeRoy. She was the baby of the family.

Mary Ann is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Jim; children, Peggy (John) Hengen and Tom (Kim) Studanski; and four grandchildren, Nathan and Laura Studanski, Olga (Stuart) Wolf and Nadia Hengen.