Mary A. Kounkel

Mary Ann Kounkel, passed away peacefully on Saturday May 24th, 2025 at the age of 81. Whether you knew her as Mary, Mom, Grandma, or that gentle lady who gives the best hugs, your life is better for having known her. She will forever be remembered as someone who truly cared about others, which is a testament to her 16 years as the social service director at the Monticello-Big Lake hospital district and nursing home. Her grandchildren are blessed with the memories of going to the cabin and playing Pooh sticks,off of “Pooh sticks bridge”. Each one of them remembers Grandma’s three questions: 1. What was the best part of your day? 2. What was the worst part of your day? 3. What did you do for someone else today? She didn’t just want to know about your day but how your heart was. She always made it a point to recognize that each day had good in it and that we can all do something, no matter how small, for someone else. Mary enjoyed every moment living in their home on the Mississippi River in Monticello. Whether it was watching the deer across the river on the island or planting and tending to her flower gardens, being out in the yard was her happy place. When the decision was made to move into town, finding a house that backed up to a park was a blessing; being able to watch the neighborhood’s energy from her easy chair brought a smile to her face. Family was always important to her. She was blessed with 4 children, 16 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, and 1 amazing husband who held her hand for 62 years of marriage. Their home was always open, and on the fourth Sunday of each month, dinner was served at 5:00. It did not matter if just one person showed up or if the house was overfilling with family, she brought out the best in everyone. Mary Ann Langewisch was born September 26, 1943 in Scribner, Nebraska to Gilbert and Elenora Langewisch. The family later moved and she graduated from Washington Senior High School in Sioux Falls, SD. Following high school, Mary went to Seward, Nebraska to attend Concordia University, where she met her future husband Larry Kounkel. The two were married on August 12, 1962 at Zion Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.They were blessed with four children: Kim(Brian), ElizaBeth(Patrick), Joe(Becca), and Matt. 16 grandchildren: Cory, Kristine, Brittney, Bethany, Adam, Megan, Luke, Jakob, Ethan, Ambre, Erica, Sarah, Lauren, Hannah, Konnor, Gabbie. And 9 great grandchildren:Brayden, Skylar, Sarah, Elijah, Aeda, Isaac, Athena, Marley, Peter. Arriving in heaven earlier to prepare for Mary’s arrival were her sister, Alice, her parents, Gilbert and Elenor, Father and mother in laws, Lloyd and Maria, Brother in law, Ken, Sister in law Sandi, and Granddaughter, Sarah.

Memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 31st at 2:00 PM with a visitation at 1:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Monticello, Minnesota. A visitation will be held the previous evening on Friday, May 30th from 5:00-8:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Monticello, Minnesota In lieu of flowers, the family has requested a donation to Trinity Lutheran Church in Monticello, MN or The Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation. As a friend recently said so perfectly: ”She was a beautiful lady, inside and out”

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