Mary Ann Venem

Mary Ann (Heckes) Venem of Albert Lea, MN, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at St. Mary’s - Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, MN, surrounded by her loving family. She was 76 years old.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home in Albert Lea and again 1 hour prior to the service at the church. Pastor Ryan Stevenson-Cosgrove will be officiating. Interment will be in the Lakewood Cemetery in Albert Lea. A Luncheon will follow the service. Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home in Albert Lea, MN, has been honored with assisting the family.

Mary Ann Venem was born on September 21, 1949, in Albert Lea to Joyce and Harriet (Thompson) Heckes. She grew up in Albert Lea with her sister, Betty, and was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Mary Ann attended and graduated from Albert Lea High School. After finishing school, she enrolled in beauty school but ultimately decided not to pursue that path. Instead, she began a career in banking, which she enjoyed for 35 years, focusing on loans and financing. She worked for People’s Savings and Loans, Metropolitan, Americana Bank, City of Albert Lea, and Albert Lea Abstract, all before retiring.

On July 29, 1967, Mary Ann married Arnold “Arnie” Venem at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Together, they built a home on the Venem family farm on Pickerel Lake. They raised two children there, Laurie and Chris. About eight years ago, Mary Ann and Arnie began to downsize and moved into town. Throughout her life, faith remained important to her, and she was always actively involved in her church.

Mary Ann and Arnie spent 21 years wintering in Tucson, Arizona, living amongst numerous close friends. Mary Ann enjoyed attending gem shows and flea markets. She was especially interested in the beautiful landscapes of Arizona, often sharing her beautiful pictures of sunsets, skies, and cactuses with the family. Mary Ann had a passion for finding the history of ancestors and historic places in Albert Lea. She enjoyed spending time on her phone, keeping up and in touch with all family members near and far. She was also a talented painter. She and her granddaughters often gathered around the table to create colorful necklaces and jewelry from beads and gemstones and sewing bags.

Mary Ann was thoughtful in remembering family birthdays and special occasions. She cherished time spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. One of Mary Ann’s strengths was her organizational skills, managing the family cabin calendar and Facebook page for many years. Her family will remember her for her artistic skills and eye for repurposing items into works of art, her Coca-Cola collection, and her daily can of Coke. She was strong, patient, kind, and always the voice of reason.

Mary Ann is survived by her husband of 59 years, Arnie Venem; her children: Laurie (Terry) Nelson and Chris (Heidi) Venem; grandchildren: Kayla (Jim) Fitzpatrick, Tylor Nelson, Jaiden Venem, Josie (Gage Enzenauer), Jaxon and Jaeger Venem; great grandchildren: Brinley and Raymond Fitzpatrick and Iyla Enzenauer; sister Betty Rietsema; Brother-in-law; Tom (Jeanne) Venem; and many nieces, nephews, close friends, and other loved ones.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Joyce and Harriet Heckes; her parents-in-law, Chris and Arlida Venem; her brothers-in-law: Bert Rietsema, Ronald Venem, Bob Gray, Ed Parkins; her sisters-in-law: Marlene Gray, Sharon Parkins, and Cheryl Venem.

The service will be livestreamed and may be watched using the following link: https://www.youtube.com/live/0JQecB8xGQw