Mary Ann Hestermann, 93, of Inver Grove Heights, MN, formerly of Sterling, died June 27, 2024.  She was born on April 8, 1931 in Beatrice to Louie and Anna (Harms) Petersen.  On May 24, 1931 Mary Ann was baptized in the American Lutheran Church in Filley.  On March 30, 1947 she was confirmed at the St. John Lutheran Church in Sterling.  Mary Ann attended Olney country school near Filley, Crab Orchard school, Rose Hill Dist #9 north of Vesta, and graduated from Sterling High School in 1949.  She taught school at Dist #11 for three years.  On June 22, 1952 she married Floyd Hestermann at St. John Lutheran Church of Sterling. They lived in Cheyenne, WY, where Floyd was stationed in the U.S. Air Force and Mary Ann worked as a receptionist.  Following Floyd’s discharge in 1955 they started farming southeast of Sterling.  They purchased the family farm home west of Vesta in 1963.  Mary Ann was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church of Sterling, where she was involved with Sunday School, Jr. Lutherans, the church council, a call committee and the women of the church.  She was also active in the Zee to Aye Extension Club, served on the Extension Board and was recognized for Outstanding Service by the State of Nebraska in 1982.  She was a member of the Sterling American Legion Auxiliary and Beatrice Eagles Auxiliary and co-founded the Kool Kats in Red Hats organization in Sterling.  Following the death of her husband she worked as a receptionist for Court Street Dental in Beatrice and Dr. Tom Martin D.D.S. in Sterling. She retired in 2009 and became a Pioneer Foster Grandparent working with the St. Andrew Catholic School in Tecumseh.  In 2018, Mary Ann moved to Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota to be near her daughter’s family.  She volunteered with Sewing for Babies.  Mary Ann enjoyed reading, gardening and visiting with friends.  She will be remembered for expressing her views directly, as well as her knack for being a great conversationalist.

 

            Survivors include her son, John (Karan) Hestermann of Waverly; daughter, Anne (Anthony) DePalma of Inver Grove Heights, MN; three grandchildren, Benjamin (Amy) Hestermann, Logan (Karen) Hestermann and Natalie DePalma; three great grandchildren; four step-grandchildren, Katya Ranson-Edelsen, Kirsten Ranson-Pettway, Charles (Bonnie) DePalma and Al (Tiffani) DePalma;  four step-great-grandchildren; two step-great-great-grandchildren;  brother-in-law, Eldon (Sharon) Hestermann; sisters-in-law, Charlotte Petersen, Alyce (Jim) Weiss, Martha Menard, and Barb (John) MacKichan; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd, who died on August 6, 1987; parents, Louie and Anna Petersen; brother, Richard Petersen; sister, Lois Buss; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, LaVerne Buss, Robert and Joan Hestermann, Marvin and Janice Hestermann, John Menard, Arlo and Delores Wittstock, and Jan Rosekrans.  

 

            Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at St. John Lutheran Church of Sterling with Pastor Doyle Karst officiating.  A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 A.M. on Saturday at the church. Burial will be at the Sterling Cemetery.  The body will lie in state at the Zink-Fox Funeral Home on Friday, July 5, 2024, from noon until 8:00 P.M. with the family greeting relatives and friends from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the family’s choice.  www.foxfuneralhome.net  Arrangements entrusted to Zink-Fox Funeral Home of Sterling.