Marge Gessell, 90 year old resident of Swanville, MN passed away peacefully Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at her home surrounded by loved ones. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, October 13, 2023 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Swanville, MN with Father Ron Dockendorf officiating. Burial will take place in the St. John’s Parish Cemetery in Swanville, MN. A visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 A.M. on Friday, October 13, 2023 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Swanville, MN. Caring for Marge and her family is the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Swanville, MN.
Margaret “Marge” Ann Karnowski was born on April 1, 1933 in Little Falls, MN to the late Chris and Julia (Sobiech) Karnowski. She was united in marriage to John J. Gessell on January 19, 1956 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Little Falls, MN. The couple made their first home in rural Swanville where they raised their 5 children and kept busy farming, raising livestock and turkeys for 20 years. They then moved to the town of Swanville. Marge attended grade school at Our Lady of Lourdes in the Antler Hotel Building in Little Falls and then Little Falls Public School, where she took part in the on-the-job training program during her senior year at American National Bank in Little Falls. She continued working at the bank until she was married. Marge took on the role of performing various duties on the farm, including bookwork for over 30 years. Marge was an active member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church where she helped on the funeral committee for many years. The love of her life was family.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband John Gessell of over 67 years; children, Steve (Wendy) Gessell of St. Cloud, Joan Gessell of Swanville, John (Lynette) Gessell, Jr. of Flensburg, Mary (Joe) Miller of Swanville and Mike (Tamara) Gessell of Sartell; 11 grandchildren and their spouses; 14 great-grandchildren and counting, who brought so much joy to her life and whom she loved very much. Besides being known as Grandma, she was affectionately called MiMi. She is also survived by her brothers, Jerry (Kard), Bob and Gary Karnowski; sisters, Cathy Schlumpberger, Joanie LeBlanc, Judy Holt and Carol Vogel; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.
Marge was preceded in death by her parents, Chris and Julia Karnowski; and brothers, Donald, Roger and David.
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