MaryAnn Elizabeth Decko

Mary Ann Decko passed away on February 21, 2021, at J.A. Wedum Residential Hospice in Brooklyn Park, MN, following a very long battle with kidney disease, cancers, and other physical challenges. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday June 5, 2021 at Beckville Lutheran Church, Litchfield, MN. Interment is in Beckville Lutheran Cemetery. Mary Ann Elizabeth Cordes was born on December 3, 1949 to Marcus A. and Alice E. Kaiser (Twila Gunderson) Cordes near Almena,WI, where the family had a dairy farm. In 1956, the family relocated to Madison WI and then to River Falls, WI, where Marcus Cordes was employed by the University of Wisconsin agricultural programs. The family later lived at several different locations in Minnesota as Marcus Cordes continued with his higher education and eventually became a Lutheran pastor. Mary Ann graduated from Minneota, MN High School in 1967. She was subsequently employed in New Ulm, MN and Gaylord, MN, where she met Willis M. Decko. The two were married in October, 1970 at Augustana Lutheran Church, Gibbon, MN, and settled in Gaylord. Mary Ann then began her banking career at the Winthrop, MN. State Bank. After relocating to the Twin Cities area in 1981, she was employed at Crosstown State Bank in Blaine (later 21st Century Banks in Blaine and Ham Lake). During those years, she also took business classes at a local college. At the time of her retirement in 2017, Mary was Vice President in Charge of Consumer Lending at 21st Century Bank, Blaine. In addition to her banking career, Mary was a talented musician who enjoyed playing piano and other keyboard instruments. For many years, she performed with a band that specialized in dance music. She also taught private piano students in her home. Mary was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Carol (Corey) Johnson. She will be greatly missed by her sister, Dr. Susan Cordes-Green (Bob Green), Pelican Rapids, MN, her brothers Randy Cordes (Patti) of Watertown, MN, and David Cordes, Cottage Grove, MN, brother-in-law David Johnson, Outing, MN, eight nieces and nephews, and five great-nieces and nephews. She was especially grateful to her niece, Katrina Cordes, whose donation of a kidney in 2008 gave Mary the gift of an extended life. Mary will also be greatly mourned by long-time close friends Art Schmidel and Will Decko, as well as many other dear friends and colleagues. Mary will be remembered as an intelligent, kind, and generous person. She was a devoted sister and aunt who deeply loved her family and friends as well as her beloved rescued dogs. Memorials can be donated in Mary’s name to the National Kidney Foundation or to the American Cancer Society.