Marlys Mahoney

Marlys Darlene Mahoney, 86, of Appleton, Minnesota passed away on March 5, surrounded by family in the St. Cloud Hospital. She was a resident of the Appleton Area Care Center since 2024.

Mass of Christian Burial is Saturday, March 14 at 11 a.m., at St. John’s Catholic Church in Appleton, officiated by Fr. Brian Mandel. All are welcome to join the family at church to pray the rosary at 8:30 a.m. Visitation is from 9 to 10:50 a.m. Burial is at the Appleton City Cemetery. Lunch will be served in church basement immediately following the service for those not attending the burial. In lieu of flowers, donations preferred to Minnesota Concerned Citizens for Life (MCCL).

Marlys was born June 7, 1939 to Adolph and Elma (Grams) Yochem in Redwood County, Mn. She grew up with her older sister Arlene on their family farm in Westbrook. She moved with her family to various farming communities. In 1951, the family farmed northwest of Appleton until her father’s death in 1958.

Marlys graduated from Appleton High School (AHS) in 1956. After high school, she worked as a bookkeeper at the Appleton Co-op Association.

She was united in marriage to Paul David Mahoney, September 17, 1960 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Appleton. The newly married couple began dairy farming in Fairfield township. They farmed until their retirement and then moved into Appleton. She was a devoted wife and caretaker of Paul, her husband of 55 years and her mother, Elma.

In addition to farming, Marlys was a talented seamstress and did custom sewing. She sewed her own and the children’s clothing including special occasions as First Communion, Easter outfits and bridesmaid dresses. She taught all six children to sew for their 4-H sewing project and was known to have a devotion for the seam ripper and straight stitches. Marlys shared her sewing skills in sewing many of the student outfits for the AHS swing choir, Snoopy mascot outfits and making the AHS men’s homecoming crowns.

Besides farming, she was a Fabulous Fabrics saleswoman. Selling fabrics and patterns from the home. She also became an Avon lady, selling Avon for 50 years. Later, she baked and sold home-baked goods in the area. She was known for her frosted cinnamon and caramel rolls, Swedish tea rings and cookies.

Her greatest joy was becoming a mother to six children and a surrogate mother to Nicole van Eijck-Geerts, AFS exchange student. For over a decade, she was a mother/mentor to many farm exchange students who came to America to learn farming.

Marlys was an active volunteer. She was a 4-H club leader. In her church, she served in the Altar and Rosary society, taught catechism and served in the ministry at the Prairie Correctional Facility.

She is survived by her children: Theresa (Kevin) Bachmeier, Appleton, Kathy (David) Held, Bonita Springs, FL, Larry (Denise) Mahoney, Appleton, Tim (Dawn) Mahoney, New Prague, Brenda (Dan) Gorseth, Clearwater, FL, Roseanne Mahoney, Apple Valley and Nicole van Eijck-Geerts, Nederlands; thirteen grandchildren: Rachel Bachmeier, Laura Bachmeier, Anthony (Nicole) Held, Nicholas (Tess) Held, Joe Held, Andrew Mahoney, Anna Mahoney, Claudia (Mark) Redman, Andres (Emma) Mahoney, Benjamin (Abigail) Klein, Adam Gorseth, Garrett (Stephanie) Gorseth, Jessica (Doug)Tatum and eight great- grandchildren; Dakota Dutton, Beau Held, Xander Held, Grace Klein, Ella Klein, Timothy Mahoney, Doug Tatum and Laney Tatum. She is survived by sisters-in-law, Katie Mahoney and Tessa Mahoney.

Marlys is preceded in death by her husband Paul; her parents, Paul’s parents, William and Ann (Muelbauer) Mahoney; sister Arlene Ulstad, brothers-in-law, John Ulstad, Gerald Mahoney, Roger Mahoney, Dennis Mahoney, sisters-in-law Sharon Mahoney and Dianne Mahoney.