Mary Krantz, 60

Posted on July 8, 2009 by ECM Publishers

Mary Margaret Krantz, 60, passed away in her Little Falls home July 6, 2009, surrounded by her loving husband and children.

Mary was born May 23, 1949, in Columbus, Ohio, to Fred and Loretta (Hopkins) Krantz. The first of seven children, Mary was a role model for her younger siblings and a teacher at heart. After several moves, the family finally settled in Minneapolis in 1960 where Mary attended elementary and high school. She received her undergraduate degree in elementary education from Bemidji State University and spent two summers going to school in Mexico. While teaching at St. Michael-Albertville Elementary from 1971 – 1978, Mary met her future husband Jeff Odendahl. The couple was married May 29, 1978, and after a summer spent working at Laketrails Base Camp near the Minnesota-Ontario border, settled in Little Falls.

While receiving her M.A. in special education from St. Cloud State University, Mary student taught at Little Falls Community High School. Over the years, she also taught at Dr. S.G. Knight Elementary in Randall and Lincoln Elementary in Little Falls. She and her family divided their time between school years in Little Falls and summers on Lake of the Woods where her husband was the Lake-trails camp director. Mary loved the lake and found strength in the peace and serenity of the untouched wilderness there.

Mary loved gardening, reading, baking, traveling, teaching and spending time with her dear friends and family. However, above all, she loved God and had faith in God’s plan for her. 

Mary is survived by her husband Jeff Odendahl; four children Jared, Janae, Kateri and Kjersten Krantz-Odendahl; mother Loretta Krantz, Coon Rapids; mother-in-law Lorraine (Poferl) Odendahl, St. Cloud; siblings Betsy (Gerry) Siwy, Elgin, Ill.; Kathy (Roy) Colligan, Coon Rapids; Fred Krantz III, Minneapolis; Christine (Pete) Mayou, Hayward, Wisc.; Bernie (Joanne) Krantz, Verona, Wisc.; Jeanne (Richard Skroch) Morales, Minneapolis; and many nieces, nephews and friends.