Obituary of Clare "Mae" Garhofer

Clare "Mae" Garhofer peacefully passed away on April 15th, 2025, at the age of 90, surrounded by family at M Health Fairview Hospital. She was a resident of St Paul where she lived with her husband Bernard (Bernie) Garhofer 

 

Mae was born June 21^st, 1934, in Sykeston North Dakota and was the daughter of William and Helen (Fruhwirth) Schulz. Mae lived on her parents' farm with her brother Billy, and sisters Mary Jane and Linda.  She graduated from Sykeston high school and worked as a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse outside of town. She started dating Bernie at the age of 15 and dated for 6 years. They were married June 30th, 1954, in Sykeston when Bernie came home on leave from the Navy. Mae moved to San Diego to where Bernie was based. While in San Diego, Mae was selected and starred in an episode of the Queen for the Day television show.

 

After Bernie got out of the Navy they moved to Wilton, North Dakota where Bernie worked as a barber and Mae worked as a homemaker. In 1967 they moved to St Paul and raised their five children, Brian, Lana, Dan, Pat, and Brent.  Mae took a job with the US Postal Service as a clerk and later as an office manager. After Mae and Bernie retired, they moved from St Paul to their lake home in Webster Wisconsin. For many years they spent the winter months in Laughlin, NV.  In 2014 they moved back to St Paul to be closer to the family and grandchildren. In 2015 they took a two-week trip to the Czech Republic, Germany, and their ancestral home St. Andre, Austria where they visited relatives and the homes where their parents were born.

 

Mae's biggest joy in life was her husband Bernie and the 77 years that they spent together. She loved that she had a large family that was expanded by all the friends of her children who knew her as mom. She loved to spend her time with them and was always baking and cooking. Her mac and cheese and banana bread were the favorites amongst the grandkids. From the moment you walked through the door, she was putting food on the table. The time at the cabin created the strongest and fondest memories, especially for the grandkids who grew up there spending their time with grandma and grandpa.

 

The simple things in life meant the most to Mae such as crossword puzzles, sudoku, playing cards, baking, visiting on the phone with family and friends, trips to the casino, Chinese food and especially ice cream.

 

Mae and Bernie were loving parents who did an amazing job of creating a very strong bond with their family and friends. This love was everywhere as they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on June 30, 2024, with a packed house of family and friends.

 Mae is survived by her husband Bernie, sister Linda (Dave) Bleth, brother-in-law Francis (Frank) Garhofer, sister-in-law Regina Perkins, and cousin Lou Ann Huss. Her children and their spouses, son Brian (Donna) Garhofer, daughter Lana (Tony) Leverty, son Dan (Lee Anne) Garhofer, son Pat (Claudia) Garhofer, son Brent (Tim) Garhofer, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and countless friends.

 

Mae was blessed with nine grandchildren and their partners, Grant (Krista) Garhofer, Jessica (Jesse) Leverty, Travis (Mae) Garhofer, Luke (Janie) Leverty, Jacob Garhofer, Stefanie (Luis) Chute, Katie Garhofer, Daniel Garhofer (Sammi), Angie Salonek

 

Mae especially loved her growing group of great grandchildren, Ellie and Nico Leverty; Isabella Garhofer; Colt and Case Leverty; Axel Swedlund; Ayden, Bennett, Otto, and Blair Hernandez.

 Preceded in death by her parents William and Helen Schulz, brother Bill Schulz and wife Bonnie, sister Mary Jane Helton and husband Leo Huss, son in law Walter Wilson, grandson Dylan Christensen, great granddaughter Llara Jade Hernandez, and in laws Norma Garhofer, Conrad and his wife Mary Ann Garhofer, Leo Perkins, Steve and Aggie Straus, Edwin Huss.

 

Mae’s celebration of life will be held at a later date with the internment at Fort Snelling.

 

Thank you, Mae, for always loving us unconditionally. You will always be in our hearts.