Obituary of Mary Ellen Mayerle

Mary Ellen Mayerle, age 82, Roseville, MN formerly of Keewatin, MN died peacefully surrounded by her children and family on January 13 at Methodist Hospital in St Louis Park, MN after a lengthy illness. Mary Ellen Brooks was born on March 30, 1933 in Britton, SD to Donald and Margaret Brooks. She grew up and attended School in Cogswell, ND. After graduating from high school she and her parents moved to Valley City, North Dakota where she attended Valley City State Teachers College. She earned her B.E. and B.A. degrees in Elementary Education and Library Science. She was very proud to have self-funded her college education while teaching school in rural North Dakota and Eastern Montana. From 1952 to 1960 she was a 3rd grade teacher in Medicine Lake, ND and Billings, MT. In 1961 Miss Brooks accepted a 3rd grade Teaching position with the Nashwauk, MN School District and moved to Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range. She married her husband, Keewatin, MN Police Officer, Donald Mayerle in 1965 and moved to Keewatin; during this time she stayed home to raise her children. In 1972 she returned to college at Bemidji State University to earn her Certification in Special Education. She returned to fulltime teaching in 1974 as a Special Education Teacher with the Nashwauk- Keewatin School District, and retired in 1991 after a 30 year career as an Educator. She was much loved and respected by her many students and colleagues. During her life in Keewatin Mary Ellen was active with the American Legion Auxiliary, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. She was also a Librarian with the Arrowhead Library System and the Head Librarian for the Keewatin Public Library for many years. On November 15, 1977 her husband died unexpectedly while performing his duties as a Police Officer. She dedicated the rest of her life to her 3 children. She was proud to have raised her children on the Iron Range, and greatly appreciated the citizens of Nashwauk and Keewatin. Mary Ellen always said, “I never raised my children alone, I had an entire Village behind me”. In 2001 she moved from Keewatin to Roseville, MN to be closer to her family, during this time she actively supported The Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association (LEMA) and the Minnesota Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.). In 2002 she was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer, and was a proud cancer survivor. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sister, Anne Petersen, of Valley City, ND. She is survived by her three children: son, Dana Mayerle of Bloomington, MN; granddaughter, Isabella Mayerle of Eden Prairie, MN; daughters Susan Mayerle and Elizabeth Mayerle (Lisa) both of Edina, MN. She also leaves behind many, nieces, nephews, and friends with whom she loved dearly. We would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Methodist Hospital for the outstanding care, comfort and dignity they provided our mother during her Illness. The family will be holding a memorial service to celebrate Mary Ellen’s life on March 19, 2016 in Edina, MN. A second memorial and Catholic burial will be held on May 7 in Hibbing, MN. Further details will be posted at a later date. In lieu of memorials and flowers it was Mary Ellen’s wish that donations be made to one of the following nonprofit organizations; The Nashwauk Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Shelf, 301 Central Avenue, Nashwauk, MN 55769 or The Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association (LEMA) 645 Cedar Street, St Paul, MN 55155.