Marjorie L. Brannan

Marjorie L. Brannan, age 86, of Hastings, passed away peacefully on July 11, 2020 surrounded by her family. Marge was proud to be born and raised in St. Paul. With swimming as the heart of their family growing up, she was a swimmer all her life and was on the 1951 Humboldt High School Champion Swim team. Shortly after college, while working at the Great Northern Railroad, she met her husband Stan. Stan and Marge raised their family in rural Minnesota, with some of the most unique times for all in their bar in Green Isle and while living in Maple Lake. In her 86 years, Marge loved life, family and celebrations. She captivated her audience with larger than life stories, her big laugh and memories. She loved her Dad’s jokes and especially one liners … like this one from Bob Hope – I don’t feel old. I don’t feel anything until noon. Then it’s nap time.” Or .. “Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician.” She lived her Catholic faith, praying a daily Rosary, Divine Mercy and going to Adoration. She had a great love and devotion to the Blessed Mother. Her love of Christmas and service found her serving the Christ Child Luncheon at church for many years as well as deliver brightly decorated packages for Meals on Wheels. She was generous with her time and talents and lavished attention on her parents and the elderly. Anyone who came in contact with her knew, without a doubt, that she was incredibly, insanely proud of her Irish heritage and had a bit o’ the blarney in her. She was the original founding member of the Maple Lake Irish Washer Women for their St. Patrick’s Day parades, after visiting the Emerald Isle (and the Blarney Stone, of course) during the St. Patty’s weeklong celebrations. This array of local Maple Lake moms delighted the parade audiences with their kazoos, Irish music and a good ‘ole Irish jig. Marge’s gift from God was her heart for hospitality and there are so many people who were the recipients of her beautifully written cards, notes, care packages, newspaper clippings, and articles from the paper … because she remembered everyone’s birthday, anniversaries and all special occasions – or just because she found something she thought you would enjoy. Marge LOVED to travel. And among many places she traveled, she loved the sights and sounds of her cherished city, New Orleans. She loved music and food and would visit her daughter in New Orleans as often as she could. Her visits a number of times to Hawaii to visit another daughter were forever etched in her mind with their fragrant breezes, gorgeous flowers and beautiful beaches. Preceded in death by her husband, Stan; parents, Floyd and Mildred; brothers, Jerry, Robert and Richard. Survived by her daughters, Julie (Jim) Benjamin; Sheri (Tim) Boehm; Deb Brannan (Chad Wilhelm); grandchildren, Jessi, Krysten, Nicki, Andrew, Patricia, Bridgitte, McKenna, and Trey; 9 great grandchildren; brother, Lawrence (Shirley) Smith; sister, Joan Marthaler; and many other relatives and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 15 at 2:30 PM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2035 W. 15th St., Hastings. A Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 1:00 - 2:00 PM at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, 3075 Vermillion St., Hastings. Interment, Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls.