Mary Orlowski

Orlowski, Mary Louise (Miller)

Our beautiful mother Mary (Mick) Orlowski, 83, of Alexandria, MN, formerly of Glenwood, MN, passed peacefully on Wednesday, January 10th, 2018, after a variety of health complications.

Mary was born on November 5th, 1934, to Margaret and Clarence Miller, and attended Catholic school in St. Cloud before eventually graduating from Sauk Rapids High School. After high school, she attended nursing school in Minneapolis before deciding to return home to marry her high school sweetheart Delroy (Del) Orlowski on January 21st, 1956, in a good ole’ MN blizzard. They moved to Glenwood in 1962, where the couple lived on beautiful Lake Minnewaska and raised their four children.

Mary was an avid swimmer and bowler, and she enjoyed golf, fishing, and boating with her husband and family. Her primary job was as a homemaker over the years.  Along with juggling all the duties of raising a family, she was also a skilled seamstress, and enjoyed canning and gardening.  She was also the hands down winner in arm wrestling and cribbage for most of her years.  She was employed part-time by Minnegasco, Rexall Drug, and in helping to establish the Walmart Pharmacy in Alexandria.  Later in life she studied and passed insurance exams so she could join Del in his newly established full service insurance agency, Orlowski Insurance, in Glenwood MN.

Mary and Del had been married for 31 years when Del passed suddenly and too soon in 1987 at the age of 53.  As a result of this, Mary started the Glenwood community’s first ever grief support group, eventually expanding the idea to Alexandria. She was extremely gratified to be able to help others during their time of need which she could strongly relate to.

Mary was delighted by and dearly loved by her children, 11 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.  She is survived by her children Kris (Mark) Juettner of Carlos MN, Michael (Beth) Orlowski of Willmar MN, Susan (Montgomery) McIlroy of Golden Valley MN, and Julie (Tom) Peterson of Chaska MN, as well as her brother-in-law Dale (Barb) Orlowski of Glenwood MN and their children Neil, Diane, and David, grandchildren Amanda Orlowski, Jessica (Adam) Downing, Jaimie (Micah) Stevenson, Katie (Mark) Harris, Joe (Lisa) Juettner, Doug (Megan) Orlowski,              Jake (Emily Bush) Juettner, Lexi Orlowski and Erica, Ashley, and Rachel Peterson, great grandchildren Jarod and Max Harris, Ella, Sophia, Mia and Aiden Downing, Madelyn and Danielle Orlowski, and Aletta Stevenson, sisters Marge Petitmermet and Doloris (Virgil) Bolton, as well as many other nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.  Mary was preceded in death by her parents, beloved husband Del, and brothers Urban, Bob, and Jim Miller.

Father Steve Binsfeld of The Church of St. Mary in Alexandria, located at 420 Irving Street, will officiate Mary’s funeral service on Friday, January 19th, 2018, at 11:00am, preceded by a visitation at 10:00am, and a lunch reception to follow.  Private interment will take place later this summer at Calvary Cemetery in Glenwood, MN.   Condolences: www.andersonfuneral.net

Mary’s children wish to thank the Knute Nelson Hospice and Care teams for their wonderful dedication to their mother, and suggest that remembrances in Mary’s name may be made to the Knute Nelson Foundation, 420 12th Avenue East, Alexandria, MN 56308.