Ann Stanko

Ann Stanko, age 86, of Cannon Falls, died Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. at Cannon Rivers Senior Living.

Ann Marie Stanko was born on October 4, 1933 in Minneapolis, the daughter of Oscar and Jenneda (Tangen) Holton. She grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1951. Ann worked various jobs as a young woman including as a nurse’s aide and at Western Electric where she met her future husband, Melvin Stanko. She and Mel were united in marriage at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis on November 13, 1954. They built a home in Richfield where they lived for almost twenty years, raising a family. In May of 1972 Ann and Mel moved to Kenyon. Ann Worked for Sheldahl in Northfield. They purchased the Kenyon Rec and renamed it Mel’s Diner. In 1990 they retired to Cannon Falls.

Ann was a member of the Kenyon American Legion Auxiliary. She was active in the churches she belonged to; serving as a Sunday school superintendent at House of Prayer Lutheran in Richfield and on the Ladies’ Aide at Holden Lutheran in Kenyon. She was a former Cub Scout Den Mother, and had many interests including camping, fishing and playing bingo. She and Mel loved ballroom dancing when they were young, and Ann had a lifelong love for classical music. She will be remembered as a very loving, nurturing woman.

Survivors include her children Richard (Mandy) Stanko, Roberta (Albert) Grannis, Russell (Dorothy) Stanko, Ronald (Teri) Stanko, and Rebecca (David) Friese; grandchildren  Nick Stanko, Isabella Stanko, Vanessa Meyer, Victoria Mandujano, Shawna Grieger, Aaron (Sara) Quam, Sally (Mike) Rude, Josh Friese, Rachel Friese, and Marshall Friese; great grandchildren  Ava Meyer, Collin Meyer, Olivia Lasson, Stella Mandujano, Laila Mandujano, Mariah Grieger, Mason Grieger, Madison Quam, Mason Quam, Emma Quam, Bristol Rude, Mia Rude, and Gus Rude.;  sister Shirley Pasquale; sisters-in-law Susan Holton and Helen Hanson; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Oscar and Jenneda Holton, her husband Melvin, brother Richard “Butch” Holton, and brother-in-law Thomas Pasquale.

Funeral services will be on Monday, Feb 10 at 11:00 am, at Holden Lutheran Church, 6949 Co. 30 Blvd, Kenyon, MN 55946. Visitation will be on Sunday, Feb. 9, from 2-5:00 pm at the Lundberg Funeral Home, 5839 Hwy 19 Blvd, Cannon Falls, MN 55009. There will also be a visitation at the church from 10-11:00 am on Monday, prior to the service. Interment will be in the Holden Lutheran Cemetery. Online condolences are welcome at www.Lundberg Funeral.com.