Mary Ann Wellnitz

Mary Ann Mae (Flessner) Wellnitz was born on her dad’s birthday, March 28, 1933, near Gurley, Nebraska, where she joined two older siblings, Lavern and Faetta. Parents Frank and Anna B. Flessner later moved to a place near Dalton, Nebraska, and as a young girl Mary Ann spent much of her time on the back of a horse in the pine covered hills.

Mary Ann faced a great hardship in college when she lost her beloved dad. She and her mom moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, and she began working at Cooper’s Music and Appliance Store. This is where she met Jim, who was a student at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Jim proposed to her on her birthday, and they were married on June 7, 1953, at the Lutheran church in Dalton Mary Ann attended before moving to Fort Collins.

The newlyweds set up house in a small trailer on the Wellnitz home place near Rushville, Nebraska for the summer. Jim had joined ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) in college, and after college, he, Mary Ann and one-year-old Ruth Ann lived in a small trailer park at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After three months at Fort Sill, Jim was shipped out to Korea to serve a tour of duty. Mary Ann and Ruth Ann moved back to Fort Collins to live with Mary Ann’s mom.

When Jim returned from Korea, he and Mary Ann spent four months in Fort Carson, Colorado, and eventually purchased some ground north of Rushville. They lived on the old Nidal place until son Frank was born, then moved him, Ruth Ann, Julie, and Deb into the home they built, where they welcomed Herb, Rick, and Ken, and lived together for over fifty years.

Jim and Mary Ann raised cattle and also had the first domestic elk herd in Nebraska. Mary Ann took special joy in raising Pomeranians and, later in life, goats. Mary Ann continued to live on the ranch after Jim passed away in 2009, where she occupied her time with crafts and shared her time with her dogs Rusty and Sweet Pea.

Her life was guided by her love for her Lord. She passed away Saturday, March 7th, 2026, at Chadron Hospital in Chadron, Nebraska. Mary Ann was preceded in death by husband Jim and great-grandson Jace. She is survived by her seven children, Ruth Ann (Allen), Julie (Mike), Deb (Tim), Frank (Lois), Herb (Cindy), Rick, and Ken (Tammy), as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her dog Rusty.