Emma Ella Mayer

Emma Ella Mayer (Nee Kessler) was born in a farm home on May 1, 1923, the daughter of Jacob J. and Katie (Zimbelman) Kessler. She was raised and educated in the Anamoose, North Dakota community. She graduated from Anamoose High School in 1941. That fall, she had the opportunity to teach in a rural school in Lincoln Valley. This began her teaching career. Emma then went on to attend Minot State College earning a standard degree, which was the equivalent of two years of higher education. Following her graduation, she taught public school at Palermo and McClusky, both in North Dakota. Emma was united in marriage to Gordon J. Mayer on November 23, 1947 at the Anamoose Baptist Church. They moved to the Mayer homestead near Harvey, North Dakota where they farmed and raised their four children. Emma returned to teaching in the Harvey Public School System in 1961, teaching 4th and 2nd grades. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Minot State College in 1981 and spent the last seven years of her career teaching kindergarten until her retirement in 1988.

Emma was an active member of Bethel Baptist Church in Harvey where she taught Sunday school and AWANA classes, participated in Women’s Missionary Fellowship, and sang in the choir. Emma and Gordon resided on their farm until 2011 when they moved to the Minneapolis area due to Gordon’s failing health. Emma lived at Cornerstone Assisted Living in Plymouth sharing an apartment with Gordon until his passing in 2014, and then in the Memory Care unit until her death. Though advancing dementia robbed Emma of her memories it could not diminish her love of singing, her sense of humor, her kind joyful spirit, and the peaceful assurance that Jesus was her closest friend and Savior. The family is so grateful to the staff at Cornerstone for their constant and loving care over the past four years and to Park Nicollet Hospice staff, especially Alexandra Pederson-Green for caring for Mother with so much compassion in her final days.

Emma will be deeply missed by her children, Ron (Doris) Mayer of Harvey, ND; Diana (Doug) Wyman of Bloomington, MN; Lanette Mayer (Darrell Bigalke) of Maple Grove, MN; and Wanda Salazar of Centennial, CO. She also leaves behind seven grandchildren, Rebecca (Jory) Randall of Vancouver, WA; Lindsey Mayer of St. Louis, MO; Shane Wyman of Lakeville, MN; Timothy Wyman of Chicago, IL; Troy Wyman of Bloomington, MN; Alyson Barstad of Maple Grove, MN; and Stephen Salazar of Greeley, CO; two great-grandchildren, Annika and Cohen Randall of Vancouver, WA; sister in law,

Eva Kessler of Detroit Lakes, MN and faithful resident cat that Emma fondly called Nod. Nieces and nephews also mourn the passing of her life. Preceding Emma in death were her parents; loving husband of 66 years, Gordon; son-in-law, Jim Salazar; and four brothers and three sisters.

Funeral 11 AM Monday, January 2nd at Gearty-Delmore Chapel of Plymouth, 15800 37th Ave. N., Plymouth, MN 55446 with visitation 1 hour prior to service. Private interment Sunnyside Cemetery, Harvey, ND.

Monday, January 2, 2017 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Gearty-Delmore Plymouth Chapel 15800 37th Avenue North Plymouth, MN 55446

Monday, January 2, 2017 11:00 AM

Gearty-Delmore Plymouth Chapel 15800 37th Avenue North Plymouth, MN 55446