Mary Ann E. Hemmelgarn

Mary Ann E. Hemmelgarn age 95 of St. Henry, passed away on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the St. Henry Care Center, in St. Henry. She was born on April 25, 1931, in Burkettsville, to the late Henry H. & Clara (Fink) Thieman. On September 17, 1955, she married Ernest Hemmelgarn. Mary Ann and Ernie were married for almost 50 years, until his passing on June 21, 2005.

Mary Ann is survived by her children and their spouses: Jerry & Janet Hemmelgarn of St. Henry, Phillip & Theresa Hemmelgarn of Wapakoneta, Patrick & Gloria Hemmelgarn of St. Henry, Teresa & Brad Burckholter of Celina, Marilyn & Leslie Pottkotter of Ft. Recovery, Charles & Lori Hemmelgarn of Montezuma, and a son-in-law Joseph Pottkotter of Ft. Recovery. Also surviving Mary Ann are 29 grandchildren, 61 great grandchildren, and two siblings, Alma Solomon of Englewood, and Jerry Thieman of Celina, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband Ernie and her parents Henry and Clara, Mary Ann is preceded in death by a daughter, Marie Pottkotter, a grandson Elliott Pottkotter, as well as siblings and in-laws: Rita & Ray Keller, Paul Solomon, Leo & Thelma Thieman, Paul & Betty Thieman, Carol & Gerald Brunswick, Agnes & Don Rammel, Lewis & Barb Thieman, Marcella & Melvin Bailey, Clete & Agnes Hemmelgarn, Urban & Clara Hemmelgarn, Flora & Cyril Dippold, Agnes & Ralph Miller, Betty Hemmelgarn, Andy & Velma Hemmelgarn, Rita & Martin Harmuth, and her father and mother-in-law Henry & Amelia Hemmelgarn.

Mary Ann grew up near Burkettsville and graduated from St. Henry High School. She worked at Reynolds and Reynolds in Celina as her and Ernie began their family. Mary Ann was a devoted wife and a loving mother to her children, making their house a home and helping Ernie on the farm. She was a longtime member of St. Wendelin Catholic Church where she sang in the choir, led the rosary, distributed communion, and was a member of the St. Wendelin Ladies Sodality. Mary Ann enjoyed volunteering and giving of her time. She volunteered weekly for over 32 years at the St. Peter Neurological Center, now known as the Center for Neurological Development. Mary Ann was an active volunteer and member of the Mercer County Council on Aging, the St. Henry American Legion Auxiliary, and the Mercer County Genealogical Society. She had a great passion for genealogy and compiled nearly 100 books of generations of families all through Mercer County. Her family plans to donate her books to the Mercer County District Library in Celina to honor her work and to help contribute to the genealogy research in Mercer County.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at St. Wendelin Catholic Church in Wendelin, Ohio. Following the funeral mass, burial will take place in St. Wendelin Cemetery. Friends and family may call from 3-8pm on Wednesday, September 30, or from 9-10am on Thursday, October 1, at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in St. Henry. Those wishing to honor Mary Ann’s life may consider doing so by donating to the Center for Neurological Development, 78 Main Street Burkettsville, Ohio 45310. Condolences for the family may be expressed in person or online at hogenkampfh.com.