Joanne "Puddy" Maras

Joanne “Puddy” Maras, age 77, of Luverne, passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at the Mary Jane Brown Home of the Good Samaritan Society in Luverne. Born on September 16, 1948, in Luverne to Elmer and Maxine (Graphenteen) Kruger, she graduated from Luverne High School in 1966.

In 1970, Puddy married Louis (Jack) Maras. The couple lived briefly in the Luverne area before moving to George, Iowa, where they purchased a meat locker and worked together for more than ten years. They later returned to Luverne and opened Grandma’s Grill on Highway 75. Puddy went on to work as a nurse’s aide at the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Home and later at the Minnesota Veterans Nursing Home until her retirement.

Puddy was a longtime member of Living Rock Church, the Ladies Auxiliary, and the Eagles Club in Luverne. She found joy in sewing, quilting, embroidering, playing bingo, supporting her beloved Minnesota Twins, attending her grandchildren’s events, and spending time with her family.

She will be lovingly remembered by her three daughters, Alisa “Jo” Buss of Luverne, Rebecca (Craig) Gonnerman of Luverne, and Paula (Michael) Gonnerman of Luverne; six grandchildren, Brittney, Kennedy, Coy, Morgan, Levi, and McKaya; five great-grandchildren, Lily, Sage, Jax, Mavery, and Breece; and her four siblings, Dennis (Rita) Kruger, Donald (Deb) Kruger, Sheri (Robin) Stratton, and Sam (Deb) Kruger of Beaver Creek. Puddy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jack in 2008, her sister Diane, an infant brother Dean, two granddaughters, and a nephew.