Marlys Darlene Mahoney

Marlys Darlene Mahoney, 86, of Appleton, Minnesota, passed away on March 5, surrounded by her family at St. Cloud Hospital. She had been a resident of the Appleton Area Care Center since 2024.

Born on June 7, 1939, to Adolph and Elma (Grams) Yochem in Redwood County, Minnesota, Marlys grew up with her older sister Arlene on the family farm in Westbrook. The family later moved through various farming communities, eventually settling northwest of Appleton in 1951, where they remained until her father’s death in 1958. She graduated from Appleton High School in 1956 and worked as a bookkeeper at the Appleton Co-op Association.

In 1960, Marlys married Paul David Mahoney at St. John’s Catholic Church in Appleton. Together they began dairy farming in Fairfield Township, continuing until their retirement when they moved into town. A devoted wife, she cared for Paul throughout their 55 years of marriage and also lovingly tended to her mother, Elma. Marlys was a talented seamstress who created clothing for her family, including special occasion outfits for First Communions, Easter, and weddings. She taught all six of her children to sew through their 4-H projects and generously shared her skills by sewing outfits for the Appleton High School swing choir, Snoopy mascot costumes, and the men’s homecoming crowns. In addition to farming, she sold fabrics and patterns as a Fabulous Fabrics representative, served as an Avon representative for 50 years, and later baked and sold her renowned frosted cinnamon rolls, caramel rolls, Swedish tea rings, and cookies.

Above all, Marlys found her greatest joy in motherhood. She raised six children and served as a surrogate mother to Nicole van Eijck-Geerts, an AFS exchange student. For more than a decade, she mentored numerous farm exchange students who came to America to learn about farming. She was an active volunteer, serving as a 4-H club leader, participating in her church’s Altar and Rosary Society, teaching catechism, and ministering at the Prairie Correctional Facility.

Marlys is survived by her children Theresa (Kevin) Bachmeier of Appleton, Kathy (David) Held of Bonita Springs, Florida, Larry (Denise) Mahoney of Appleton, Tim (Dawn) Mahoney of New Prague, Brenda (Dan) Gorseth of Clearwater, Florida, Roseanne Mahoney of Apple Valley, and Nicole van Eijck-Geerts of the Netherlands; thirteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Katie Mahoney and Tessa Mahoney. She was preceded in death by her husband Paul, her parents, her sister Arlene Ulstad, and several brothers- and sisters-in-law.