Obituary for Mary Henry Fuhrman (Henry)
Mary Henry Fuhrman, 92, passed away on March 23, 2023, after a prolonged illness.
Cherished daughter of Joe & Marge Henry, Mary was born during the Great Depression. She grew up at 1239 Detroit Street in Denver, CO and was raised with help from Aunt Helen Burke (Plum). Mary had a sheltered upbringing after her twin brother, Charles, died at birth and her older sister, Frances, died at age seven.
Mary graduated from Cathedral High School and went on to the University of Colorado, Boulder where she received a degree in Interior Design. Boulder is where she met the love of her life Ervin Fuhrman, an engineering student just back from the Air Corps and going to school on the GI bill. They wed in 1952 at the Pauline Chapel in Colorado Springs and had the reception at the Broadmoor Hotel.
The couple started their married life with Phillips 66 in Odessa, Texas where their first son was born. Shortly after, they transferred to Minneapolis where they purchased a three acre parcel of virgin forest in Minnetonka dubbed "Peaceful Forest." They added three additions to their 20' x 24' home as the family grew to include five children.
Mary was a stay-at-home mom who loved her family, her neighboring St. Therese Church, her gardens and regular trips back to Denver to see relatives. Travel was very important to Mary; the years the family was not headed to Denver, they would load up the Ford Econoline and head out to a new destination. Memorable trips included the Florida Keys, Niagara Falls, the Black Hills, California to visit the Burke cousins, Calgary and Montreal.
In 1974, the family moved to Norway where Erv worked on North Sea oil platforms. They took the three youngest daughters with them and the two older boys were left behind in Minnesota to work and study for college. After five years in Norway, the family spent an additional five years in Scotland before returning to the US.
In 1985, Erv and Mary came back to their beloved Minnetonka home in the forest to enjoy their retirement. After Erv’s passing in 2007, Mary sold the family home and moved to a townhouse where she lived independently till 2021.
Mary’s passions included sharing produce from her garden, reading to kids and seniors, square dancing, and Elderhostel trips. She was very generous with her time, talents and money.
Mary kept the family connected with her weekly letters starting with carbon copies via snail mail and the frequent use of emails more recently. Mary will be especially missed at the family’s annual summer vacation at Kavanaugh's Resort near Brainerd. This has been a tradition for over 40 years with more than 30 family members now attending every year.
Mary is survived by her children Joe (Cindy) Fuhrman, Kurt Fuhrman, Francelle (Chuck) Slocum, Beth (Steve) Wieland and Katie (Tom) MacDonald, 9 grandkids and 9 great grandkids. Mass of Christian Burial Friday, March 31 at 11:00 am at St. Therese of Deephaven (18325 Minnetonka Blvd, Wayzata) with visitation an hour earlier. Lunch to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mary’s memory will be welcomed at Habitat for Humanity and Sharing and Caring Hands.
Huber Funeral & Cremation Services
952-474-9595
Cherished daughter of Joe & Marge Henry, Mary was born during the Great Depression. She grew up at 1239 Detroit Street in Denver, CO and was raised with help from Aunt Helen Burke (Plum). Mary had a sheltered upbringing after her twin brother, Charles, died at birth and her older sister, Frances, died at age seven.
Mary graduated from Cathedral High School and went on to the University of Colorado, Boulder where she received a degree in Interior Design. Boulder is where she met the love of her life Ervin Fuhrman, an engineering student just back from the Air Corps and going to school on the GI bill. They wed in 1952 at the Pauline Chapel in Colorado Springs and had the reception at the Broadmoor Hotel.
The couple started their married life with Phillips 66 in Odessa, Texas where their first son was born. Shortly after, they transferred to Minneapolis where they purchased a three acre parcel of virgin forest in Minnetonka dubbed "Peaceful Forest." They added three additions to their 20' x 24' home as the family grew to include five children.
Mary was a stay-at-home mom who loved her family, her neighboring St. Therese Church, her gardens and regular trips back to Denver to see relatives. Travel was very important to Mary; the years the family was not headed to Denver, they would load up the Ford Econoline and head out to a new destination. Memorable trips included the Florida Keys, Niagara Falls, the Black Hills, California to visit the Burke cousins, Calgary and Montreal.
In 1974, the family moved to Norway where Erv worked on North Sea oil platforms. They took the three youngest daughters with them and the two older boys were left behind in Minnesota to work and study for college. After five years in Norway, the family spent an additional five years in Scotland before returning to the US.
In 1985, Erv and Mary came back to their beloved Minnetonka home in the forest to enjoy their retirement. After Erv’s passing in 2007, Mary sold the family home and moved to a townhouse where she lived independently till 2021.
Mary’s passions included sharing produce from her garden, reading to kids and seniors, square dancing, and Elderhostel trips. She was very generous with her time, talents and money.
Mary kept the family connected with her weekly letters starting with carbon copies via snail mail and the frequent use of emails more recently. Mary will be especially missed at the family’s annual summer vacation at Kavanaugh's Resort near Brainerd. This has been a tradition for over 40 years with more than 30 family members now attending every year.
Mary is survived by her children Joe (Cindy) Fuhrman, Kurt Fuhrman, Francelle (Chuck) Slocum, Beth (Steve) Wieland and Katie (Tom) MacDonald, 9 grandkids and 9 great grandkids. Mass of Christian Burial Friday, March 31 at 11:00 am at St. Therese of Deephaven (18325 Minnetonka Blvd, Wayzata) with visitation an hour earlier. Lunch to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mary’s memory will be welcomed at Habitat for Humanity and Sharing and Caring Hands.
Huber Funeral & Cremation Services
952-474-9595