Erbel, Mavis Ruth (age 76) of Eden Prairie, MN. Born September 29, 1945 and passed away June 12, 2022. Preceded in death by parents Henry and Maeola(nee Luebke) Groenke; sisters Barbara Kirsch and Virginia Ruble. Survived by daughters; AnnMarie(Chris Blackowiak) Wilson of Eden Prairie MN, Sharie Charlson of Peoria AZ, and Laurie(Chad) Sayre of Carver MN; grandchildren Chandler Wilson, Justin Wilson, Natalie Wilson, Chelsey (Tim) Lindley, Emily Charlson, Addison Charlson, Jordyn Sayre, Carly Sayre; great-grandchildren Kimberly Lindley, Nicholas Lindley; former spouse David Erbel.
Mavis grew up on a farm in rural St. Bonifacius, MN. Her lifetime bond with her cousins started in those early years as she rode the bus to school with some of her cousins. After graduating from Waconia High School in 1963 she attended Concordia College, St. Paul, MN to fulfill her dream of becoming an elementary school teacher. With humility, in 1966, she became the first member of her family to earn a bachelor’s degree, graduating in three years by taking full course loads every summer.
Her first teaching job at Immanuel Lutheran School in Lakefield, MN was later followed by a fulltime position at Trinity Lutheran Elementary School in Waconia. This was the same congregation that for many decades she called home and served as a volunteer in many capacities.
In 1967 Mavis married David Erbel and they raised three girls while living in rural Chaska, MN. The couple later divorced in 1998, and Mavis remained in MN until retiring in 2008.
Upon retirement she spent increasingly more time in AZ. Most often she traveled there in her motorhome named the Majestic. She rarely took the most direct route, but adventured into parts of NM and CO. While in AZ she resided in Chandler and Surprise from 2008 to Jan 2022. In her adult life she traveled to Europe three times. A special overseas trip was in 2006 when she took her daughters on a Springtime in Paris trip of a lifetime. However, the adventures that in her last years she joyfully reminisced about the most where those that included her precious grandchildren.
In Jan 2022, with support and help of her three daughters, she boarded her last earthly flight from AZ to MN. She lived her last months at Brookdale Memory Care in Eden Prairie, MN.
One to always surprise people, especially her three daughters; she surprised them and their families by making, with heavenly wings, her final adventure to what she was always knew her final destination was; Heaven with Jesus, her Lord and Savior. This was sooner than they expected, as it was less than five months that she had been living back in Minnesota.
Mavis lived less for material things and more for things eternal and spiritual. She cherished relationships with her family, friends (especially her special high school girlfriends), and neighbors. She always listened without judging, and in her unique and sarcastic humor found a way to make others laugh. She is remembered as a kind, witty, loving, and adventurous mother and grandmother that loved Jesus.
A public funeral is scheduled for 4:30 pm on Thursday, July 14 at Immanuel Lutheran Church (16515 Luther Way, Eden Prairie MN 55346) with a visitation beginning at 3:30 pm and fellowship after the service.
Huber Funeral & Cremation Services
Eden Prairie Chapel 952-949-4970