Mary Ann Englert

1933 - 2021

Mary Ann Englert (née Zeplin)

Redding - Mary Ann Englert (née Zeplin) passed away peacefully at home on January 3, 2021, in Redding, CA, after a brave battle with lung cancer. She was born in Humphrey, NE to John H. Zeplin and Hanora S. Zeplin (née Murphy) on May 25, 1933. She was 87 years old.

Mary graduated from Lexington High School in 1951 and was employed by Northwestern Bell as a telephone operator. She married Michael W. Englert in 1953, and they settled in Lexington, NE. They moved to Belmont, CA in 1960 and Mary worked fulltime as wife, homemaker and mother to their growing family.

Mary and Mike missed the rural life, so they relocated to Redding, CA in 1970. Mary was a devout Catholic and active member at St. Joseph's Parish. She worked at several local department stores, but eventually became a Teacher's Assistant at Nova and Shasta High Schools where she worked for 14 years before retiring in 1995. She made many wonderful and lasting friendships and memories thru the years. Of special note was the Whiskeytown Creek Gang, a group of her dear friends and their families who met during the summers for potluck BBQs at the Brandy Creek picnic area. Mary was a creative and talented person, and for years participated in weekly painting and critiquing sessions with her close-knit artist friends. Additionally, she was a highly skilled seamstress and passionate gardener. She absolutely loved to bake, listen to music (esp. jazz--Joey Alexander), watch great tennis (oh that Roger Federer) and basketball (those Warriors!), and always and everywhere she simply adored babies.

After her husband passed, she decided to downsize. So, in 2019 she moved into a lovely little apartment at the Shasta Estates Independent Living Community, located just down the hill from their home of 50 years. There she enjoyed the company of kind and caring new-found friends, as well as a few of her oldest and dearest.

She is survived by her children, John Englert & wife Lynette, David Englert & wife Dana, Paul Englert & wife Ann, Ann Englert & wife Dani Watson, Jenny Firkins, Catherine Dunham & husband Jim Feldman, and Meg Kimbrell; her sisters Kate Ramsey and Pat Englert; her grandchildren, Mathew Englert, Ashley Englert, Tina Englert, Christian Byard, Jason Byard & wife Sandra, Caleb Englert, Ryan Englert & wife Julie, Margarete Englert, Katie Benn, Honora Dunham & husband Ted Power, Bailey Littlejohn & wife Aubrey, Asha Kimbrell; and her great-grandchildren, Johnathan Schwegerl, Josiah Byard, Levi Englert, Rita Power, Ava Littlejohn, Barrett Littlejohn; as well as beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mary will be interned at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery, Igo, CA where she will be laid to rest beside her husband. A date for that service will be determined later due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Donations to Mercy Hospice are appreciated.