Mary Ellen Kratz, 80, of Clear Lake, died Friday, April 11, 2008 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, May 4, 3 p.m., at Apple Valley Assisted Living, 405 27th Ave. S., Clear Lake. Pastor Jim Allard of Church of Christ will officiate the memorial service. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa.
    Mary Ellen Kratz was born May 20, 1927, in Anthon, Iowa the daughter of Ray and Ellen (Pierce) Worthan.
    She attended school in Bronson, Iowa and graduated from Bronson High School in 1944. She attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and earned her teaching certificate.
    She was married to Marvin LeRoy Kratz on Sept. 22, 1946, in Bronson. To this union five children were born.
    She and her husband, Marvin, lived in Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa. The family lived in Mason City from 1966 to 1968. When Marvin retired they both moved to Elbow Lake, Minn. Mary Ellen has lived in North Iowa for the last 13 years.
    She enjoyed gardening, the outdoors and nature, was a great seamstress, was an avid bird watcher and was a wonderful cook. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, to whom she loved reading books.
    She was a past member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Red Hat Society and Eastern Star.
    She is survived by her children, Kristine Miller and husband, Don, of Rockford, Iowa; Marvin Lee Kratz and wife, Kathy, of Manly, Iowa, David Kratz and wife, Kelly, of Clear Lake, Ray Kratz and wife, Deb, of Wilson, Mich., and Lynn Kratz and wife, Teri, of Redwood Falls, Minn.; 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; brother, Dean Worthan and wife, Jeanette, of Storm Lake, Iowa and a sister, Margery Ahern and husband, Howard, of Puerto Rico.
    She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Marvin, in 1989; infant sister, Dorothy Jean Worthan and sister-in-law, Rafa Worthan.
    Major Erickson Funeral Home and Crematory was in charge of arrangements.