Mary Anne "Freddie" Engels

Mary Anne "Freddie" Engels, 86, a life-long resident of Duluth, MN died peacefully at St. Luke's Hospital on March 4th, 2024, with her final hours spent with family. Mary Anne was the first-born child of Lloyd Fredricks and Sophie (Busch) Fredricks. She was lovingly raised by William and Mary (Raden) Rooney (her foster family). She graduated from Cathedral High School in 1955 and worked for many years as a Teacher's Aide at Woodland Hills, where she greatly enjoyed working in the Experience Center, learning and teaching various arts and crafts such as wood working, basket weaving, and bead crafts.

Mary Anne was married to Kenneth Leonard Claflin, with whom she had Kenneth Jr., Dennis, Georgia, and Joe, until his unexpected passing in 1962. In 1964 she married Dennis Cokeley, and in 1965 they welcomed daughter Annette. In 1978, Mary Anne married William "Bill" Engels, and added 4 step-children to her family.

In 2006 Mary Anne placed her faith in Christ Alone for salvation. In the days and years that followed, her love for the scriptures and growing in the Lord became an obsession. She couldn't get enough learning about church history, prophecy, the rapture of the church, the future Kingdom etc.  She was in constant prayer and was the prayer warrior of the family. At the age of 85, Mary Anne desired to make a public testimony of her identification with Jesus Christ and was baptized in Lake Superior.

Mary Anne is preceded in death by her parents, and husbands Kenneth, Dennis, and Bill, and step-daughter Tammie Runnels. She is survived by her children Kenneth (Pam) Claflin, Dennis (Terri) Claflin, Georgia Dandrea, Joe (Linda) Claflin, and Annette (Tim) Sedor; 10 grandchildren: Dennis Claflin Jr, Aaron Dandrea, Danielle Dandrea, Zachary Claflin, David Sedor, Megan Pickens, Melissa Niemela, Danial Runnels, Christopher Runnels, and Ashley Garner; 8 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and her beloved dog Sarge.

Funeral service to be held at Duluth Bible Church on Wednesday, March 27^th, with visitation at 11am and service at 12pm. 

Funeral arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. 2^nd St., Duluth, MN 55805 (218) 727-3555