Kathleen Mary Gnitka , age 89 of Maple Plain passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 4, 2018 after a long illness. She was born on May 6, 1929 in Buffalo to Wilfred and Helen (Reintjes) Hance.

Kathleen was preceded in death by an infant daughter Mary; her parents and a sister-in-law Janet Hance. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Ralph; children Gwendolyn (William) Schumacher, Lisa Gnitka, Timothy (Victoria) Gnitka and Andrea (Jeffrey) Merboth; 9 grandchildren Mariah (Daniel) Sand, Nicholas (Megan) Gnitka, Natalie (Kyle) Kramer, Mychael Gnitka, Abraham Merboth, Joseph Merboth, Julia Gnitka, Daniel Merboth, Ahna Gnitka; 1 great grandson Philip Sand; siblings Joan (George) Schaust, Jerry (Dee) Hance, Estelle (Matt) Schaust, Rita (Arnold) Kunkel, Edward (Erva) Hance and Larry (Diane) Hance.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 AM on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 2385 Commerce Blvd, Mound. Visitation was from 10-11 AM on Saturday prior to Mass at the church. Interment was at 2 PM in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Delano.