Marion Eva Thinnes Mau, 87, of Minneapolis, died Sunday, July 5, 2009 at the Ottawa County Health Center, Minneapolis, Kansas.

She was born November 5, 1921 in Chicago, IL. to Harry and Eva (Anderson) Thinnes. She graduated in 1938 from Bowen High School, and attended Bryant and Stratton Business College in Chicago. While in college, she was an active member of the Sigma Delta Chi.

After graduation, Marion worked as a secretary for Aetna Life Insurance Company until her marriage to Robert Mau on October 30, 1944. The couple was married at Reformation Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago while Robert was on leave from the Air Force. After their marriage, she traveled with Robert as he finished out his Air Force tour.
In 1948, Marion gave birth to their only child, Marilyn. Marion was a full-time wife and mother and had a passion for volunteer work, giving her time and talents to a Chicago hospital.

In 1965, Marion moved with her husband and daughter to Kansas City. During her time there, Marion continued her volunteer work at hospitals and received several Volunteer-of-the-Year awards. She worked 370 hours in the pharmacy department at Trinity Lutheran Hospital.

In 2001, Marion and Robert moved to Minneapolis, Kan., to be closer to their daughter Marilyn. Marion was preceded in death by her husband Robert on December 19, 2003.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law: Marilyn and John Pruitt, of Minneapolis, KS.; grandchildren: Mark and Jill Allison, of Cincinnati, OH; Trent and Jennifer Sebits, of Wichita, KS.; and Jonathan Pruitt, of Overland Park, KS.; great grandchildren: Brooklyn, Bethany, Britney and Bria Allison and Isabella and Preston Sebits; and one sister Margaret Seaquist, of Minneapolis, MN.

A celebration of Marion's life will be held at 9:00 A.M., Saturday, July 11 at Wilson Shields Funeral Home, Minneapolis with the Revs. Warren Cico and Todd Burrow officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Graveside services will be at 3:00 P.M. Saturday at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, Overland Park, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made the United Church of Bennington or the Ottawa County Health Center Long Term Care Unit.