Anna Mae Barklow

Anna Mae (Stocker) Barklow, 61, of Kasota, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 21, 2021, after a short, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

A public visitation will be held from 9:30am-11:00am on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at the Church of St. Peter, St. Peter, MN with a private service and burial at Calvary Cemetery to follow. Masks will be required, and social distancing will be observed. Services can be seen on the church’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/churchofstpeterstpeter/?ref=bookmarks) starting at 11:30am. Messages for the family can be left at www.saintpeterfuneralhome.com.

Anna Mae was born in Mankato, Minnesota on April 2, 1959, to Hilary and Mary Jo (Krenik) Stocker. She grew up in Le Center. She attended Saint Mary’s Catholic grade school and graduated from Le Center High School in 1978. She attended Mankato Commercial College earning her degree in secretarial and accounting. She was united in marriage to John Barklow on January 19, 1979. They were blessed with two beautiful children, Jennifer Lynn in 1980, and Michael Joseph in 1981. 

Anna Mae worked for the City of Saint Peter in the utilities department for two years. In 1982 Anna Mae’s Loving Day Care opened. Anna Mae cared for many children, first at their family home in Saint Peter and then in their current home in Kasota. She enjoyed her work, especially the children she cared for and their families. She retired from Day Care and began working at Gustavus Adolphus College. She greatly enjoyed her work at Gustavus, earning the Agusta Carlson Schultz Award in 2020.  She shared her joyful personality, leadership, and wisdom with her colleagues. Her “fun” job in later years was doing sewing machine repair for Stelter’s Sewing Services in Mankato.  

Anna Mae was a woman of great faith. John and Anna Mae were long time members of the Saint Peter Catholic Church, where they raised their children. She was a devout Catholic with special devotions to Saint Joseph, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Rosary. She went on a pilgrimage to Israel in 2017 which brought her faith to life even more. She often spoke of her experiences on this trip.

Anna Mae had many hobbies including sewing, quilting, crocheting, canning, and gardening. Anna Mae ran a crafting business with a few of her sisters providing a fun outlet for her creativity and love of people. She enjoyed quilting retreats with a close group of family friends.  She was active in the Le Sueur County Pioneer Power Association in Le Sueur, Minnesota.  She will be remembered by many for her laugh, beautiful heart and inspiring words.

Anna Mae is survived by her loving and loyal husband, John Barklow of Kasota, Minnesota; children, Jennifer (David) Smith of Stillwater, Minnesota, and Michael (Nan Pugh) Barklow of Tetonia, Idaho; mother, Mary Jo Stocker of St. Peter, Minnesota; 4 grandchildren, Chloe, George, Alice, and Robert Smith; siblings, Bob (Diane) Stocker, John (Jean) Stocker, Betty (Mark) Herberg, Diane (George) Dickinson, Rosemary (Brian) Rynda, Hilary (Sandy) Stocker, Sylvester (Jami) Stocker, Susan Uphoff, and Joan (Mark) Lubeck; many nieces, nephews, and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Hilary Stocker, Sr.; grandparents, Rose and Alois Krenik, and Ceil and Joseph Stocker; brothers-in-law, Collin Brukhart and Jon Uphoff.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mankato Health Care Foundation, or please plant a tree in her honor.