Mable W. Hoedl
Mable W. Hoedl, 76, of Fargo, ND gracefully passed from this world on Saturday, October 3, 2015 surrounded by her loving family at home.
Mable was born in Kansas City, MO on November 18, 1938 as the sixth child of seven children to Joseph and Frances Madick. Following her graduation from Glennon High School, Mable's life followed a series of vocations as a clerical worker, a committed teacher's aide, a dedicated volunteer and most importantly, as a very loving and wise mother and grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Joseph, Norman, James, John and sister Ruth Ellen, as well as her husband Leo.
Mable is survived by her brother Frank Madick and sister-in-laws Maryanne Madick, Darel Gannaway, Cheryl Madick and Anita Hoedl, daughters Cheryl Jones (Tim) and Patricia Gerdes and sons Lee Hoedl (Diann) and Daniel Hoedl. As well, she is survived by her grandchildren Justin Jones, Tanner Jones, Taylor Thoreson (Josh), Abbie Gerdes, Leo Hoedl, Brady Gerdes, Emily Hoedl, Hannah Hoedl and Nicholas Hoedl. It is this life, conveniently summarized between a beginning and ending date above, which has been witnessed with the physical eyes of the general public. But this life, this glorious, beautiful and graceful life known as Mable Hoedl was and is part of a much greater journey; one that must to be witnessed with the eyes of the heart. It is a journey of which great love stories and stirring movies are made. It begins with a young man and young woman growing up in Kansas City; their two families living near each other but this young man's and woman's paths rarely crossing. Their two families' brothers played together and went to the same high school together but again, these two hearts never had the opportunity to collide... until after high school, when he, a young officer of the Marine Corps, saw her at the wedding of her brother and his sister. Fast forward through a quickly growing romance and engagement, leading to their marriage and life-long journey beginning on January 16, 1960. Fast forward through the birth of their four loving children and several assignments along the east coast as she and the children faithfully followed this young Marine's career. And during the 1960s while he witnessed two tours of duty in Vietnam, his young bride served as mother and father to his children... and patiently waited for his return. Retiring from the military in the early 1970s, this couple left the life they knew so well behind and settled in northern Minnesota on a lake across from the husband's retired parents... and the romance deepened. It was a romance that all could clearly witness and one that the children never questioned or took for granted. It was a love fashioned in and destined for Heaven. In 1986, this young man, now aged to 54, slipped from this mortal world suddenly and unexpectedly and the pain of separation would stay with this young woman, now matured to 48, for the rest of her life. She never remarried and never glanced away from the love she continued to have for this man. Fast forward one more time to June of 2015 and this young woman, now advanced in her years, was told by the doctor that her life would soon come to completion. Surrounded by her children, a request she had years ago would come to fruition in late September: "Move my Sonny's (her pet name for her love)/your father's grave to Fargo so that I can rest next to him."As she lied in a bed while the cancer advanced quickly through her, her husband's body was reinterred to Holy Cross Cemetery in Fargo on Tuesday, September 29. Too weak to attend this reinterment of her love, she would enter into her last week of life... and this time he would have to wait patiently for his love to return to him.
This loving couple never secured advanced degrees, but their wisdom and compassion have filled volumes. Neither of them rose to the top of any corporate ladder, but their positive example and virtue have motivated and changed countless lives. They never amassed a financial fortune together, but the love they shared with each other and with so many lives along their journey is immeasurable.
On Saturday, October 3, 2015, this young bride, Mable Hoedl, was gloriously reunited with her loving spouse Leo Hoedl at 8:36 am... and the love story begins all over again. Rest in peace, Mom and Dad.