Mary Ann Sasse was born on January 6, 1945, in Beatrice, Nebraska, to Elmer Paul Malchow & Mildred (Krebs) Malchow. She passed away on August 7, 2026, at Gardenside Long Term Care in Fairbury, at the age of 81.

Mary grew up in Diller and attended school in Diller until her junior year. She then moved with her parents to Fremont where she graduated in 1963. She briefly attended beauty school. She was united in marriage to LeRoy Eugene Sasse on March 7, 1964. She was an avid gardener. She canned much of the produce and kept the shelves filled with good food. She spent a couple of years being a teacher’s aide at Central Elementary in Fairbury. She enjoyed working one on one with the students. She spent all of her married years taking care of the men farming with LeRoy. She served lunch and often took meals to the field. There were always sandwiches and cookies late in the afternoon. After LeRoy passed away, she moved from the farm to Fairbury. She adopted Sassy, her beloved chihuahua, and they put on countless miles walking in the neighborhood, talking with neighbors and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband LeRoy; her parents, Elmer and Mildred Malchow; husband’s parents Orlyn and Martha Sasse; brother-in-laws Larry Sasse, Darrell Sasse, and Robert Riddle; sister-in-law Sondra Sasse.

She is survived by her children; daughter Lisa Maschmann and her husband Steve of Fairbury; son Brian Sasse and his wife Jill of Crab Orchard; son Bradley Sasse and wife Lacey of Diller; her sister Betty Riddle, and sisters-in-law Cindy Lottman and husband Doug and ReJeanna Sasse. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Craig Maschmann and his husband Mike Spoula, Shelby Siel and her husband Josh, Jacob Maschmann and his wife Kaitlyn, Tiffany Orf and her husband Michael, Wyatt Currie, Delanye Currie, Justice Currie, Allen Sasse, Draedyn Lichty, and Lakeyn Sasse. She is also survived by her great grandchildren Jameson Orf, Jaxson Orf, McCoy Orf, Rhett Orf, and Jack Siel.

Funeral Services will be Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 10:00 am, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Diller, burial will follow at Prairie Home Cemetery, rural Diller.

Visitation will be Tuesday, August 11th, from 1pm – 8pm, with the family greeting friends from 6pm – 8pm, at Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury.

Memorials are requested to St. Paul Lutheran Church, and may be mailed in care of Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home, PO Box 15, Fairbury, Nebraska, 68352.

Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is assisting the Sasse family with these arrangements.