Mary Lee Ronnau Fields

Mary Lee Ronnau Fields, 79, of Saint Marys, Kansas, beloved wife, mom, grandmother and great-grandmother passed following a long struggle with COPD at Midland Hospice House on June 17, 2024, surrounded by family. 

Born April 2, 1945, in Wamego, Kansas to John C. Ronnau and Marjorie June (Melenson). Mary Lee was a 1963 graduate of Saint Marys High School. She was united in marriage to William Russell Fields on June 18, 1963, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Mary’s Kansas. 

Mary Lee was a homemaker while the kids were young, then enjoyed working at the St. Marys Manor, St. Marys State Bank, and later St. Marys and Rossville grade schools. She also served on the IC parish council for several terms and was involved in her parish community.

Mary Lee was preceded in death by both her parents and a sister, Judy (Ronnau) DeVader and is survived by her husband, Bill Fields, of the home, brother John Patrick Ronnau, three children, Jay Fields, Dee Fields Gockel, and Mark (Donna) Fields, grandchildren, Christopher Gockel, Brady Gockel, Riley (Sam) Stowe, Erin Fields, Kelsey Fields, and Jake Fields. Mary Lee was also blessed with two great grandchildren, and one on the way. 

The family will receive friends at Piper Funeral Home on Friday, June 21 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. and recite the rosary at 7:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be offered at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 22 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys; burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. 

Memorial contributions can be made to Midland Hospice, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, Kansas 66606 or to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 208 W. Bertrand Avenue, St. Marys, KS 66536.