Precious, loved, and revered Mary passed away comfortably and peacefully Friday, October 24, 2025, surrounded by her husband, by her sons and their families, by her sister-in-law and by her pastors. We know she is now in the bosom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
 Mary was a native of the Lipke family farmstead in Stewart. She graduated from Stewart High School (diploma, class of 1963), from Gustavus Adolphus College (B.A., class of 1967), and University of Rochester (M.S., class of 1972). She was a teacher of biology in secondary schools in Brownton; Rochester, N.Y.; Richfield; and Mobile, Ala. She also completed the program of Theological Education by Extension, Education for Ministry, School of Theology, University of the South (class of 2007).
 She was baptized, confirmed, and married at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stewart. In 1968, she was married to Charles Bernard Rodning. She was a loving and nurturing mother to her three sons, Christopher Bernard Rodning (1972), Soren Piers Rodning (1974), and Kai Johannes Rodning (1979).
 After Charles completed his formal medical and surgical education, he served on active duty during peace time as a Commander, Medical Corps, United States Navy, and was assigned to United States Naval Regional Medical Center, Okinawa, Japan. Mary and her sons accompanied him there for the duration of his tour of duty.
 During that time, Mary and her family immersed themselves in the Asian culture – studying its language, its history, its cuisine, its flora and fauna, and its arts. That experience stimulated and inspired her talent in sumi-e ink brush painting, calligraphy, origami, ikebana, chado, and bonsai. Her award-winning artistic prowess enabled her to study with several renowned Sensei, to tutor her students, to display her paintings, to publish several books conveying her artistry, and to attend and teach workshops, throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.
 Mary found her greatest joy, faith, love, purpose, and meaning during her life grounded in service to the Trinity – her Creator, her Redeemer, and her Sanctifier. Nothing superseded her compassion for the relationships which she nurtured with her family; her faith communities at Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church and Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church; her students; her fellow artists; and her friends; throughout the communities of which she was such a vital presence. She will be remembered for her creativity, kindness, generosity, selflessness, smile, and warmth.
 Mary was preceded in death by her father and mother, Orville and Rosella Lipke; her father- and mother-in-law, Selmer and Ida Rodning; her sister-in-law, Carol Rodning; and her nephew, Hans Lipke.
 She is survived by her brothers and sisters-in-law: Allen and Jennifer Lipke and their children – Elizabeth and Naomi; and Charles and Cindy Lipke and their children – Carolyn, Megan, and Laura. She is also survived by her husband, Charles Rodning; by her sons and daughters-in-law: Christopher Rodning and Hope Spencer and their children – Henry, Erik, and Leif; Soren Rodning and Kimberly, the Mother of their children, – Ellie and Maren; Kai and Valli Rodning and their children – Blair, Grey, and Meryl; by her sister-in-law, Carla Rodning; and by the children of her late sister-in-law, Carol Rodning – Kari, Annelise, and Paul. She was the loving grandmother of eight grandchildren, aunt to nine nieces and nephews, and great-aunt to so many others.
 The matriarch of the Rodning family is now their guardian angel, who is with them and watching over them in spirit, forever. Requiescat in pace.
 As she wished, in lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, Mobile, Ala,; the Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile; and Semmes Senior Center, Semmes, Ala.
 Shalom.