Marlys ‘Jean’ Standfuss

Marlys “Jean” Standfuss, age 93 formerly of Fairfax, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family Thursday, February 1, 2024 at Faribault Senior Living. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 10, 2024 at Redwood Valley Funeral Home in Redwood Falls. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.  Interment will be in Fort Ridgely Cemetery rural Fairfax. Stephens Funeral Service -Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. 

Jean was born in Winfield, Kansas to Charles and Edna Hensley. They moved to Franklin, Minnesota in the 1930s and lived on the river bottom near Cedar Mountain. Jean graduated from Franklin High School. Jean married Edward Kodet in 1948 and together they farmed near Bechyn and raised four daughters and one son together. Edward died unexpectedly in 1959. With 5 young children, Jean then moved back in with her parents in Franklin. The farmhouse, with wood heat and no running water, was very small and the daughters still talk about how the four of them shared one bed. Jean was able to go to secretarial school and then worked as a secretary for the New Ulm Catholic Dioceses with her office located in the Franklin Sacred Heart Convent.  In 1970, Jean married Raymond Wendinger and moved to his farm near Fairfax where together they had two boys and two girls of their own, making a total of nine children born to Jean. Jean was so happy living and raising her family on this farm. She always had a large flower and vegetable garden, and was always busy canning, baking, and cooking, keeping everyone well fed, including the hired men. Her children had a good life growing up on this farm. Ray died in 1986 leaving her with four children to raise. In 1997, Jean married Gustave Standfuss and settled in Danube with him.  In 2014 she moved to a senior living facility in Faribault to be closer to several of her children. Jean had an infectious smile and laugh. When she laughed you couldn’t help but join in. She loved telling jokes, and she had an incredible memory. Even into her 90s she was still as sharp as ever and loved talking about the old days and sharing family stories. The family would like to thank Faribault Senior Living and Allina Hospice staff for the compassionate care provided to Jean.

Jean is survived by her daughters: Janet Kodet, Laurie Kodet (Tom), Anne Wendinger (Bruce), and Amy Wendinger (Tim); sons: Todd Wendinger and Bradley Wendinger (DeAnn); son-in-law Jerry Deming; 15 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and brothers: Ralph (Janet) and William. She is preceded in death by her parents, husbands, grandson Michael Deming in 1995, son Mark Edward Kodet in 2003, daughter Joyce Louise Kodet Deming in 2019, and daughter Gail Susan Kodet Christensen in 2023.