On Thursday, January 6, 1916, at the family home in Mountain Iron, MN, Anne Pauline Marincel was born to parents, Frank and Lucy (Majnaric) Marincel. She was the third of nine children. Anne’s childhood years were spent in Mountain Iron, where she enjoyed playing sports and excelling in swimming. She graduated from Mountain Iron High School in 1934 as the salutatorian.
Working the summers earning extra money, Anne attended Duluth State Teachers College. For the next seven years, she taught school in the St. Louis County Schools, mostly in rural “one-room” schoolhouses. During the summers, Anne enjoyed various jobs as a recreational director. Dedicated to her studies, she furthered her education at Fordham University in New York City.
During WWII, Anne worked for the American Red Cross in military posts and hospitals in Texas. She was responsible for the social activities and entertainment. After the war ended, Anne was assigned overseas (Italy, Germany and Austria) handling the entertainment programs and visiting the front line troops positioned to discourage a Communist invasion.
While overseas, Anne met a young dedicated soldier, Lieutenant Frank J. Dixon in Trieste. Anne married Frank on August 5, 1950 at Fort Bliss, Texas. They were blessed with two sons, Frank and Daniel. Being a dedicated military wife and mother, Anne moved the household often, from Washington D.C., to Indiana, Georgia, Colorado, California, Germany, back to California where Frank retired in 1962 as a decorated Lt. Colonel. Anne then began her next career as the wife of a Chicago banker. In 1986, Anne and Frank purchased their home in Prior Lake, MN and moved next door to sister, Emily. Anne’s life was shaken with the passing of her husband, Frank on Wednesday, December 5, 1990.
In her early years, Anne was an avid downhill skier, later played golf and managed military social functions as a leader of military wives. In her later years, she was an accomplished cook, loved attending daily mass and socializing with family and friends. She especially enjoyed vegetable gardening, in hopes of besting her sister with her gardening skills.
A dedicated Catholic, Anne was a proud military wife and a loving mother, who was very independent and strong willed. A resident of Prior Lake, Anne passed away peacefully the early morning hours of Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis, MN.
Forever loved, Anne will be deeply missed by her sons, Frank (Dan Volkmer) Dixon of Portland OR, Daniel (Jean) Dixon of Villa Park, IL; sisters, Frances Thornton of Ypsilanti, MI, Mary Frye of Prior Lake, and Emily Amberg of Prior Lake; many other loving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Anne is preceded in death by her husband, Frank; infant son, Timothy Dixon; parents; siblings, infant brother, Matthew I Marincel, Matthew II (Helene) Marincel, George (Elizabeth) Marincel, Frank “Sonny” Marincel, Jennie (William) Arimond; brothers-in-law, Robert Thornton, Lowell Frye, and Gene Amberg
The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, April 13, 2012 at 1 pm, with visitation two hours prior all at the Church of St. Michael 16311 Duluth Avenue SE, Prior Lake. Father Tom Sieg will officiate. Ann will be laid to rest next to her husband at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery in Prior Lake, MN.
