Mary Ellen McKinstra-Auge, 65, of Dubuque died of complications of Parkinson’s disease on December 26th.

Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm Monday, December 29, 2025 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church. A prayer service and a time of sharing will be held at 7:00 pm.

The Funeral Service for Mary Ellen will be at 10:30 am Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at St. Columbkille Catholic Church. Burial will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Dubuque.

Mary Ellen was born on April 3rd 1960 in Freeport, Illinois, daughter of John and Lucille (Haller) McKinstra. After she completed kindergarten, Mary Ellen and her family moved to Minneapolis, MN, where she had an idyllic childhood.  Eventually, they returned to Freeport, where Mary Ellen graduated from Aquin High School. She attended Loras College and earned degrees in English and Secondary Education. Later she completed a Master’s Degree in Reading Instruction from Clarke College. Her teaching career began at St. Mary’s Academy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and concluded at Cuba City High School, where she taught for thirty-two years. During her tenure at Cuba City, Mary Ellen developed courses at both remedial and advanced levels. Her excellence as a teacher was acknowledged by both colleagues and students. She especially enjoyed teaching Shakespeare and was able to quote passages from the plays even after she had retired. While at Cuba City, Mary Ellen was one of the first teachers in Wisconsin to receive National Board Certification. As Curriculum Director, she helped to secure grants that enabled the extensive remodeling of the school’s fitness center. She retired early from teaching in 2017 due to the increasing difficulties associated with Parkinson’s.

Mary Ellen married Andrew J. Auge on August 18, 1984 at St. Mary’s Church in Freeport, Illinois. She was a devoted wife and a wonderful mother to her children, Jane and Thomas. She encouraged her children’s involvement in a variety of activities. Despite her rigorous work schedule, she always made time to help them with school projects and to attend the events in which they participated.  Most importantly, she gave them the gift of unconditional love. She also graciously accommodated her husband’s trips to direct students studying abroad and to engage in research. After retirement, she committed herself to caring for her mother whom she visited daily after her mother moved to Dubuque.

Mary Ellen is survived by her mother Lucille, her husband Andrew, her daughter Jane (Daniel Lydon) of Chicago, her son Thomas of Kansas City, KS, her sister Kathleen McKinstra (Robert Chance) of Bemidji, MN, her brothers James (Eman Yassin) of Moorhead, MN and John McKinstra (Eileen) of Omaha NB, her nephews Charlie of Monroe, WI, Steven of Wauwatosa, WI, and Jack Anderson of Whitefish Bay, WI, her nieces Carol Chance of Bemidji and Maureen McKinstra of Omaha, NB,  and several grandnieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father and her sister Carol Anderson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Stonehill Care Center and Hospice of Dubuque. Mary Ellen’s family wishes to offer a special thanks to her best friend Renee Jedlicka, who accompanied her through every stage of her long journey home.

A photo tribute can be viewed and condolences sent to the family by visiting Mary Ellen’s obituary at www.hskfhcares.com.