Marilyn May

Marilyn M. May, age 91, of New Prague, died tragically as the result of a car accident, on Friday, May 30, 2025, at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.

Marilyn Mae Prokes was the only child born to Martin W. and Adeline (Shankey) Prokes on November 23, 1933. Her childhood was spent living above the grocery store her parents operated and playing with the neighborhood children on Main Street. She attended St. Wenceslaus and New Prague High School. After graduation in 1951, Marilyn and friends headed to Minneapolis to live and work.

Meanwhile, Oscar May had spent his life in and around Stockdale, Texas. Because of a lifelong interest in aviation, he had joined the Air Force and ended up in Rapid City, South Dakota. One weekend Oscar travelled to New Prague with one of his service buddies. He and Marilyn met, and Oscar had a new reason to visit New Prague! It took some time to convince her parents, but love won out. On September 17, 1955, Oscar and Marilyn tied the knot at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in New Prague. Shortly after that, the newlyweds headed off to Floria so Oscar could attend Embry Riddle School of Aviation. Their first daughter was born there less than a year later.

After Oscar finished school, the little family came back to Minnesota. They bought their first home in Inver Grove Heights and had five more children. Marilyn made a home, while Oscar worked at Fleming Field, Northwest Airlines, and Modern Aero. When Marilyn’s father became ill, a decision was made to move back to New Prague to help her parents. They found a small piece of land right outside the city limits and built the home they raised their kids in and lived in for 55 years. Their last son was born in New Prague during this time.

Marilyn was a dedicated daughter, wife, and mother. She was a member of St. Wenceslaus Church. Her hobbies included raising flowers and vegetables in her garden, painting and other crafts. Shopping was her passion. Tuesday nights were for supper with Mike. Saturday mornings were reserved for coffee and treats from Franke’s, Sugar Rose, and Bisek’s Bees, with the family. Her passing leaves a void in our lives. But the person who will miss her the most is her loving soulmate, our dad, Oscar Gene May.

Survivors include her husband, Oscar, of New Prague; children, Linda (Jerry) Hagel of Montgomery, Marty (Joan) May of New Prague, Pat (JoAnne) May of Northfield, Steve (Deb) May of New Prague, Susie Bennett of New Prague, Mike May (Justin Uhde) of New Prague; grandchildren, Jacki Tate (Ryan), Justin (Desiree) Hagel, Kimberly (Stephen) Pettinelli, Allison May, Nichole May, Matt Loesch (fiancé, Melody Cole), Genevra (Chris) LaFond, Ashley (Alex) Suihkonen, Wade (Christina) Bennett, Wes Bennett, Libby Bennett; fourteen great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Adeline Prokes; in-laws, Jarrett Brown and Lola Belle May; son Randall; grandson, Nicholas May; great-granddaughter, Annie Suihkonen.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 11:00 AM at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Father Eugene Theisen officiating. Mass will be live-streamed on npcatholic.org. Visitation will take place that morning from 8:30-10:30 at Bruzek Funeral Home. Burial will occur at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery followed by lunch at the Legion Clubroom in New Prague.