Mary Ellen "Monie" Bancroft

LODI - Mary Ellen Bancroft (known as Monie), age 89, passed away on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at The Legacy of DeForest. She was born on June 21, 1936, in Two Rivers, Wis., the daughter of the late George and Beatrice (Zeddies) Flentje.

Monie was raised in Lodi and graduated from Lodi High School in 1954. In the early years of her marriage to Kingsley (USMC), they moved around the country for his military duty stations. When it was time to raise their family, they settled back in Wisconsin, making Lodi their permanent home in the mid-1960s. After her divorce, she moved to Arizona in 1982 where she worked as a nanny for a family and as a lifeguard at senior rec centers. While in Arizona, with her special friend, Herb Carberry, she enjoyed travelling, camping, fishing and especially golf. She often reminisced about many happy times with her many friends and family in Arizona. While golfing in Arizona, she recorded her lone hole-in-one. She returned to Lodi in 2003 to be in her beloved Lodi community.   

Monie was an active member and multiple time Deacon of First Presbyterian Church in Lodi. She helped with numerous Church activities - from funerals, to weddings, and special Holidays. She was an avid donor of her wonderful knitted goods: including hats for newborns and dialysis sleeves for adults at the Sauk Prairie Hospital, ski caps for youth at Reach Out Lodi and Mittens for Autism at the Treinen Farm.

Monie enjoyed life and brought color to the many lives she touched. Her musical talents were highlighted by her piano playing, which brought her, and all those that heard it, joy.  She was an accomplished seamstress and craftsperson, who taught knitting, crocheting, sewing and quilting. As a longtime member of the Lodi Golf Club, she once won the Ladies Club Championship (by beating her niece, Suzanne, on the third playoff hole) and always enjoyed the beautiful, natural environment. She loved to curl and won several Women’s and Mixed championships. She was an active member of the Lodi Curling Club and donated a beautiful quilt to the 100th Anniversary of the Club - which still hangs there today. Monie was an avid sports enthusiast, attending Badgers football, basketball and hockey events. She enjoyed watching Badgers sports, Packers football, Brewers baseball and NBA basketball - she was both an Arizona Suns and Milwaukee Bucks fan.  

Monie was a bright light in the community.  However, the thing she was most proud of was raising her two sons who both became United States Marines.  

Survivors include her sons, Bruce (Laurel) Bancroft and grandchildren Brittany and Benjamin of Southern California; and Craig (Doris) Bancroft of Burlington, Ontario, Canada; brother, John (Nancy) Flentje of Maryland; sister-in-law, Rhoda Flentje of Wisconsin; special nieces, Lori Meade and Carla Fleming; as well as nieces and nephews, including David Weber, Arthur Flentje, Daryn Flentje, DeNae Flentje; and other relatives and many friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her former husband, George Kingsley Bancroft; long-term companion, Herb Carberry; siblings, Jane (Weber Geeslin), Helen (Meade); and Jake Flentje; niece, Suzanne Klopp; and nephew, David Flentje.  

Craig and Doris wish to thank Dr. Trent Thompson of SSM Waunakee for his incredible caring relationship with Monie and the entire staff of The Legacy of DeForest for her outstanding care. She truly enjoyed her friendship and time with all of you. Also, thank you to the wonderful nurses of Bristol Hospice that assisted her in her final journey in the most respectful, dignified and loving manner. In addition we want to thank our friends in the Lodi area who have truly become family. A very, very special thank you to Maggie Steele, who was Monie’s companion, caregiver and de facto granddaughter for the last several years.   

A celebration of life will be held at GUNDERSON LODI FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 157 S. Main St., Lodi, at 10:15 a.m. on Monday, August 25, 2025. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday. Burial will take place at Mount Pleasant Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Reach Out Lodi, 601 Clark St., Lodi, WI 53555 or Lodi Public Library, 130 Lodi St., Lodi, WI 53555. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Lodi

Funeral & Cremation Care

157 S. Main St.

(608) 592-3201