Kindergarten Teacher at Lakeville's JFK Elementary School Dies

Mary Jo Cummings, 59, a kindergarten teacher at JFK Elementary School in Lakeville, died on Jan. 28.

Cummings had been a teacher in Lakeville schools for more than 24 years including stints teaching kindergartners at Christina Huddleston and Lake Marion elementary schools, in addition to her time at JFK.

A Legacy.com page dedicated to Cummings has more than 110 entries, many from former students and parents.

"My daughter was in Ms. Cummings' class 15 years ago," wrote Cindy and Andrea Linafelter. "A memorable quote that we still live by learned in her class, 'life goes on in spite of it all.' True as that is we will miss you, and are grateful for have known you. Safe travels."

"Ms. Cummings made my daughter, Rachel, feel like she was very special to her," wrote Kathy Estrem. "She was very invested in all of her kids, even buying them books from the book fair and cotton candy at the Twins game. She was a generous and loving person who will be greatly missed."

Multiple media reports say Cummings, who lived with her mother, died at her Eagan home.

Cummings' obituary said she had a love of baseball and frequent adventures, and in her spare time, she managed her business, Cummings Cottage Originals.

Cummings is survived by her brother Mike (Lyn), sister Patty Kay, niece Oona Peterson, nephew Matt Cummings & family, aunt Kay and Irene, the Cummings cousins, friends, her current kindergarten class at JFK Elementary, students whom she tutored and hundreds of former students.