Sanders, Mary

Mary Sanders, 86, of Gettysburg, S.D., passed away Sunday, August 8, 2010, at her daughter's home in Cedar Rapids, where Mary's family was able to care for her with the loving support of St. Luke's Hospice and Dr. Nabi and staff. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Grace Bible Church in Gettysburg with Pastor Dick Nickel officiating. Burial will be in the Gettysburg Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Luce Funeral Home, Gettysburg.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. August 28 at Hope Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, with Pastor Dan Clark-Bridges officiating.

Mary Giese was born Sept. 7, 1923, to Otto and Bertha (Driller) Giese at Durant, Iowa, one of eight children. At the age of three, their family moved to Marengo, Iowa, where she started her schooling. The family then relocated to Conroy, where her father started farming during the 30s. While living there, Mary attended school through the sixth grade. The family then moved to Cedar Rapids, where her father worked for a livestock dealer. She attended school there, seventh through the 12th grades, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1941.

Following school, Mary went to work during the war for Collins Radio which was a defense plant. This is where she met her first husband, Henry Strellner and they moved to Vinton, Benton County, Iowa. They had two daughters, Patricia Kay and Pamela Sue. Following Henry's death in 1951, the family moved back to Cedar Rapids. There Mary went to work for Quaker Oats and then eventually Wilson and Company as a private secretary. Here is where she met Frank Sanders, marrying him in 1957. To this union one son, Michael Alan, was born. She and Frank continued working at the packing plant until Frank's heart attack when he was pensioned out. After much thought, the family moved to Gettysburg, S.D., in 1968, where they were able to enjoy what they thought to be the last couple of years of Frank's life. Here the family enjoyed hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. Frank actively enjoyed many of the years with his family in Gettysburg until his health again started failing in 1975. Frank passed away in 1980.

Mary worked at the Gettysburg Hospital for 20 years, retiring in 1988. Even after retiring she continued to work home health, transferring patients to appointments and operating Mary Maker's House cleaning, working until nearly 80 years old.

Left to cherish her life are three children, Patricia Kay (Dennis) Casner and Pamela Sue (Phillip) Evans, all of Cedar Rapids, and Michael Alan (Stephanie) Sanders of Gettysburg, S.D.; five grandchildren, Lisa (Doug) Greif and Nicole (Ryan) Rentschler, all of Mount Vernon, Tammy (Kipp) Evans of Marion, TJ (Sharon) Evans of Cedar Rapids, and Kadin Sanders of Gettysburg, S.D.; nine great-grandchildren, Kelsey, Kaitlin, Jordan, McKenzie, Tait, Molly, Tyler, Seth and Victoria; three stepchildren; one sister, Betty Schmidt of Daytona Beach, Fla.; one brother, Otto Paul Giese of Cedar Rapids; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, two special companions, one brother and four sisters.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials to Grace Bible Church, 310 S Broadway, Gettysburg, SD 57442; or St. Luke's Hospice, 290 Blairsferry Rd. Suite 100, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Mary's arrangements.