Kaness, Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen Kaness

1928 - 2012

Mary Ellen Kaness, 84, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church Faith and Life Center in Marion, officiated by the Rev. Perry Fruhling. Graveside service will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel.

Mary Ellen was born Jan. 20, 1928, in Bonaparte, Iowa, the oldest daughter of George L. and Dorothy I. (Warner) Simmons. Mary Ellen graduated from Bonaparte High School in 1946. She had always wanted to be a teacher and went to Parsons College for one year, taught for three years, home-schooled her sister and cousin, and taught a class with her mother and father. She became an elder in the Presbyterian Church and went on to finish college at Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI) in 1953. She began teaching in 1953 in Cedar Rapids at Harrison Elementary (4th and 5th grade) and then at Arthur (4th and 5th grade) until 1964.

After college, she had started thinking of going to seminary and ordered information about becoming a director of Christian education in the Presbyterian Church, but the Lord had a different idea. On Feb. 7, 1958, she met Kenneth M. Kaness and they were united in marriage on June 15, 1958, in Bonaparte. They were blessed with the adoption of three beautiful children: Paul, David and Sue Ellen.

In 1971, Mary Ellen started and directed St. Mark's Lutheran Preschool until she retired and closed the preschool in 1991. Beginning in 1983, she also served as the director of Christian Education at St. Mark's and was commissioned as an Associate in Lay Ministries for the S.E. Iowa synod.

Mary Ellen was a longtime member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, where she was chairman of the 50+ group for many years, a member of Naomi Circle, taught Sunday school and VBS, and much more. She was a member of P.E.O. Chapter LF, Delta Kappa Gamma, Retired Teachers Association, and P Buckley Moss Society.

Survivors include sons, Paul (Karla) and David, and daughter, Sue Ellen (Todd) Stelling, of Cedar Rapids; grandson, Austin Hansen, serving in the U.S. Navy in Virginia; grandson, Kyle Kaness; granddaughter, Payton Stelling, and grandson, Ryker Stelling, all of Cedar Rapids; sisters and brothers-in-law, Elizabeth Calvert of Elgin, Ill., Margaret Louise and Glenn Heald of Auxvasse, Mo., and Frances and Al Jolliffe of Waukee; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Kenny, in 2010; parents; sister, Myrna Jeanne Kreiger; brother-in-law, Leo Calvert; parents-in-law; nephew; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Mary Ellen had strong faith and loved the Lord. She lived her life always giving and serving others and never said a bad word about anyone. Mary Ellen loved her family beyond words, especially her grandchildren, and was an amazing mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend. Education and music were a significant part of her life and she enjoyed teaching, playing the piano, hymns, and singing. Mary Ellen lived a full and wonderful Christian life and will live on in each and every one blessed to know her. She will be greatly missed!

The family requests no flowers. Memorials in Mary Ellen's name may be directed to St. Mark's Lutheran Church, St. Luke's Hospice, or the Bonaparte Library Building Fund.

Special thank yous to her Hospice nurse, Amanda, her doctors, and Hospice volunteers. Most especially to her son, David, who lovingly cared for her so she could be at home. Her final journey was comfortable and full of love.

Published Aug. 10, 2012 in The Gazette