Mary Schwab

MARY JOAN (CRONBAUGH) SCHWAB

Belle Plaine

Mary Joan (Cronbaugh) Schwab, 75, of Belle Plaine, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021, at Belle Plaine Specialty Care, Belle Plaine, Iowa, following a long hard-fought battle with Parkinson's Disease. Memorial service is 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at Hrabak-Neuhaus Funeral Service, Belle Plaine. isitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Koszta Cemetery, Koszta, Iowa. Memorials may be made to the family. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.neuhausfuneralservice.com.

Mary was born to Cecil Clifford and Anna Maxine (Stowell) Cronbaugh at the Corn Belt Hospital in Belle Plaine, Iowa. She was one of 10 children. Mary went to Honey Creek Township Country School No. 3 and graduated from Iowa Valley Public School in Marengo. While in school, Mary enjoyed playing softball, as well as being a member of Future Homemakers of America for all four years of high school.

In her adult life, she played on a women's softball league and served her community as a volunteer EMT-1 on the Belle Plaine Ambulance for many years.

She was a member of the Oaklawn Church of God in rural Koszta, and was baptized in God through this church. She was a teacher of Sunday school and served as superintendent in the church for a time.

Mary was married to Jerry "Jake" Gerard on June 13, 1990. Together they lived in Belle Plaine. She road motorcycles and snowmobiles in her early adult years. Together with Jake she loved to Rendezvous Camp, which later became RV camping for the couple. She also loved to pull weeds and have a garden. Her favorite flowers were marigolds.

She retired from Whirlpool Corporation in Amana in September 2009, following 30-plus years. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2010.

Mary was a loving and caring soul and a down-to-earth person. She led a simple and frugal life. She didn't believe in wasting much. She used things till they no longer could be used before she would buy anything new. Mary loved animals, especially her cats, Chevy and Cal.

She is survived by her children, Bonnie (Delbert) Meeks of Belle Plaine, Brenda (Rick) Wilkins of Belle Plaine, Kim (Herb) Alford of Marengo and Jody (Tanya) Gerard of Belle Plaine; siblings, Barbara Gensley, Robert (Connie) Cronbaugh, Doris Hawkins and Gary (Taryn) Cronbaugh; sister-in-law, Susan Cronbaugh; and many more nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, "Jake"; siblings, Margery Cronbaugh, Donna Cronbaugh, Janet (Bill) Korns, Charles Cronbaugh and Celaine (Sherri) Cronbaugh; and brother-in-law, Larry Gensley

She will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew her.