Mary Ann Gathman

MARY ANN GATHMAN

Oelwein

Mary Ann Gathman, 89, of Oelwein, Iowa, who was widely known for her love of children, her easy laugh, her dedication to her family and friends and her servant heart, entered eternal life Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Arlington Place Assisted Living in Oelwein. The Celebration of Life for Mary Ann will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at Stanley Union Church, Stanley, Iowa, with the Rev. Phil Rownd officiating. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein and one hour before the service Saturday at the church. Burial will follow the service at Union Cemetery, Putnam Township, rural Aurora, Iowa. Online obituary at www.jamison

schmitzfuneralhome.com. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing and masks are suggested at the visitation and service.

Condolences may be sent to: Mary Ann Gathman Family, 505 Leif Erikson Dr,, Decorah, IA 52101. If you choose to honor Mary Ann's memory with a gift, the family suggests designations for the Stanley Union Church or the Oelwein Public Library.

Mary Ann was born Nov. 17, 1932, in Clarion, Iowa, to H. Ralph and A. Ethel (McCormick) Marshall. She was the seventh of nine children. Her early education took place at the country school just down the road from the family farm. In her large family, the girls learned how to clean house, cook, garden and help with the chickens. She was a member of the Clarion High School, Class of 1951. Her marriage to Donald Feller blessed her with four children, Kathy, Monda, Becky and Marty. The family moved to Oelwein in 1964, and Mary Ann worked at Sears before becoming a bookkeeper for Oelwein Tool and Die.

On April 8, 1978, Mary Ann and Al Gathman were married at Grace United Methodist Church and merged their two families of adult children, affectionately described as the "family bush" (not a tree). Their marriage centered on family, friends, farming, volunteer work in their community and serving their church. The family bush grew with more grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Mary Ann showed her love through food, cards, prayers and lending a helping hand. Her volunteer work included serving on the boards of the Oelwein Public Library and Mercy Hospital, teaching Sunday school and vacation Bible school, and serving as a member of P.E.O. International, the Oelwein Chapter of Eastern Star and the Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority, with which she worked to support St. Jude Children's Hospital.

Since February 2020, Mary Ann has resided in the Arlington Place Assisted Living community. Her family is grateful for the staff and her resident friends, who were part of her life during the unusual months of pandemic restrictions. A stroke on the morning of Jan. 18 proved to be the beginning of her last days. She passed on to eternal life surrounded by her family.

Mary Ann is survived by her children, Ramona (Cy) Nelson, Decorah, Rebecca (Darryl) Wunder, Aurora, Marshall (Cheryl) Feller, Champlin, Minn., Carole Grafer, Grayslake, Ill., Gary (Diane) Gathman, Tavares, Fla., and Russell (Betty) Gathman, Arlington Heights, Ill.; 19 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren, Jennifer (Gregory) Williams, Samuel (Itxel) Bell and Kaley and Lily Williams; Joseph (Brooke) Bell, Hayden and Nicholas; Derek (Amy) Wunder, Waylon and Jack; Sheila (Tim Rampenthal) Wunder, Alexander, Jonah and Colton Schwach; Riley Wunder, Cassandra, Andrew (Amber), Beau-Jon and Joleena; Evan (Kari) Nelson, Claire, Paige, Spencer and Anna; Seth (Jennifer) Nelson, Otto and Freja; Taylor (Kristen) Nelson, Charles and Elizabeth; Kelsey (Aaron Vail) Feller, Kyle and Liam; Lisa (Adam) Schmalz; Julie (Jimmy Staggs) Gathman; Keri (Christian) Ricci, Gia and Nathan; Kathy (Tony) Lucente; Sue (John) Ingram; Jeff Grafer, Tricia (Billy) McDonald, Trevor and Ashley; Matthew Grafer, Mitchell and Michael; Jennifer Lemke; Kim (Brant) Pawlowski, Bailey and Travis; Laura (Jacob) Bledsoe, Rylynn and Blake; three great-great grandchildren, Olivia, Alexandria and Arabella; sisters, Betty Fibikar, Dows, Inez Hanig, Waterloo, and Phyllis (Daryl) Zwiefel, Clarion; daughter-in-law, Sharon Lemke, DeKalb, Ill.; sisters-in-law, Kay Marshall, Clarion, and Barbara Howeison, Forest City; brothers-in-law, Dale Feller, Clarion, Dick Feller, Mesa, Ariz., and Carl Hollebrands, Des Moines; and many nieces and nephews.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her loving husband, Albert Gathman, on Feb. 2, 2017; infant daughter, Kathryn Ann; her parents; son, Roger Lemke; granddaughter,Jana Elizabeth Nelson; son-in-law, Al Grafer; brothers, Robert, Daryl and Rush Marshall; and sisters, Maxine Spencer and Theresa Hollebrands.