Allemang, Mary M.

Mary M. Allemang, 89, a resident of the Meth-Wick community, passed away Sunday, April 8, 2012. There will be a memorial service and reception at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Mary was born April 8, 1923, in Logansport, Ind., to James and Dorothy Justice. She graduated from Logansport High School. She served as a W.A.V.E. during World War II as a ground school instructor at Whiting Field in Florida. She graduated from Indiana University where she pledged Alpha Xi Delta sorority. She was an active sorority member most of her life. She married Richard D. Allemang in 1950. Dick and Mary had four children. Mary earned her Master's degree from the University of Iowa. She worked for the Cedar Rapids Community School District for nearly 20 years as an elementary school librarian. After retiring, she continued to volunteer in the public schools. Her favorite project was knitting mittens which she gave to the schools to give to children who lost theirs. Over the years Mary knitted and donated hundreds of pairs of mittens. Mary was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for over 50 years.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Dick; her parents; and her six brothers.

Mary is survived by her children, son, Doug (Debbie); daughters, Janalee Kosowski (Edward), Sarah Sauerbry (Jim) and Diane Allemang (Jim Egenrieder); six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and her sister, Connie Jones.

Mary will be inurned at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

The flood of 2008 destroyed much of the Cedar Rapids Public Library's collection. The library was a special place for the Allemang family. Memorials can be directed to Friends of the Public Library, 2600 Edgewood Rd. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404.

Published in The Gazette April 10, 2012.