Ankerstar, Marguerite 'Mary' Lucille

Marguerite “Mary” Lucille Ankerstar, 100, a resident of Northbrook Manor, Cedar Rapids, passed peacefully of natural causes on Monday, Feb. 21, 2011. Private family memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, Iowa.

Survivors include her children, Lt. Col (Ret.) Bradley D. (Marrilyn) Ankerstar of Lebanon, Ohio, and Sally Jane Gerdes of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col Steven E. (Irene) Ankerstar, Peter J. Gerdes and Laura E. (Tom) Osier; and two great-grandchildren, Allison and Alexa Ankerstar.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; one brother; and one son, Donald L. “Rusty” Ankerstar.

Mary was born July 9, 1910, the daughter of Elmer M. and Sally Christine Elizabeth (Carlson) Palmquist, in Sioux City, Iowa. She worked as a switchboard operator at N.W. Bell Telephone Company, where she met her husband. Mary married Archie P. Ankerstar on Sept. 19, 1931. She worked as “Mary Miles,” a personal shopper at Newman's Department Store in downtown Cedar Rapids. She also worked as a bookkeeper for Allis Chalmers.

After retiring, she was a volunteer at Salvation Army for many years. Mary was an active member of Kenwood Park Presbyterian Church, now known as Echo Hill. She was a member of Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile, El Kahir Shrine Auxiliary. Mary had great respect and compassion for all living things and enjoyed sharing her gifts and teaching others. She was a terrific mom and grandma.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Mary's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Mary at under obituaries.