Jurgensen, Mary F.

Mary F. Jurgensen, 70, of Hiawatha, passed away in her home, surrounded by her family, on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. A visitation will be held for Mary at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids on Sunday, Feb. 5, from 1 to 4 p.m. Services will be held 10 a.m. Monday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Hiawatha.

Mary was born Dec. 25, 1941, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Wilma Sullivan. She graduated from Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids class of 1959. Mary married William “Bill” C. Jurgensen on May 28, 1960, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids.

Mary worked at Armstrong's department store for many years, a job she loved. She also loved working with children, in many different capacities, in the Cedar Rapids school system. She worked several “extra” jobs while her children were growing up so they could experience music lessons, school trips, and the little extra things in life.

Mary was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Hiawatha. She was an avid traveler. While her children were growing up, the family took yearly fishing vacations to Minnesota. When the children were grown, Mary and her husband, Bill, continued summer and fall fishing trips to Minnesota. They also enjoyed winters in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., and their annual trip to Disney World. She also looked forward to her Wednesday night “knitting club” with her beloved friends.

Mary will be greatly missed by her husband, Bill, of 51 years; children, Jeff (Trish) of Rapid City, S.D., Jim (DeAnn) of Cedar Rapids, Julie (Larry) Yoder of Cedar Rapids and Jean (Brian) Aldrich of Shellsburg; grandchildren, Jacquelyn (Greg) Young, Amy (Eric) Leggett, Gage Jurgensen, Ashleigh (Michael) Tierney, Kasey and Halle Yoder, Alexandra, Dakoda, Larkyn and Leyton Aldrich; stepgrandson, Chad Phillippe; and great-grandchildren, Addison, Graeme, Quinn, Hadley and Elsa. Also surviving are siblings, Kathleen A. Sullivan, Michael (Gretchen) Sullivan, Paul (Marie) Sullivan and Dan (Kay) Sullivan, all of Cedar Rapids; sister-in-law, Shirley (Tom) Stickney of Marion; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins; and her special cat, Daisy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Wilma (LaDage) Sullivan; her daughter, Julie (Jurgensen) Yoder; and granddaughter, Stephanie Jurgensen.

Please direct memorials to St. Luke's Hospice or St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.

A special thanks goes to Dr. Chirantan Ghosh and his staff, and the staff of St. Luke's Hospice, especially Peggy and Kevin.

Online condolences may be sent to  under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette Feb. 3, 2012