Mary Carol Lambertsen

Mary Carol Lambertsen

Martelle

Mary Carol Lambertsen, 99, of Martelle, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, at the Anamosa Care Center. A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Anamosa at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. Pastor Rodney Bluml and Pastor Carla Burge will officiate. Friends may greet the family following the service.

Mary Carol Plattenberger was born on Feb. 10, 1924, to Luther and Leila (Barker) Plattenberger at their home in rural Mount Vernon. She was raised during the Great Depression, attending the little red brick Abby Creek country school in rural Linn County through sixth grade. She graduated from Mount Vernon High School and attended Iowa State University and Cornell College. Mary Carol was united in marriage to Ellis Lambertsen on July 15, 1945, in Mount Vernon, Iowa. They raised three sons on the home farm in Martelle where they farmed for many years.

Mary Carol was active in the Martelle community and was a friend to anyone in need. She was a member of the Martelle Methodist Church for over 60 years, and in later years, a friend of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Anamosa. After moving from the farm to Martelle, she, with Ellis’s help, opened the Depot Bed and Breakfast and later the Corner Cottage, hosting guests from nearby and around the world. Post retirement, they moved to Cedar Rapids and following Ellis’s death, Mary Carol resided at Woodland Park in Anamosa.

Surviving Mary Carol are her children David Lambertsen of Fort Worth, Texas, Dan Lambertsen (Marilyn) of Martelle and Doug Lambertsen of Evergreen, La.; grandchildren, David (Donna), Erik (Laura), Faye, Sonja (Matt), Evan (Erin), Shaun (Valerie), Tim (Betsy), Emily (Josh), Valerie, John; 25 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren; special nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ellis; grandson, Kent; daughter-in-law, Charlene; infant great-grandchild; and brother, Robert.

Mary Carol had a passion for befriending everyone she met and embracing each as a dear friend. Her door was always open. Above all, she cherished her family and they adored her. All who knew and loved Mary Carol will forever treasure her memory.

Please share your support and memories with Mary’s family on her Tribute Wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under Obituaries.

The family gives heartfelt thanks to Above and Beyond, Palliative Care, and the amazing staff at Woodland Park and Anamosa Care Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Above and Beyond Hospice, American Legion Post 13, or a charity of choice.