Mary Rose Engeltjes

MARY ROSE ENGELTJES

Spirit Lake

Mary Rose Engeltjes, the daughter of Larry and Marguerite (Ehrhardt) Berns, was born Dec. 16, 1948, in Carroll, Iowa. She was named after her two aunts, Mary Geraldine Gundacker and Rose Marie Matsler. She attended grade school in Volga, Iowa, graduated from high school in Elkader, Iowa, in 1967 and received her business degree from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1992.

On Aug. 1, 1987, Mary was married to Dave Engeltjes in Cedar Rapids. She worked as a supply chain director for several years and, after retiring in 2011, they moved to Spirit Lake.

Mary enjoyed gardening, sewing, church activities and attending St. Josephs Crafter sale in Elkader, Iowa every year with her family. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family and entertaining her granddaughters at the lake every year. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters and NAPM Eastern Iowa.

Mary passed away Jan. 3, 2019, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake at 70 years of age.

She is survived by her husband, Dave Engeltjes of Spirit Lake; son, Brad (Lori) Kolarik; granddaughters, Morgan (Joe) Eken and Abby Kolarik; brothers, Greg Berns of Oelwein, Iowa, and Jim (Lorraine) Berns of Colorado Springs, Colo.; sisters, Helen Shew of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Janet Lillie of Eoyta, Minn., Joanne (Rafe) Koopman of Garnavillo, Iowa, Colleen (Frank) Lindaur of Longmont, Colo., Karen (Larry) Nation of Rochester, Minn., and Kathy Berns of Dunwoody, Ga.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Larry and Marguerite Berns; nephew, Aaron Berns and brother-in-law, Elvin Shew.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. Memorials in honor of Mary will be given to the Abben Cancer Center. Burial will be at St. Margaret's Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church.

Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake is handling arrangments.