Mary Theresa (O'Brien) Fischer

MARY THERESA (O'BRIEN) FISCHER

Clutier

Mary Theresa (O'Brien) Fischer, 89, of Clutier, passed away Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, at the Keokuk County Health Center in Sigourney under the care of Mahaska County Hospice. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, Dec. 29, at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama with Fr. Michael Mescher as celebrant. Interment will follow at National Cemetery in rural Vining. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Dec. 28, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.

Mary was born on May 16, 1927, in Bluffton, Iowa, the daughter of Francis and Elizabeth (Carolan) O'Brien.

She graduated from Decorah High School in 1945. After graduation from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, she worked at Iowa Electric Light and Power Co. in Cedar Rapids and Mutual of Omaha in Nebraska.

She met her husband, Roger, at Danceland Ballroom in Cedar Rapids. They were united in marriage on Aug. 25, 1951, at St. Matthew's Rectory in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Clutier until it closed and then St. Joseph Catholic Church in Chelsea. Mary was a member of the Rosary Society and the Catholic Order of Foresters. They made their home in Clutier for 65 years. Those years were spent being a wife and mother and helping various organizations in her church and community. They took many vacations with family and friends, camping across the United States. After Roger retired, they spent 22 winters in Arizona. She enjoyed music and dancing and did this with a special group of friends.

Survivors include three children, Loren (Laura) Fischer of Dubuque, Lynne (Doug) Glandon of Sigourney and Laura (Paul) Ernst of St. Paul, Minn.; two grandchildren, Chris (Amy) Glandon and Jennifer (Jeff) Martin; four great-grandchildren, Nathan and Katelyn Glandon and Chase and Alexis Martin; her siblings, Stephen (Mary Ellen) O'Brien of Dubuque, Loretta (Don) Orris of Cedar Rapids and Rose Ellen Frana of Calmar; her sisters-in-law, Fran O'Brien of Cedar Rapids and Roma Michels of Bluffton; and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Roger, on July 29, 2016; three brothers, Robert, Eugene and Leonard O'Brien; one sister, Marcella Rooney; and brothers-in-law, Steve Frana and Charlie Rooney.

Memorials may be directed to the Mahaska County Hospice and Cedar Valley Hospice.