OTTUMWA —
Mary J. Shrader, 92, of Ottumwa, died Dec. 7, 2012, at Good Samaritan Society in Ottumwa.
Mary was born on Aug. 10, 1920, to Charles and Mary Elizabeth Logan Shrader in Melrose.
Mary graduated as valedictorian from Melrose High School in 1937 and moved to Ottumwa shortly thereafter. She was a life-long member of St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church. Her professional business career in Ottumwa included Railway Express Agency, Ottumwa School Employees Credit Union, Ottumwa School Administration and the district school lunch program.
After her retirement, Mary contributed hundreds of hours as a volunteer at Ottumwa Regional Health Center. She was also active in Ottumwa chapters of PEO and Altrusa.
Mary loved people, and friends were important. She was especially close to her “adopted” Kaiser family, Daryle, Karen, Adrianne and Ashley, who lived next to her on Bonita. She was a wonderful history source on Ottumwa families, buildings and organizations. She was an avid fan of the arts in southeast Iowa and was an advocate of local and area music and dramatic groups.
Mary loved to travel. She kept photo albums and scrapbooks on her travels to many parts of the United States, as well as Ireland, Europe and Alaska.
After she had to give up driving, she severely missed being able to get in her Oldsmobile and spend the day “trailing around,” touring parts of southeast Iowa. A typewriter was a large part of her professional life, and the computer and email became a quick and efficient way of keeping in touch with family and friends, some around the world.
Survivors include her niece, Cynde Shrader-Pezzetti of Clive; her grandniece, Mercedes Kuehl of West Des Moines; and her first cousin, Don Wishart of Ames.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Leo (Chuck) Shrader of Clive.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church; with Father Bernie Weir presiding.
Visitation will take place at the church one hour prior to the service. Following the Mass and lunch, burial will take place at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Melrose.
Memorials may be directed to Good Samaritan Hospice in Ottumwa or St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church.
The family extends gratitude to Good Samaritan Society and Hospice and to Mary’s friends for their care and attention.
Robertson-Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Obituaries
Related Photos
-
Mary Shrader submitted
Guest Book
December 10, 2012
Mary Shrader, 92, Ottumwa
- Obituaries
-
- Funerals Today • Carl Kiedrowski, 83, Centerville 11 a.m., St. Mary's Catholic Church, Centerville • Jesse Hornback, 35, Sigourney 10 a.m., United Methodist Church, Sigourney • Lois Ramseyer, 88, Bloomfield 10 a.m., Pulaski Mennonite Church, Pulaski
- Derek Garrett-Springer BUSSEY — Derek Levi Garrett-Springer, 18, of Bussey, died June 16, 2013, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines as a result of injuries sustained in a two-vehicle accident June 11 at the intersection of Highway 163 and North Shore Drive. Memorial services f
- Linda De Bruin OSKALOOSA — Linda De Bruin, 67, of Oskaloosa, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family June 17, 2013, at the MHP Hospice Services Serenity House in Oskaloosa after a courageous battle with cancer since 2001. Funeral services will be held at 10
- David DesPlanque LOVILIA — David Blaine DesPlanque, 63, of Hamilton, died June 17, 2013, at the Knoxville Hospital Emergency Room. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Sinnott Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Lovilia. Burial will follow services in
-
Dorothy Johnson
OTTUMWA — Dorothy Marie Johnson, 86, of Sea-Tac, Wash, formerly of Ottumwa, passed away peacefully May 30, 2013 in Ellensburg, Wash., where she lived with her son Jim Johnson (Cindi) and his family. Born in Ottumwa to the late Clifford L. and Nina R.
- James Dailey ELDON — James “Jim” Dailey, 90, of Eldon, passed away at 1:26 a.m. June 17, 2013 at Good Samaritan Health and Rehabilitation Center in Ottumwa. Jim was born on May 1, 1923 at home in Bladensburg, the son of Raleigh and Eva Baird Dailey. He attended e
-
Esther Van Horn
BLOOMFIELD — Esther Louise Van Horn, 84, of Bloomfield, died June 16, 2013 at the Bloomfield Care Center. She was born April 19, 1929 in Mechanicsville to Lawrence and Dorothy Cole Henderson. She married Bob Van Horn on Feb. 15, 1948 in Bloomfield.
-
Jeffrey Taylor
BLOOMFIELD — Jeffrey Lynn Taylor, 47 of rural Utica, Minn., formerly of Bloomfield, died accidently June 15, 2013. Jeff was born Nov. 18, 1965 in Bloomfield to Laverne and Carol Joyce (Howk) Taylor. He graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1984.
-
David Steckelberg
ALBIA -- David Frank Steckelberg, 66, of Lovilia, died June 13, 2013, at the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. He was born Sept. 24, 1946, in Carroll to Vernon and Darlene (Atkins) Steckelberg. David graduated from Manilla High School, class of 19
-
Carl Salter
DOUDS -- Carl William Salter, 93, of Port Charlotte, Fla., formerly of Douds, passed away May 7, 2013 at his home. Carl was born Oct. 3, 1919, in Douds and moved to Port Charlotte 41 years ago from Norwood, Mass. Carl was a World War II veteran who s
- More Obituaries Headlines
