Services were held Wednesday, Jan. 31, at St Joseph Catholic Church in Jefferson for Mary Ann Grace 88 of Jefferson.
The Rev Jim Bruch, pastor of St Malachy Catholic Church in Madrid officiated at the Mass of the Resurrection. Musicians were the St Joseph guitar group and violinist Cole Grace. Readers were Lisa Grace and Chuck Dunlop. Gift bearers and honorary bearers were Daniel Grace, Cooper Skinner, KeAnna Skinner, Sheana Story, Sarah Walker and David Moore.
Casket bearers were Terry Skinner, Carson Skinner, Tyler Grace, Chuck Dunlop, Cole Grade and Karim Hadi. Interment was at the St Joseph Cemetery in Jefferson.
Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home assisted the family.
Mary Ann Grace, 88, of Jefferson, passed peacefully at home surrounded by family on January 27, 2018. Mary Ann dearly loved her Jim, her husband of 65 years, and was immensely proud of her six loving children, Nancy, Sharon, Carol, Jim (Danny), Colleen and Connie. She was incredibly devoted to her Catholic faith and her Savior Jesus Christ.
Many will remember Mary Ann as the light in a room full of people, a genuinely caring and loving soul who never had a bad word to say about anyone. She had an infectious laugh and a sweet smile and welcoming arms that could hug you across the miles. Mary Ann was a beautiful, classy soul and most memorable was her commitment to her family, friends and community. She volunteered as often as possible and made her career in raising a fantastic family in which she instilled beautiful traits of care, love and respect of all others.
She often was the family medical advisor and was spot on with all her diagnoses and could put a medical doctor to the test, which gained her a big respect by all her recent medical providers.
Mary Ann radiated kindness and encouraged all to serve God and others. Kindness matters, serving others creates meaning and faith is important in this changing world.
Mary Ann graduated from Watertown, SD, High School in 1948. She met her husband Jim at a favorite watering hole and it was love at first sight. They married in 1952 in Fort Bragg, NC, and honeymooned in Washington, DC. After retiring from running the household, Mary Ann and Jim enjoyed exploring many different vacation spots with family. They had so many happy memories of enjoying life to the fullest.
Together, they brought into the world six children full of personality: Nancy Walker, Sharon (Charles) Dunlop, Carol (David Moore) Grace, Jim (Lisa) Grace, Colleen Grace, and Connie (Terry) Skinner. Mary Ann was extremely proud of and loved her 11 grandchildren,Tyler (Kara), Michael (Cassie), Melissa (Mike), Sheana, Sarah, Karim, Cole, Daniel, Carson, KeAnna and Cooper; and eight great grandchildren, Kya, Jude, Paige, Josie, Kylie, Autumn, Lilly and Walker.
Mary Ann had a loving childhood and was blessed to share her life with six brothers and sisters. Grateful for having shared her life are two siblings, Pat Wehrkamp and Don Fischer and his wife Janice, all of Sioux Falls, SD, and sisters-in-law Bev Fischer of Sioux Falls, and Terry Fischer Mary (Cecil) Provence of Minnesota; many nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents Lambert and Adelaide Fischer; brothers John Fischer, Duke Fischer and Bert Fischer; sister Marcie Nester; brothers-in-law Mel Nester, Dale Wehrkamp, Francis Grace, George Grace, Gene Grace, Jack Grace, Jerry Grace; sisters-in-law: Evie Grace, Kaye Grace, Margie Grace and Mary (Larken) Grace; nieces Sue Fischer, Jan Wehrkamp Brankin and Kathy Funk; nephew George (Jeff) Grace; grandsons Todd, Michael and Matthew; and great-grandson Brently.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mary Ann’s name to the causes near to her heart: Greater Iowa Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (Team Tigers) and the Epilepsy Foundation of Iowa.
