Mary Sylvene Hatfield, daughter of Edward and Mary (Coan Connelly) Geisler Jr., was born on October 12, 1945, in Carroll and left this life surrounded by her family on October 20, 2018 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. She lived her life to the age of 73 years and 8 days.
Sylvene grew up in the Churdan area and graduated from Churdan High School in 1963. She attended Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge and completed her bachelor of science in industrial psychology from Buena Vista University in 1993.
On January 30, 1971, Sylvene Geisler was united in marriage to Gary Hatfield at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Churdan. Sylvene and Gary built their home west of Churdan in 1980, raised three children and ran Hatfield Construction together for many years. Sylvene did bookwork, delivered materials and even mixed cement over the years.
After the close of the construction company, Sylvene held many other administrative positions over the years for various companies and retired in 2010 after serving for six years as the parish secretary for St. Columbkille Catholic Church. She was a member of the St. Columbkille choir and Citizens to Save The Valley, and was a certified election official who collected numerous ballots over many elections. After her retirement, Sylvene enjoyed watching the wildlife of the timber, crocheting blankets for births in the family and other crafts, was an avid reader that visited the Churdan Public Library frequently for fellowship and reading materials, and enjoyed visits to tea rooms over the years.
Sylvene will be lovingly remembered by her son Jason of Churdan, daughter Molly Blanchfield of Lake City, daughter Lisa Hatfield Case and son-in-law Steven Case of Davenport, and her four grandchildren Allyssa and Tyson Blanchfield, Ethan Case and Kaden Hatfield. She is also survived by her mother Mary Geisler, brothers Pat (Marice) Geisler, John (Marian) Geisler, Jerry (Debbie) Geisler, Andy Geisler and sister Anne (Joe) Minnehan, all of Churdan; sister-in-law Linda Rice of Jefferson and brother-in-law Walter (Tressa) Hatfield of Grand Junction; as well as 31 nieces and nephews and 34 grand-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father Edward Geisler Jr., husband Gary Hatfield and brothers Dan Geisler and David Geisler.
A celebration of Sylvene’s life was held October 27 at St Columbkille Catholic Church in Churdan with Father John Gerald and Father Lyn Bruch officiating. Interment was made in St Patrick Catholic Cemetery west of Churdan. Musical selections were rendered by the St Columbkille choir, soloist Greg Carey and organist Lois Last.
Serving as casket bearers were her nephews John Geisler, Craig Rose, Jared Mount, Spencer Geisler, Kirk Geisler, and Alex Geisler. Honorary casket bearers were Pat Geisler, John Geisler, Jerry Geisler, Andy Geisler, Joe Minnehan and Don Frankhauser.
Memorials can be directed to the Churdan Public Library.
The family was assisted by Brown Funeral Home of Jefferson.
