Mary Lou Koschmeder

Mary Lou Koschmeder, age 88, of Riceville, IA, died Thursday, August 18, 2016, at Riceville Family Care and Therapy Center in Riceville, IA.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 22, 2016, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Riceville, IA. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery Riceville, IA.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, August 21, at Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home, with a rosary and scripture service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue an hour prior to the time of service Monday at the funeral home.

Mary Louella (Marr) Koschmeder was born on January 26, 1928 in Riceville, Iowa, the oldest of eight children born to Ralph and Lila (Sullivan) Marr. She graduated from Riceville High School in 1946. She received a B.S. from Upper Iowa University in 1971. Mary Lou married Harold E. Koschmeder at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Riceville on July 2, 1947. Most of their life was lived on the family farm two miles east of Riceville.

Mary Lou was foremost a mother to her children and grandchildren, but also a grand-special woman to many people. She was a caring, positive person who always started every relationship with “yes”. She enjoyed special times and travels with her family and friends. She loved to garden, and said her flowers “drew her closer to God”. Mary Lou said that her biggest regret about dying was not seeing her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up. They brought her hours of joy.  She will also be missed for her wonderful home cooking and baking, always strongly encouraging us to eat until we were over stuffed! Mary Lou was a wonderful teacher, a favorite of her students. She taught in Howard and Mitchell County’s rural schools for eight years and in Riceville Community Schools for 26 years. Mary Lou was active in the Cedar Valley Retired School Personnel Association, St. Ann’s Rosary Society and St. Rita’s Study Club.

Mary Lou is survived by her four children, Gary (Diane), Harpers Ferry IA; Gene (Karen), Cresco IA; Kent (Maria), Williamsburg IA and John (Gale), Riceville IA. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are sisters and brother, Hazel Boyle, Elma IA; Marian (Gerald) McGee, Elma IA and David (Tami) Marr, Floyd IA.

Mary Lou is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph Wm. and Lila Marie Marr, her husband Harold E. Koschmeder, two brothers Robert (Bea) Marr, Thomas (Val) Marr, and two sisters, Dorothy Ann and Mary Ann Marr (infant), and one grandchild, Amy Lynn Koschmeder.

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