Mary Ann Meinecke

Mary Ann Meinecke BORN January 23, 1913 Calumet, Michigan DIED February 28, 2013 Perry, Iowa AGE 100 Years, 1 Month, 5 . Sunday March 3, 2013 Visitation at Hastings in Perry from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. CHRISTIAN FUNERAL SERVICE 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 4, 2013 St Patrick Catholic Church Perry, Iowa OFFICATING Father David Polich HONORARY BEARERS Hunter Meinecke, Trae Gilliland,Ty Gilliland Thea Banning, Trevor Banning, Cierra Meinecke, Savannah Brochu, Kali Nelson and Kinnick Nelson CASKET BEARERS Wade Banning, Greg Meinecke, Dan Meinecke, Cale Banning, Angie Nelson, Allison Streu, Kyle Meinecke, Mike Meinecke, Natasha Meinecke,Heather Meinecke, Matthew Meinecke, Hanna Meinecke, Garrett Meinecke and Will Meinecke MUSICIAN Jan Pattee SOLOIST Gary Haupert HYMNS On Eagle's Wings, Amazing Grace and Ave Maria USHERS Gene Peel and Bill O'Hare INTERMENT Franklin Township Cemetery, Cooper, Iowa Mary Ann Meinecke, daughter of Stepan Sertich and Janaj Svegar Sertich, was born January 23, 1913 in Calumet, Michigan, and died February 28, 2013 at the Perry Lutheran Home at the age of 100. Mary had a strong, proud, Croatian heritage. Her parents immigrated to Calumet, first her father in 1909 where he worked in the copper mines and later sent for her mother in 1911. They were married in 1912 and the family moved to Ironwood. While Mary was still a baby, they moved to Bloomfield, Iowa near Carney. Mary's family eventually moved to Moran. Family tragedies marked her early life and she pitched in to help raise her siblings. Mary worked for a time at the Woodward State Hospital School where the work was hard and not well compensated. She had also traveled by train to be a Nanny and housekeeper for others in a prominent area of Des Moines. Mary met the love of her life, Elvin "Dutch" at the Lake Robbins Ballroom. He was a wonderful dancer and she anxiously awaited an invitation to dance, which they continued to do for many years. They were married January 13, 1945 at Austin, Minnesota. Dutch and Dutch's Mary were blessed with five children, Dianne, Darrell, Dennis, Douglas, and David. Their family was raised on the farm, where Mary was a loving and caring farmwife and mother. She worked for a time in the school cafeteria. The couple moved into Jamaica to make their home and in 1980, they retired from farming. After Dutch's death in 2003, Mary continued to live in her home until failing health required that she have more care. At age 97, she became "old enough" to enter the nursing home! Mary was a Matriarch of Jamaica and her family was very well respected. She was always smiling and kind to all.AND, always looked sharp!! Mary could be found at ToJos, the Pit Stop, or anywhere her friends would gather. The love of Jeopardy on television, Crossword Puzzles, the newspaper's Jumble, and playing cards, especially Bridge, kept her mind sharp. Her family's love and attention added much joy to her life. The B and C Club, Jamaica Women's Club, Jamaica Auxiliary, were important activities. When her children were in school, Mary supported not only them, but the entire school community. Mary was a member of the Catholic Church. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband Elvin "Dutch"; son-in-law Don Banning; brothers: John Sertich and (Mary); Steve Sertich; Ann Grgurich (Ardy); her Meinecke in-laws: Melvin (LaVerne); Ort; George; Darwin (Sylvia); and Carol (Mary Ellen). Mary is survived by and will be lovingly remembered by her daughter Dianne Banning of Madrid; sons: Darrell (Rita) of Jefferson; Dennis (Willa) of Jamaica; Douglas (Karen) of Jefferson; and David (Donna) of Woodward; 14 grandchildren: Wade Banning (Aimee); Greg Meinecke (Misty); Dan Meinecke; Cale Banning (Jenny); Angie Nelson (Barry); Allison Streu (Kevin); Kyle Meinecke; Mike Meinecke (Morgan); Natasha Meinecke; Heather Meinecke (Fiance Jeff Mayrose); Matthew Meinecke (Jen); Hanna Meinecke; Garrett Meinecke; and Will Meinecke. Mary is also survived by nine great-grandchildren: Hunter Meinecke; Trae and Ty Gilliland; Thea and Trevor Banning; Cierra Meinecke; Savannah Brochu; Kali and Kinnick Nelson; one brother - in-law Calvin Meinecke (Margaret) of Jamaica; sisters-in-law: Clara Sertich of Des Moines; Pauline Shaw (Richard) of Dallas, TX; Eleanor Meinecke of Jamaica; and Roberta Meinecke of Jefferson; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends