Mary Jean Gebhardt

Mary Regina (Baker) Gebhardt, the daughter of Joseph Lawrence and Katherine Agnes (Britten) Baker, was born March 22, 1927 on the family farm in Grant Township, south of Creston, IA. Mary Jean entered eternal rest at her home in Van Meter, Iowa on November 17th, 2017. She attended Grant #4 (Harmony) country school located to the corner south of their home place and east. Mary was the first leader of the Jolly Jills girl’s 4-H Club. She participated in Union County Rural Youth, serving as President and Secretary. In 1954 she was voted as 'Outstanding Rural Youth Member of Union County'. Mary Jean married Charles Max Gebhardt on November 5, 1955 at St. Malachy’s Catholic Church in Creston, Iowa. Max and Mary Jean settled on Max’s farm near Conway, Iowa. In 1964, Max, Mary Jean, and their five children moved to their farm at Van Meter, Iowa. Mary Jean was active in the American Legion Auxiliary, Home Study Club, Community Club, Van Meter Music Boosters, St. John’s Altar Society and served as a board member of the Van Meter Senior Housing. Survivors include her children: Sharon (James, Jr.) Braden, Macedonia, IA; Ronald (Debbie) Gebhardt, Van Meter, IA; Karen Gebhardt, Austin, TX; Jane Gebhardt, Van Meter, IA; and Rita Gebhardt, Van Meter, IA. Her grandchildren include: Amanda (Dustin) Wright, Van Meter, IA; Travis Gebhardt, Des Moines, IA; Andrew Braden, Omaha, NE; Jessica (Brian) Cervenka, Austin, TX; and Jayme Perez, Austin, TX. Preceding Mary Jean in death were her parents; her husband; her five brothers and their spouses: Urban (Dorothy) Baker; Benno (Pauline) Baker; Edmund (Dorothy Ellen) Baker; Joseph (Catharine) Baker; and Leo (Donna) Baker; and three sisters and their spouses: Theola (Dennis) Bradley, Bernardine (Hubert) Bradley and Coletta (Lyman) Bradley. Mary Regina Baker Gebhardt of Van Meter, IA died at home on November 17, 2017 surrounded by her family. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Adel with burial at Fairview Cemetery near De Soto. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m .until service time at the church. Family will also greet friends Monday, November 20th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at McCalley Funeral Home in Adel with a Rosary starting at 7:00 p.m. followed by a time of sharing. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for future designation. Online condolences may be left on this site.