Mary E. Dillenburg

Mary E. Dillenburg, 80, of Mount Ayr, passed away Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, in Des Moines. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20 at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, with burial in Bethel Cemetery, southwest of Diagonal. Visitation, with the family present, will be held at the funeral home Monday from 6 to 8 p.m.

Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Hospital and American Diabetes Association. Condolences may be left at www.armstrongfh.com.

Mary Ellen Dillenburg was born Sept. 9, 1942, the daughter of Arlo Clifford and Ethel Mae (Reynolds) Dillenburg in the family home near Diagonal. Mary graduated from Mount Ayr High School with the class of 1963.

Mary worked at Ruth’s Café and Small’s Corral in dishwashing. Mary also worked for 36 years at Mount Ayr Health Care Center in the laundry service. In addition, Mary took care of her mom for many years. Mary was proud of and loved her nieces and nephews, along with their children. She was a kind and loving person and a devoted aunt.

Mary was an avid reader, enjoyed word searches, latch hook and game shows. Mary was also an avid walker who enjoyed being in nature and around animals. She loved music and was particularly fond of 80s country music, the artist Alan Jackson and gospel country. Mary’s greatest joy was spending time with her family and playing with children. Mary was a member of the Free Methodist Church in Mount Ayr.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; brothers: Burl, Marvin, Robert and Duane; sister Verna Martin; brothers-in-law: Robert Martin, Kenneth Howell, Marlin Glick, Joe Danels and Harold Baker and sisters-in-law Helen Dillenburg and Alice Dillenburg.

Survivors include her sisters Donna Howell of Altoona, Janis Danels of Ottumwa and Lois Baker of Keosauqua; brother Jim and his wife Linda of Omaha, Nebraska; honorary sister Cathy Swank of Mount Ayr; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, other relatives and friends.