MEISNER, Mary Elizabeth (Davis) --- 1914-2000

WILBUR, DAVIS, MEISNER, THOMAS, MCNALLY

Posted By: IA Gen Web Volunteer
Date: 11/25/2010 at 11:59:09

Mary Elizabeth Meisner

Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Meisner were held Thursday, August 3, 2000 at 1 p.m. at the Schutte Funeral Home in Postville, Iowa. Marvin Campbell was the presider. Burial was in the Wadena Cemetery. Casket bearers were Don Mulligan, Roger Haan, John Smith, Gary Riley, Maurice Landsgard, and Richard Bente. Honorary casket bearers were Vera Pixler, Doris Aasgaard, Sue Mulligan, Theresa Riley, Linda Aasgaard, and Stephanie Mulligan. The Schutte Funeral and Cremation Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements.

Mary Elizabeth Meisner, the daughter of Martin and Ena (Wilbur) Davis, was born January 29, 1914 in rural Taber, Alberta, Canada. She came to Iowa with her parents when she was six months old. She passed away Sunday, July 30, 2000 at the home of her daughter in Postville, Iowa. She had reached the age of 86 years, six months, and one day.

Mary spent her childhood in the vicinities of Wadena, Volga and Elkader. She graduated from the Elkader High School in 1931. She also attended one year of school at the Elkader Junior College. Mary taught in the rural schools for several years.

On December 13, 1934, she was married to Francis Meisner. To this union three children were born, Bradley, Ronnie, and Beverly. They farmed in the Elkader, Elgin, and Postville areas. In 1944 they moved to a farm south of Postville in Grand Meadow Township. They retired in 1973. Francis passed away in 1985 and Mary continued to live on the farm for 15 years longer, for a total of 54 years on the same farm. She became ill and went to live with her daughter Beverly, in Postville, in February of this year.

Mary enjoyed gardening and canned and froze the produce from her garden. She also planted and tended a great variety of flowers and enjoyed arranging them into bouquets. She enjoyed having her grandchildren and great grandchildren around her. Mary had a succession of Rat Terrier house dogs and enjoyed their companionship, always having one with her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Francis, who died in 1985, a son Bradley, who died in 1970, a grandson, Terry Meisner, one brother, Martin Davis, Jr., a sister, Evelyn, who died in infancy, and a sister, Zebbie Thomas, and a son-in-law Roland McNally.

Surviving is a son, Ron (Judy), of Spring Valley, Minnesota, a daughter, Beverly McNally of Postville, six grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, one brother, Thomas Davis of Clermont, Iowa, a sister-in-law, Dorothy Davis of Waterloo, Iowa, and a brother-in-law, Marvin "Bud" Thomas of Oelwein, Iowa.

Mary expressed a desire to live into the year 2000. Since her mother had been born in 1890, they would have had a lifetime that spanned three centuries.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, from Dorothy Schave's obituary collection.