Mary Ellen O’Brien (1931-2020)

O’BRIEN, MCELMEEL, KROEGER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 8/1/2020 at 13:37:46

Mary Ellen O’Brien, 89 of Dubuque passed away Thursday July 30, 2020 at Luther Manor.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 3, 2020 at Saint Joseph The Worker with Fr. Jim Goerend officiating. Social distancing and mask’s will be required. Entombment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday, August 2, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road where a parish wake service will be held at 1:00p.m.

Mary Ellen was born on March 6, 1931 in Sand Spring, Iowa the daughter of Hubert and Genevieve (McElmeel) Kroeger. She graduated high school in 1949 from St. John’s in Independence, Iowa; she then attended Mount Mercy Junior College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1951 and graduated from Mount Mercy in 1972 with a degree in Elementary Education.

She married Stephen O’Brien on August 1, 1953 at St. John’s in Independence, Iowa and he preceded her in death.

Mary Ellen worked for Dubuque Community Schools from 1973 to 1995 at Fulton and Eisenhower, she retired in 1995. She was a member of St. Joseph The Worker Catholic Church

She is survived by her four daughters Barbara Cutkomp, of Ainsworth, Iowa, Teresa (William) Brahm, of Dubuque, Maureen (Robert) Leuenberger, of Cedar Rapids and Leslie (William) Rhomberg, of Cedar Falls; a son-in-law Gary Williams of Cedar Rapids; nine grandchildren Luke (Kate) Cutkomp, Neal (Carley) Cutkomp, Jacqueline (Stephen) Biver, Erica (Zachary) Huk, Reece (Amanda) Leuenberger, Shane Williams, Alexander, Joseph, and Abigail Rhomberg; ten great grandchildren and a sister-in-law Ruth Kroeger.

She was preceded in death by her husband Stephen; a daughter Mary Ann Williams; a son-in-law Keith Cutkomp; brothers Bernard (Mae) Kroeger, Andrew (Emily) Kroeger, John Kroeger, Robert (Doris) Kroeger and Gerald Kroeger.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Luther Manor along with Hospice of Dubuque, especially Amy, for all the loving care they gave to our mother and grandmother.