Mary S. Felderman (1931-2017)

FELDERMAN, THOMAS, SULZNER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 1/15/2018 at 13:44:14

Obituary for Mary S. Felderman

Mary S. Felderman, 86 of Bellevue, IA passed away on Thursday evening, December 14, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque.

A Christian Funeral Service will be held at 10:30am, Monday, December 18, at First Presbyterian Church in Bellevue. Burial will take place in the Church Cemetery. Visitation for Mary will be from 4:00 to 7:00pm. Sunday evening at Hachmann Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bellevue and again Monday morning after 9:00am at the church.

Mary was born May 7, 1931, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, daughter of Carl and Nellie (Thomas) Sulzner. Mary married Donald Felderman on June 18, 1950, and enjoyed 66 years together. They were the perfect team. They raised two children of their own, and were an integral part of many other children within their extended family.

Mary and her family left South Dakota during the Great Depression. Grasshoppers had eaten their farm out two years in a row. They moved to Bellevue, so her father could work on the railroad. Mary and her family were homeless for several years but always took in others and helped everyone they could. They were resilient, hardworking people who would have made lemonade if they would have had lemons! Still, the love, kindness and respect that these hardships brought molded Mary into the wonder she became.

Mary was a homemaker and her love for family and friends shown through in her hospitality, cooking, coffee talk and kindness. Early morning would find her in a favorite chair, Bible open, with a handwritten prayer list. She walked with God daily and was quick to be His representative in this world. Mary was a complete example of 1Corinthians 13:4-8, 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
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Mary was very active in her children’s lives. Always the room mom, Sunday School teacher, field trip mom and confidant to them as well as many of their friends. Mary was a kid magnet. She was a favorite among teachers as she was master of “the quiet game” and once had a whole bus of fourth graders silent from south of Dubuque to Bellevue when returning home from the House on the Rock. She loved her son and daughter more than life itself and they knew it. Mary was an extraordinary woman.
There is really so much more to be said, but space limits the extent of her fun, love and care. She will be greatly missed by her family and countless others whose life was made more joyful just because of “Mame”.

Left to honor her loving memory and tremendous legacy are: her children, Mark (Rebecca) Felderman of Ankeny and Anne (William) Logemann of Bellevue, Iowa; grandchildren: Marshall (Emily) Felderman of Davenport, Samuel Felderman of Bellevue, William Felderman and Gina Felderman, both of Ankeny, Joshua Bottorff and Allison Bottorff, both of Bellevue and Abigail Bottorff of Daytona Beach, Florida; Great grandchildren: Graham, Hudson, Clive and Violet Felderman; special brother-in-law Willard (Donna) Felderman; friends Billie and John Bohy; many very special nieces, nephews and chosen children, too numerous to name but loved just the same.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald and Grandson, Timothy Bottorff.

Special love and thanks for the extended care given to Mary by her caregivers these last several years: Cherri Helmle, Kathy Ohlert, Vickie Wood, Linda Cox, Diane Carsen, Jane Beckley, and Mandi Rohan. Mary grew to love these women and each possesses the great gift of caring for others.