Mary E. Carter, 10 Jan 1934 – 03 Apr 2013

CARTER, SCHALLAU, BODDICKER, BURCH, GUERRANT, LANTZ

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 4/12/2013 at 16:28:30

Mary Carter, 79

Funeral Mass for Mary E. Carter, 79, Nichols, former mayor and Postmaster of Nichols, was held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 10, at St. Mary’s Church, Nichols. She died peacefully Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at her home, from bone cancer following a short illness.

Memorials may be made to Birthright of Muscatine or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Henderson-Barker Funeral Home, West Liberty, was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com.

Mary E. Carter was born Jan. 10, 1934, the daughter of Paul and Elise Boddicker Schallau in their farmhouse near Van Horne, the first of eight children.

She graduated from Williamsburg High School and earned her registered nurse diploma from the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, Iowa City. She was awarded a scholarship from the Iowa Division of the American Cancer Society which provided the necessary financial assistance to enable her to earn her degree.

She married Burt E. Carter, Nichols, April 7, 1956, and the couple had three sons, Nick, Bret and Andy. They lived on their farm near Nichols all the years they were married. Initially she worked as a surgical nurse and operating room supervisor at Muscatine General Hospital. In 1967, the couple started Burt’s Tavern in Nichols, until his declining health forced his retirement. He died in 1981.

In 1976, she began her career with the United States Postal Service, first in West Liberty as a mail carrier, then as a clerk in Nichols where she was appointed Postmaster in 1978. She served as Postmaster until retiring in 1997. During her tenure as Postmaster, she was active in the National League of Postmasters, holding numerous state offices, including president. She was awarded the newsletter Editor of the Year in 1985 and Postmaster of the Year in 1992. Following her retirement, she continued to serve in the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.

She was very active in her local community. She served on numerous local clubs, charities and organizations. She was the election official for the Nichols precinct and edited the Nichols Centennial Book. She served on the Muscatine County 9-1-1 Commission, on the Nichols City Council and as mayor from 1996 to 1998. She was also very active in her church, St. Mary’s, Nichols. She served on numerous committees, was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society and taught catechism classes for many years.

She loved to travel. She enjoyed many wonderful journeys around the world with her sister, Lois Burch, and her mother, Elsie. She enjoyed trips around North America, to Europe, China, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, South America and even a cruise to Antarctica.

She was a beloved wife and mother who will be sadly missed and deeply mourned by her family and many in the community.

Carter is survived by three sons, Nick, Salt Lake City, Utah; Bret and Hazel, Los Angeles, Calif., and Andy, Nichols; five grandchildren, Justine and Nathan, California, and Derek, Rex and Shae, Nichols, and six siblings, James and Marjorie Schallau, Al and Carol Schallau, California; Donald Schallau, Iowa City; Lois Burch and Anne and Terry Guerrant, Arizona, and Jean Lantz, Chicago, Ill.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Marcia, in infancy.

The Williamsburg Journal Tribune, Thursday, 11 Apr, 2013, pg 9
Published April 6, 2013 in The Gazette