Mary Ann (Collum) Plants, 07 Jun 1933 - 08 Nov 2022

PLANTS, COLLUM, SNOOK, LACAEYSE, BRAU, WATSON, SINDELAR

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 11/16/2022 at 14:32:16

Mary Ann Plants was born on June 7, 1933, in rural Brooklyn, Iowa, to Joseph and Mary (Snook) Collum. She grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from Brooklyn High School in 1951. Mary Ann went on to graduate from Mount St. Clare College in Clinton, Iowa, where she pursued a teaching degree. Mary Ann was united in marriage to James Plants on June 30, 1956, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Brooklyn, Iowa, where she was a life-long member and belonged to the Altar & Rosary Society.

Mary Ann started out as a teacher in Marengo, Iowa, followed by her and Jim pursuing farming. As the years went on, her and Jim owned and operated many businesses, the first one being Jim & Mary’s Café where Mary Ann was well known for her potato salad.

She employed many people throughout the years in her business ventures which also included J & M Roofing, Brooklyn Service Center and the Ice Cream Shoppe to name a few.

Mary Ann was well loved in her small town. She will be remembered for her compassion and her strong work ethic. Despite her large family, Mary Ann always made time for everyone by showing them love and support. She and her husband Jim worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for their children. She would proudly boast about all of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Mary Ann is survived by her seven children: Steve (Pauline), Bill, Dick (Sharon), Dennis (Teri), Ron (Janet), Kathy (Hamid), and Brenda (Scott); 21 grandchildren, and 47 great grandchildren; her siblings, Robert (Marilyn) Collum and David (Mary Jo) Collum; her In-Laws, Donna Collum, Marvin LaCaeyse, Don Brau, George Watson, and Terry Collum; and several nieces and nephews.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her siblings, Joseph Collum, Jr., Delores LaCaeyse, Patricia Brau, Joyce Watson, Tom Collum, Jim Collum, and John Paul Collum, who died in infancy; her Mother-in-Law Alma Plants and Father-in-Law Roy Plants, Sister-In-Law, Mary Sindelar and nephews Darrell Sindelar, Mike Collum, and Raymond Brau.

Mary Ann died Tuesday evening, November 8, 2022, in Brooklyn, Iowa. She was 89 years of age. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, November 14, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, in Brooklyn. Visitation will be on Sunday, November 13, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Brooklyn and the Rosary will be recited at 3:00 p.m.

Memorials can be contributed to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation or Camp Courageous.

Published in The Gazette on November 12, 2022.