Fitzgerald, Mary Jo 1929 - 2011

FITZGERALD, KREBS, BYRNE

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/10/2011 at 20:53:01

Mary Jo Fitzgerald
(March 11, 1920 - May 22, 2011)

Le Mars, Iowa - Mary Jo Fitzgerald, 91, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away on Sunday, May 22, 2011 at her home surrounded by her family. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars. Father Matt Hewitt will celebrate Mass. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at the Mauer - Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present from 5-8 p.m. with a Rosary Service at 4:00 p.m. and a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to Mass on Wednesday.

Mary Josephine Krebs was born on March 11, 1920 on a farm in Pocahontas County, rural Manson, Iowa, the daughter of William and Mary (Byrne) Krebs. She was baptized at St. Patrick's on the Lizard Catholic Church in Pocahontas County. She attended country school near her home, Pioneer Public School and graduated from Manson High School in 1937 with a Normal Training Certificate. Mary Jo taught five years in Country School near Manson and Clare, Iowa.

On February 4, 1942 Mary Jo and Vincent Fitzgerald were united in marriage at St. John's Catholic Church in Gilmore City, Iowa. From this union nine children were born. They farmed in Webster and Pocahontas counties until 1974 when they moved to Le Mars, Iowa. Mary Jo and Vince managed the Amber Inn for the next ten years. Following that, Mary Jo worked part-time for the Amber Inn until 2002. Vince passed away in 1991.

Mary Jo was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars, Altar Society, Catholic Daughters of the Americas and Christian Mothers. She loved to play Bridge and was an avid reader.

She will be lovingly remembered by her daughters and their husbands, Sue and John Bringelson of Scottsbluff, NE, Joan and Dick Hakes of Storm Lake, IA, Janet and Jim Utesch of Le Mars, IA, Sharon Kohler of Marysville, MI; her sons and their wives, Patrick and Sheila Fitzgerald of McKinney, TX, Bill and Vicki Fitzgerald of Marshalltown, IA, Dennis and Teresa Fitzgerald of Clear Lake, IA and Doug and Anne Fitzgerald of Cleveland, Ohio; 26 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Rita McMahon of Webster City, IA and Marlys Walker of Ft. Dodge, IA; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Vincent; a daughter, Mary Ann Mueting; a granddaughter, Kerry Mueting; and a brother, Don Krebs.

Mauer - Johnson Funeral Home
Le Mars, Iowa