Mary I. Fitzgerald (1916-2009)
FITZGERALD, REGAN, MAYHEW, COURSEN, DEVOOGD, TASCIONE, BUSCHAGEN, JAMES, MCGUIRE, BIRDWELL, KRASKE, HOEFFSTETTER, SCHULTZ
Posted By: Nevada Journal
Date: 10/28/2009 at 09:09:00
THE NEVADA JOURNAL, Nevada, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, October 22, 2009.
Mary I. Fitzgerald, age 93, passed away peacefully at home on October 12, 2009. Mary had lived in Des Moines since 1935.
She was born on a farm in Colo, Iowa on January 5, 1916, the daughter of Thomas Eugene and Mary Irene (Regan) Fitzgerald. Mary graduated from Colo Consolidated High School in 1933 and Central Iowa Business College in 1934. Mary held various positions in Des Moines from 1934 to 1939 before joining the Iowa Retail Food Dealers Association and Iowa Food Industry Association in 1940. In 1954, she was named Executive Director of the Iowa Retail Food Dealers Association and The Iowa Food Industry Association. Mary was editor of the Iowa Food Dealer, a registered lobbyist in Washington, DC and the first registered woman lobbyist in the state of Iowa for a statewide trade organization. Mary was known for her involvement on many state and national issues, such as the yellow margarine and bottle deposit legislation.
Mary received many recognitions in her career: Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who in America, Award of Merit, National Association of Retail Grocers, Outstanding National Leadership Award, Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, Exceptional Service Award, Food Industry Association Executives , Governor Harold Hughes Food Task Force Appreciation Award, Outstanding Service Award Food Trade Press, Outstanding Service Award Iowa Central Community College, Appreciation Award National Association of Retail Grocers United States, Appreciation Award United States Department of Agriculture Food Stamp Division.
The Iowa Grocery Industry Association Scholarship Program was renamed the Mary I. Fitzgerald Scholarship Program in 1997. The Mary I. Fitzgerald Scholarship endowed in her name is given annually to a student based on the criteria established by Miss Fitzgerald. Mary was responsible for starting the Food Marketing Management Program at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Mary was also the founder of the Asparagus Club Scholarship Program through the National Grocer’s Association.
Mary was affiliated with the American Legion Auxiliary, Asparagus Club, Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, Food Industry Association Executives, Food Trade Press, Food Marketing Management Club, Grocery Manufacturers’ Association, Hot Tomato Club, Iowa Society of Association Executives, Iowa Society for Crippled Children, National Association of Retail Grocers of United States, International Secretary Association, St. Theresa Catholic Church, founding member and St. Theresa Rosary Society.
Mary’s hobbies were family, people, sports, reading, writing and politics.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Irene Fitzgerald; brothers, Thomas, Robert and Francis; niece, Jane Mayhew and nephews, Thomas and Michael Fitzgerald.
Mary is survived by nieces, Ann Coursen and Marilyn DeVoogd and nephew, Francis Fitzgerald II; great nieces, Elizabeth Tascione, Judith Buschagen, Patricia James, Ann McGuire, Mary Mayhew, Kathleen Birdwell, Margaret Kraske, Theresa Hoeffstetter, Shannon Schultz and Kelly Fitzgerald; great nephews, James Coursen, Robert Coursen, James DeVoogd, Robert DeVoogd, Thomas Fitzgerald, Timothy Fitzgerald, Francis Fitzgerald III, and Sean Fitzgerald. Mary has more than 20 great, great nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2009 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a rosary service at 4 p.m. and a Vigil at 7 p.m. at Iles Funeral Homes-Westover Chapel, 6337 Hickman Road, Des Moines. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 16, 2009 at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church, 1230 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines. Burial will be at 3 p.m. at St. James Cemetery, Colo, Iowa .
Memorials may be made to The Association of Miraculous Medal, 1811 West St. Joseph Street, Perryville, MO 63775 for the family of Tom and Rene Fitzgerald; St. Theresa Foundation, 1230 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, Iowa 50310 or Childserve, P. O. Box 707 Johnston, Iowa 50131.
Iles Funeral Homes-Westover Chapel handled arrangements.
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