WIRTJES, Mary C. 1929-1995

WIRTJES

Posted By: Jeannine Peterson (email)
Date: 3/2/2012 at 14:12:15

Mary C. Wirtjes, 65, of Manly, died Monday, February 27, 1995, at North Iowa Mercy Health Center East, Mason City, following a five-year battle with leukemia.

Funeral services were held at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Grafton, with the Rev. Gregory Bjornstad officiating. Burial was in the Grafton Cemetery.

Mary C. Wirtjes was born July 7, 1929, in rural Worth County, near Kensett, the daughter of William and Flossie (Yoho) Lifka. She was united in marriage to Ray Wirtjes on March 12, 1949, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They farmed on the family farm two miles south of Grafton until January 1958, when they moved into Grafton. Mary worked as a waitress and bartender and later in that same business as owner and operator of Ray & Mary's Bar and Grill in Grafton until selling in 1970. She also worked at factories and for the Worth County Home Health Aid Services until retiring after an accident in 1980. That same year they moved to an acreage near Grafton, moving to Manly in 1983. In 1982, Ray and Mary joined the Good Sam Camping Club where they loved traveling and meeting people, going to nearly 100 rallies. They also made craft items which they sold at rallies and craft shows until 1990.

Mary was a member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton, Good Sam Camping Club, and gave many hours to volunteer work until her health failed in 1991. She enjoyed gardening, camping, fishing, traveling, and making crafts.

Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Ray Wirtjes, Manly, one son, Stanley (Brenda) Wirtjes, Albert Lea, MN; three grandchildren, Kelly, Daniel, and Brandy Wirtjes; three sisters, Ruth (Henry) Schmidt, Manly, Betty McMenimen, Modesto, CA, and Rita (Tom) Mayhew, Venice CA; three brothers, Bill (Bernadine) Lifka, Jr., Sterling, IL, Tom (Deanna) Lifka, New Haven, and James (Sharon) Lifka, Reading, CA; as well as other relatives and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, John and David Lifka; one nephew and one niece.

Mason City Globe Gazette February 1995