Mary Catherine (Whelan) PROEGER

WHELEN, PROEGER, HARTWIG, LINDERBAUM, GALLAHER, RICHARDSON, DEHNING

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/29/2013 at 14:53:05

November 7, 1921 --- December 27, 2013

BELMOND -- Mary C. (Whelan) Proeger, age 92, of Belmond, most recently residing at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond, died Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, at the Iowa Specialty Hospital-Belmond. Funeral services will be Monday, Dec. 30, 2013, at 1 p.m. at Belmond United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be on Monday at the church from 11:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral services. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Mary's name may wish to direct them to the Belmond United Methodist Church or the donor's choice.

Mary Catherine Whelan, the daughter of Thomas Andrew and Grace Crystal (Hartwig) Whelan, was born Nov. 7, 1921, in Belmond. She attended Belmond Schools and graduated from the Belmond High School with the Class of 1939. Mary was baptized and joined the United Methodist Church which became her lifelong faith home on May 20, 1942. Mary was united in marriage to Luther Warren Proeger at the United Methodist Church Parsonage on July 29, 1945. The couple's union was blessed with two daughters, Kathlyn Louise and Barbara Ellen. The couple worked and raised their daughters in the Belmond Community. In addition to being a loving life partner to Luther and a nurturing mother to her girls, Mary worked out of the home. She was a creative and artistic lady who used her talents during her many years working for the Thompson Seed Co. in the office and administration divisions. She had done various graphic design work for the company including the development of logos used for the seed company bags, signage, letterhead and various other marketing materials.

Her creative talents were also used in her home life as she enjoyed creating her own cards, letterhead, and other personalized items, and she used her keen vision and sense of place in her photography hobby. In addition to her years at the seed company she worked at the Belmond Hospital in the clerical and administration offices until her retirement. She had also served for a number of terms on the hospital board.

First and foremost in her life focus was providing for the needs of her husband and children. She also took great pride and received much satisfaction in serving in her church in various roles including treasurer, as District Treasurer of what in today's world is known as the U.M.C.W. She enjoyed teaching Wednesday afternoon youth programs that were known as "Youth Mission School," and had assisted and fulfilled various other church roles. Both Mary and Luther shared and instilled their values and faith with their two daughters. Mary and Luther and the kids also spent countless hours caring for and maintaining the Belmond Cemetery. Their love for a meticulous manicured lawn shown through in their residence and the couple's large and weed-free gardens.

Mary and Luther looked forward to visits with family and spending time with the grandchildren and their families. They were always up for a good visit. During their years of retirement it was a rarity to not see the couple together. If you saw one of them out and about, most certainly the other partner was very near. Their relationship lasted more than 66 years. Luther preceded Mary in death on June 30, 2008. Following his passing Mary maintained an active life until moving to the Rehabilitation Center in June of this year.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughters, Kathy (Roger) Linderbaum, Castalia, and Barb Gallaher, Newton; a brother-in-law, Dwight Whelan, Clarion; grandchildren, Sara Elizabeth (Mike) Richardson, Mathew Alan Linderbaum and wife Hallie, Seth Louis Gallaher and wife Jennie, Jill Catherine Dehning and husband Ron; great grandchildren, Harrison Luc Dehning, Benjamin Michael Richardson, Hanna Mae Dehning, Katelyn Elizabeth Linderbaum, Elizabeth Claire Richardson, Thomas Riggs Gallaher, Warren Jackson Gallaher, William Declan Linderbaum, and Katherine Grace Gallaher. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her in-laws, Martin and Olive Proeger; her brother, Paul Adrian Whelan; sister-in-law, Linda Whelan; step-brothers, Paul Adrian Whelan and Leroy Francis Whelan. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, IA.

December 29, 2013
Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa