Anna Marie (Hallagan) GEARHART

HALLAGAN, GEARHART, SCHMOKER, SCHUMACHER, CASTER, BJORNSON, SHANNON, TABER, MCELDOWNEY, KIMBALL, SCHULTE, CLAVEY, KRIEGE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:46

February 3, 1916 --- November 21, 2017

Anna Marie Hallagan Gearhart was born on Feb. 3, 1916 in Vincent, Iowa to James and Amelia Schmoker Hallagan. When Marie was two weeks old, Amelia died, leaving a grieving husband and two children: Marie and 18-month old James Harold. The young family moved to the home farm to live with Jim's parents, Edward and Anna Hallagan. When Marie was 5, her grandmother passed away and Jim's newly married brother John and his wife Mary Hallagan moved home to care for the family. Two cousins, Eileen and Terry, were born there. When Marie was 12, her dad met and married Gladys Schumacher, who became both a stepmother and a life-long friend to Marie and Harold. John and Mary, their children, and Grandpa Edward started farming south of Vincent, keeping the families close.

Marie attended a Newark Township country school through 8th grade. She and her brother Harold then went to Sacred Heart Catholic School in Eagle Grove. After Marie's sophomore year, the Catholic high school closed so she boarded in town with friends, graduating from Eagle Grove High School in 1934.

Marie married Joe Gearhart in 1937. They had two daughters, Carmen and Diane. Marie had many talents and hobbies: she was a wonderful cook, seamstress, and decorator; she also collected antiques, especially beautiful china, primitives, and furniture. She was an avid mystery reader, which continued until her final days. Before her marriage she worked as a caregiver for sick friends and family members. At various times throughout her married life she worked in the Eagle Grove Scott's Store (and later at T.G. & Y, as it came to be called), the Eagle Produce, Gambles Store, the Eagle Grove Greenhouse, and at Robert Blue Middle School as an aide. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, church circles, the 3Ms sewing group, and the Equality Club in several departments for over 50 years.

Marie loved to travel and went with Carmen and Jim Caster and family on trips to the Tetons, the Black Hills, and Branson. She went with friends on Iowa trips through Security Bank, which she enjoyed very much. She went with her niece, Marilyn Bjornson, on a trip to Germany, France, and the Netherlands in 1992, and in 1995, when she was 79, Marie toured London with her son-in-law and grandson, Denny and Ted Shannon.

After Joe passed away in 1982, Marie lived in their home until 2000 when she moved to the Sadler Apartments. In 2012 she moved to Westhaven Community in Boone to be nearer to her daughter, Diane. Marie passed away there on November 21, 2017.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents and step-mother Gladys; her husband Joe; daughter Carmen in 2011; brother Harold; sisters-in-law Mildred and Rose Hallagan; niece Marilyn and nephew Jimmy Hallagan (as an infant); as well as dear members of Joe's family which were also her own. Marie is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Dennis Shannon of Boone; her son-in-law, Jim Caster of Bloomington, Illinois; six grandchildren: Carrie (Jim) Taber of Normal, Illinois; Steve (Sandy) Caster of Minneapolis; Ted Shannon of St. Louis Park, Minnesota; Jeff Shannon of Olympia, Washington; Lindsay Shannon of Naperville, Illinois; and Chris Shannon of Boone; six great-grandchildren: Kathy (Jon) McEldowney, Charles (Kim) Taber, Emily Taber, Melissa (Mark) Kimball, Becky Taber, and Madrone Shannon; and six great-great grandchildren: Kara, Will, and Anne Carmen Taber, Steven McEldowney, and Dominic and Samuel Kimball; Marie's sister-in-law Lois Gearhart; nieces Jean (Ken) Schulte and Janelle (Ray) Clavey, and nephews Carroll and Michael Hallagan; cousin Joyce Hallagan Kriege; and other family and friends.

Marie's family is so grateful for the loving care she received from the staff and volunteers at Westhaven Community in Boone, where she lived contentedly for the last years of her life.

Visitation -- Friday, November 24 -- 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM -- United Methodist Church, 421 W. Broadway, Eagle Grove, Iowa

Funeral Service -- Friday, November 24 - 1:30 PM -- United Methodist Church, 421 W. Broadway, Eagle Grove, Iowa

Arrangements By Foust Funeral Home, 103 N Cadwell Ave, Eagle Grove, Iowa
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