Mary Evelsizer

Mary Evelsizer passed away May 15, 2017 in Fairmont, Minnesota at the age of 84 years.

A Service of Remembrance was held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18 at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson, Iowa, officiated by Rev. Jim Fleming of Bethel Evangelical Free Church, Fairmont, Minnesota and Rev. David Schroeder of Abundant Life Ministries, Jefferson. Casket bearers were grandchildren: Dan Evelsizer, Vince Evelsizer, Jana Olson, Ross Evelsizer, Dr. Stephen Evelsizer, Dr. Andrew Evelsizer, Sarah Gibbs, Aimee Evelsizer, Gina Morgan and Lisa Hernandez. Interment was at Brethren Cemetery in Panora, Iowa.

Mary Ann Rice Evelsizer was born in Guthrie County, Iowa on May 17, 1932, the second of five children born to Ralph and Thelma (Gander) Rice. She grew up on the farm and graduated from Bagley Iowa High School. That summer she worked as a Nursing Assistant at the Greene County Hospital. It was there in Jefferson that she met Jerry and they were married March 4, 1951 at the Christian Church.

Mary bore four children (one stillborn) and in 1959 they moved to Des Moines where her husband began college and then seminary to prepare for the ministry. They served five churches in Iowa before retiring in 1995. They made their home in Ogden, Iowa for 17 years, serving several interim churches before moving to Fairmont, Minn. to be near son, Bob, and his wife, Gwen. Mary’s primary interest was always her family, and she faithfully assisted Jerry in pastoring. Out of her caring for others she built a business sharing Shaklee health products.

Preceding her in death were her parents; sister, Wilma; son, Stephen and brother, Larry.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Jerry, of Fairmont, Minn.; two sons, Dennis (Cathy) Evelsizer of Decorah, Iowa and Dr. Robert (Gwen) Evelsizer of Fairmont; a daughter, Diana (Donald) Morgan of Iowa City; ten grandchildren: Dan Evelsizer, Vince (Andrea) Evelsizer, Jana (John) Olson, Ross (Laura) Evelsizer, Dr. Stephen (Annie) Evelsizer, Dr. Andrew (Kate) Evelsizer, Sarah (Steve) Gibbs, Aimee Evelsizer, Gina Morgan (fiancé Dan Bartleson) and Lisa (Oscar) Hernandez; sixteen great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lola Booth of Madrid, Iowa and Joyce (Edward) Hassing of Randall, Minn.; sister-in-law, Mary Rice of Decorah; other relatives and friends.

Services were arranged by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson, www.sliningerschroeder.com.