Mary A. Kelchen
May 8, 1946 — November 19, 2018
Mary A. (Gogel) Kelchen, 72, of Robins, Iowa, died on Monday, November 19, 2018, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids from a sudden illness with her family at her side. Visitation: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday, November 24, 2018, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Hiawatha, Iowa. Funeral Mass: 1 p.m. Saturday at church. Burial will follow Mass at Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Mary was born to Raymond J. and Helen M. (Greiner) Gogel on May 8, 1946, in Dyersville, Iowa, the fourth of ten children. She graduated from Springville High School in 1964. Mary married John J. Kelchen on April 16, 1966, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairieburg, Iowa.
Mary retired from Best of Iowa Community Credit Union, now known as, UICCU in 2008, after 25 years of service. She enjoyed working and making friends with the membership.
Most of all, she enjoyed getting together with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family, especially during the holidays. She loved to attend activities and sports that her grandchildren were involved in.
In her retirement she enjoyed camping, gardening, putting together 1000 - 2000 piece puzzles, sewing and playing cards with friends. John and Mary loved traveling, especially to Europe, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia/New Zealand, Ireland and different parts of the United States.
While her children were in school she was involved as a Cub Scout den mother, assistant Camp Fire leader, PTA member and teaching religious education classes. Mary was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church where she was a Eucharistic minister for many years.
Mary is survived by her husband, John, of 52 years and her children, John Jr. (Kelli) and his sons, Michael (Alyssa) and Jaren (Desiree); Donald (Laurie) and their children, Tyler, Ashley and Ryan; Laura (Darrin) Wood and their daughters, Brenna and Abygail. Also surviving are her three great-grandchildren, Ayden, Karter and Adalynn; brothers, Ray (Betty) Gogel and Charles Gogel; sisters, Linda (Dick) Taylor, Janice (Jack) Miles, Sandra (John) Cummings, Sue Wooder, Patty (Richie) Price and Phyllis (Karen) Gogel; brothers and sisters-in-law, Dave McDowell, Theresa Dullea, Bill (Dolores) Kelchen, Phillip (Virginia) Kelchen, Lee Kelchen, Ruth (Dick) Pasker, Charlie (Vicki) Kelchen, Steven (Kor) Kelchen; and her “special cousin”, Dianne Steffen.
Mary was preceded in death by her father and mother, Raymond and Helen; sister, Anita McDowell; father and mother-in-law, Al and Leona Kelchen and step-father Franklin Bruce; brothers-in law, Patrick Cummings, Dale Wooder, Allen Kelchen, Robert Kelchen, Larry Kelchen, Yale Mills, Bob Pauly and Alfred DeRosia; sisters-in-law, Betty DeRosia, Rita Kelchen; and many special nieces and nephews.
Memorials or donations may be directed to Hall Perrine Cancer Center, Eastern Iowa March of Dimes, Mercy Heart Center, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church or Mercy Hospice.
Mary’s final act of kindness was to share the gift of life through organ donation with the Iowa Donor Network.
Mary was born to Raymond J. and Helen M. (Greiner) Gogel on May 8, 1946, in Dyersville, Iowa, the fourth of ten children. She graduated from Springville High School in 1964. Mary married John J. Kelchen on April 16, 1966, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairieburg, Iowa.
Mary retired from Best of Iowa Community Credit Union, now known as, UICCU in 2008, after 25 years of service. She enjoyed working and making friends with the membership.
Most of all, she enjoyed getting together with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family, especially during the holidays. She loved to attend activities and sports that her grandchildren were involved in.
In her retirement she enjoyed camping, gardening, putting together 1000 - 2000 piece puzzles, sewing and playing cards with friends. John and Mary loved traveling, especially to Europe, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia/New Zealand, Ireland and different parts of the United States.
While her children were in school she was involved as a Cub Scout den mother, assistant Camp Fire leader, PTA member and teaching religious education classes. Mary was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church where she was a Eucharistic minister for many years.
Mary is survived by her husband, John, of 52 years and her children, John Jr. (Kelli) and his sons, Michael (Alyssa) and Jaren (Desiree); Donald (Laurie) and their children, Tyler, Ashley and Ryan; Laura (Darrin) Wood and their daughters, Brenna and Abygail. Also surviving are her three great-grandchildren, Ayden, Karter and Adalynn; brothers, Ray (Betty) Gogel and Charles Gogel; sisters, Linda (Dick) Taylor, Janice (Jack) Miles, Sandra (John) Cummings, Sue Wooder, Patty (Richie) Price and Phyllis (Karen) Gogel; brothers and sisters-in-law, Dave McDowell, Theresa Dullea, Bill (Dolores) Kelchen, Phillip (Virginia) Kelchen, Lee Kelchen, Ruth (Dick) Pasker, Charlie (Vicki) Kelchen, Steven (Kor) Kelchen; and her “special cousin”, Dianne Steffen.
Mary was preceded in death by her father and mother, Raymond and Helen; sister, Anita McDowell; father and mother-in-law, Al and Leona Kelchen and step-father Franklin Bruce; brothers-in law, Patrick Cummings, Dale Wooder, Allen Kelchen, Robert Kelchen, Larry Kelchen, Yale Mills, Bob Pauly and Alfred DeRosia; sisters-in-law, Betty DeRosia, Rita Kelchen; and many special nieces and nephews.
Memorials or donations may be directed to Hall Perrine Cancer Center, Eastern Iowa March of Dimes, Mercy Heart Center, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church or Mercy Hospice.
Mary’s final act of kindness was to share the gift of life through organ donation with the Iowa Donor Network.
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