Mary Jo Wolfe

Mary Jo Wolfe, 67, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at her home with family by her side and in her heart and thoughts. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, where the family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Dunkard Cemetery in Midway, Iowa.

Mary was born on September 10, 1957, in York, Nebraska, the daughter of Herbert and Bessie (Grigsby) Ackerman. Raised by her loving stepfather, Clarence Brahmstead, following her father’s passing. When she was a teenager, she moved to Iowa to help take care of her nephew, Christopher. This is where she met her husband, Bruce Wilcox Sr., and had three beautiful children. After Bruce Sr.’s passing, she married Doug Wolfe, and they raised her three beautiful children together. She always made sure her family came first and was taken care of. After high school, Mary worked at KFC in Marion, later moving onto P&P as the Service Manager in Marion, with her daughter, sister, and nephew. After the closure of P&P, she attended Kirkwood’s Truck Driving Academy, where she finished best in her class. Despite being a rockstar behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler, Mary opted to finish her career at the Marion Walmart in the Deli, before her eventual retirement in 2015. Mary will be missed by all who knew and love her, including her fur-baby Sammy, who she was always desperately needing to get home too.

Mary the animal lover, always wanting to spend time with her cats, dogs, and horses, and made sure that everyone else knew it. Mary distinctly recalled the days when Kheara, her horse, would protect her grandson, Josh, and make sure that no other horses came near. Mary and Kheara developed a one-of-a-kind relationship over the years, no one else could do what Mary could do with her; especially riding her because all Kheara had to do was flinch her back. Kheara had Mary wrapped around her hoof. She had a heart of gold and always wore her heart on her sleeve. Mary enjoyed spending time with all her family including all her four-legged fur-babies and she had a special kind of bond with those around her. She enjoyed her phone calls from everyone, including her brother, Junior and sister, Helen, and visits from everyone. From joking about the son-in-law tax and being called trouble by Andy to haunting her loved ones, Mary never let her sense of humor waiver. She would want us all to love and remember her for all the good times and show each other love and support. Mary and us alike will all have fond memories that will always be with us because she was a great and wonderful Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, Wife, and Friend. She loves all of us as we love her, in the end, she reconnected with someone from a long time ago and cherished that time as well.

Mary is survived and lovingly remembered by her Fur-Baby Sammy; three children, Janet (Andrew) Butterfield of Cedar Rapids, Bruce Wilcox Jr. of Marion, Fred (Janelle) Wilcox of Western, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Josh (Jess) Wilcox, Ashlyn (Gage) McMurrin, Alexis, Thomas, Bradley, Zack, Timothy and Wesley Wilcox; six great-grandchildren, Charlotte: love you to the moon and back, Madison, Ayden, Silas, Jaxon, and Kyrie; siblings, Helen Barnard, Junior Ackerman, Frances Cunningham and Bumpy (Clarence) Brahmstead Jr.

She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Clarence; former spouse, Bruce Wilcox, Sr.; brothers, Virgil, Lonnie, Jerome, Earl, and an Angel she never met.

Lastly, Mary would want you to always remember to treat everyone how you want to be treated and live life to the fullest.

Memorials in Mary’s memory: In lieu of flowers please send donations.