Mary Jane (Jakoubek) Gaffey, 79, of Charles City, passed away Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at the Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City.
A funeral Mass for Mary Jane will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 21, 2023 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City with Reverend Tom Heathershaw officiating. Inurnment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Charles City.
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home with a Scripture Service beginning at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour before the service at the church on Thursday.
Mary Jane was born February 12, 1944 to Frank (Doc) and Louise Hayes. She grew up in Garner, Iowa, enjoying her close neighborhood friends, summers with family in Clear Lake, and acting as a second mother to her much younger sister, Sue.
After graduating from Garner-Hayfield High School in 1962, she attended the University of Iowa. Home for her first Christmas break, she attended a party with one of her high school classmates, which would mark the beginning of what would become Mary Jane’s true calling in life as a loving and devoted wife.
Mary Jane married Bob Jakoubek on July 17, 1965. They made their home in Iowa City while Bob finished college and dental school. During this time, Mary Jane worked for Dr. Kinsley as a dental assistant until Amy and Kris arrived. Mary Jane and Bob moved to Charles City in 1973. Mary Jane kept busy supporting Bob’s practice as bookkeeper, tending a large garden, canning, sewing, and doing all kinds of needlework.
It’s no secret Mary Jane had a passion for fashion. She had an affinity for making anything and everything fancy and fun. She was a dog lover and – being great judges of character – every dog she encountered adored her in return. Bob and Mary Jane enjoyed spending time with and entertaining their many friends and spoiling their granddaughters. When Bob was diagnosed with brain cancer, Mary Jane was a courageous and strong caretaker until his passing in 2002.
An old friend of Mary Jane’s asked if she would be willing to reach out to a friend of theirs who had recently lost his wife; and in reaching out to him, she had the good fortune of meeting the second love of her life, Tom Gaffey. Mary Jane and Tom were married on April 20, 2007. Mary Jane and Tom enjoyed winters in Florida, rides in Tom’s Corvette (they shared a mutual love of cars), traveling, and hosting their annual Halloween costume party.
Mary Jane gave back to her community as a member of City Improvement and served on the Hospice board, Pastoral Council for Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, and NIACC Concert Series Board.
She is survived by her husband, Tom Gaffey; Daughters: Amy (Bob) Kloberdanz and Kris (Pam) Jakoubek; Granddaughters: Ellie (Matt) Kloberdanz and Kate Kloberdanz; Sister, Sue (Jim) Bowman; Sisters-in-law: Gert (Leo) Wellik and Mag (Paul) Young; Tom’s daughters: Dana (Marty) Wood and Daneen (Chuck) Van Hyning and their children, Loren and Nolan Wood and Eden and Ella Van Hyning; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be directed to St. Croix Hospice, PAWS, or Immaculate Conception Catholic School.
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