September 16, 1936 – December 10, 2025
Mary “Jeanne” Mauer, age 89, of Riceville, Iowa passed away on December 10, 2025, surrounded by her family at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage, Iowa.
Mary Jeanne Mauer was born into the large family of Fred and Winifred (Gilles) Hemann on September 16, 1936, in rural Stacyville, Iowa. She attended school in the Stacyville area.
On August 29, 1953, she married the love of her life, Dean Robert Mauer, at the Visitation Catholic Church in Stacyville. Together the couple raised six children.
Jeanne’s main job was raising her family and taking care of the home. Her working career included both childcare and in home adult care to individuals in the area. She also worked for Pierce’s Telephone equipment assembling and refurbishing telephones.
Jeanne loved the outdoors; especially fishing and bird watching. In the evening, you could find Jeanne outside with her pail collecting night crawlers for her next fishing trip. She enjoyed playing cards, Bingo, and trips to the Casino. These trips would often include renting rooms and spending the night with her daughters. They had so much fun together; laughing, shopping, going out to eat and planning their next overnight trip.
Family was the center of Jeanne’s world. She loved being surrounded by her children and grandchildren. The love and laughter brightened her days. She enjoyed having frequent sleepovers with her grandchildren and gathering her family for weekly Sunday dinners. Her presence brought warmth and meaning to the lives of many.
Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Vivian (Larry) Goodbrand of Riceville, Dennis (Barb) Mauer of Riceville, Dave (Rosa) Mauer of Coralville, Karen (Mike) Hughes of New Hampton and Ann (Greg) Kulow of Hampton; 14 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren with one waiting to join the family any day now; a sister Janet Wilson of Osage, two sister in-laws along with several nieces and nephews.
Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dean (2016), daughter Vicki (Dave “Gabby”) Howland, two infant children, two great-grandchildren and siblings.
A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Riceville, Iowa. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday morning. Inurnment will take place next spring at Calvary Cemetery in Riceville. Schmelzer Funeral Home (formerly Lindstrom) in Riceville is taking care of arrangements.
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