Mary Jean Offenburger
January 10, 2006

Mary Jean Offenburger, daughter of John Oliver and Evangeline Catherine (Mullen) Carr, was born on March 20, 1936, in the Quad Cities Area. She passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2006, at the Creighton/St. Joseph Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of 69.
Her early life was spent in the Rock Island and Carbondale, Illinois areas before the family moved to Fonda, Iowa. Mary Jean graduated from the Our Lady of Good Council High School in Fonda with the Class of 1954. Following graduation, she attended Catholic University in Washington, DC, for two years before receiving her Teaching Degree at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. Mary Jean taught school for several years, having taught the second and third grades in her career.
On June 8, 1963, Mary Jean was united in marriage with the love of her life, Dan Offenburger at the Our Lady of Good Council Church in Fonda, Iowa. Following their marriage they resided in Rolfe, Iowa before moving to Omaha, Nebraska and later to Shenandoah, Iowa. In 1980, after staying home with her kids, Mary Jean went back to work in the library of the World Herald in Omaha until she and Dan moved to Shenandoah in 1992. In Shenandoah, she worked as manager of the Spurgeon's Department Store, before going to work at the Shenandoah Library from 1994 until 2000. Mary Jean was a member of St. Leo's Catholic Church in Omaha and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shenandoah. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Interdenominational Bible Study Group, the Thursday Singing Group and a Shenandoah Historical Society volunteer. She also volunteered at the Joslyn Art Museum. Mary Jean enjoyed reading, music, history and sports.
Preceding Mary Jean in death were her parents; father and mother-in-law, Herman and Anna Offenburger; three brothers-in-law, Tom and Bill Offenburger and Bob Watson; daughter, Nancy Marie Offenburger; and husband Dan Offenburger. Survivors include her three daughters, Jeanie Long and her husband Erik and their children, Amanda and Alex of Perrysburg, Ohio; Katy Spellerberg and her husband Mike and their children Molly Loker and Evan Spellerberg of Omaha, Nebraska; Martina Walker and her children, Tommy Offenburger and Bo and Anna Walker of Falls Church, Virginia; sister, Rose Ellen Meysenburg and her husband Gene of Dallas, Texas; brothers and sisters-in-laws, nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews; and many friends.
Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, January 14, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shenandoah. Celebrants were the Rev.'s Vern Smith and Don Doll, SJ. Altar servers were Austin Feller and Lance Mattice. Lector was Bud Polk. Organist was Mary Beth Gowing. Song leaders were the members of St. Mary's Choir. Attending the memory register were Kris Meyer and Mary Whipple. Ushers were Bob Larson and Pat Emge. Honorary casket bearers were Gene Meysenburg and David Fitzgerald. Casket bearers were John Mullen, Mike Mullen, Mike Reilly, Tim Reilly, Terry Smith and Chuck Offenburger. Interment was in the Rose Hill Cemetery.

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