Mary Waterbury

Mary Waterbury, age 94, of DeBary, Florida and formerly of Odebolt and Schaller, Iowa, died Monday, August 1, 2005 in DeBary.

Memorial Services will be held Monday, August 15, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Odebolt. Burial will be in the Storm Lake Cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

There will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Charles and Mary Waterbury Endowed Scholarship at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake.

Mary Rebecca Gambach was born July 29, 1911 in Lohrville, Iowa, the daughter of David and Elsie Gambach. She graduated from Lohrville High School in 1928 and subsequently taught for several years in a one-room schoolhouse in Lohrville. At the age of 24 she enrolled in Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, and after two years obtained a teaching degree.

She was united in marriage to Charles J. Waterbury on June 5, 1938 in Storm Lake. They made their home in several northwest Iowa communities, and following their retirement, lived in DeBary, Florida.

Mary served 32 years as a second grade teacher in various schools in northwest Iowa. In 1961 she received her four-year degree from Buena Vista College.

Mary’s many interests included singing, sewing and antiques. She sang for over sixty years in school and church choirs and only recently retired from the Emmaus Lutheran Church Choir. Mary was a member of various church organizations in Iowa and Florida. Recently she enjoyed helping make quilts for charity with the Hearts and Hans Club at Emmaus Lutheran.

She was especially proud of the many quilted items she made over the years for her family. Mary helped organize the Questers Club while living in Odebolt, and she always retained her love of antiques. Together, she and Chuck restored over 90 antique trunks for friends and family.

Survivors include son Richard (Diana) Waterbury of Pequot Lakes, Minnesota; three daughters: Carol (Orris) Rollie of DeBary, Florida, Janet (Gene) Pauley of Umatilla, Florida and Mary Beth (Mike) Brandenburg of Mankato, Minnesota; 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers, Ralph Gambach of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and Arthur Gambach of Bloomington, Illinois, and her sister, Dorothy Mae Somers of Redlands, California.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, and son-in-law, Mark Mason.