Mary Delores Schachtner

Mary Delores (Fitzgerald) Schachtner, age 91, of Fonda, Iowa passed away peacefully on April 30, 2013 at the Fonda Nursing and Rehab Center in Fonda. Mary Dee was born on October 8, 1921 on a farm place North of Varina, Iowa to John P. and Catherine (Kenney) Fitzgerald. Mary Dee had two older brothers, Pat and Mike and a younger sister, Shirley. She attended the Country school for four years and then attended the Varian Parochial school where she graduated in 1940. Mary Dee babysat for many of the neighborhood children until 1942 when she and her soon-to-be sister-in-law worked at the Defense Plant in Omaha, Nebraska. On January 11, 1948, Mary Dee married Paul George Schachtner at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Fonda, Iowa. They lived first in an apartment in Fonda and farmed and then lived on several acreages before settling on their farm East of Fonda in 1950. She and Paul were blessed with three children, Leonard, Marianne and George. Besides being a devoted mother and housewife, Mary Dee worked side by side with Paul on the farm until the boys were old enough to take over. She loved to cook, sew, crochet and quilt. She enjoyed playing 500 and traveling. She and Paul traveled South to Magic Valley in Texas many years with other friends from Fonda where they would play shuffle board, cards, swim and fish. She also loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and spent many hours playing cards with them. Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Marianne Graves and husband, Darrell of Fonda, Iowa; and George Schachtner and wife, Connie of Fonda, Iowa; her daughter-in-law, Sharon Schachtner of Fort Dodge, Iowa; grandchildren: Jim (Delores) Schachtner, Sherrie Connor, Bill (Monna) Schachtner, Dan (Connie) Schachtner, Kevin Connor, Heather (Clay) Schachtner-Kramer, Brian (Kayleen) Schachtner, Lisa (Jeff) Langner; thirteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sister, Shirley Kirschbaum of Dubuque; in-laws: Ruth and Gene Madden; Walt Schachtner; Myrtle Schachtner; and Lloyd and Marian Schachtner; nieces; nephews; extended family and friends. Mary Dee was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; son, Leonard; her parents, John and Catherine; brothers, Pat and Mike; great-granddaughter, Christine Schachtner-Kramer; and other relatives and close friends.

Mary Delores Schachtner

October 8, 1921 - April 30, 2013