Mary Catherine Droessler was born June 21, 1948 in Bancroft, Iowa. She was the youngest of six children born to Frank & Agnes (Illg) Droessler. Mary graduated from St. John’s High School in Bancroft in 1966. After high school she attended Hamilton Business College in Mason City.
On February 26th, 1971, Mary Catherine was united in marriage to Lyle Robert Mabus at St. John’s Catholic Church, Bancroft. Some will remember the snowstorm that evening that stranded the bride and groom and many guests overnight at Bancroft’s North Kossuth Golf Club! Together they raised livestock and farmed the Mabus Family Farm west of Lakota. Brenda Jean was born March 5, 1973, and William Joseph was born May 8, 1974. Lyle and Mary moved to town in 1998. They were married 52 years at the time of Mary’s passing on July 24, 2023, at the age of 75 years.
On the farm, Mary was the quintessential hard working sun up to sundown farm wife and homemaker, maintaining large gardens, cooking, baking, canning, and sewing. She worked in the hog buildings, ran for parts and ran meals out to the field. She was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lakota, serving many years as the church secretary and Sunday School Superintendent up until the time of her death. After moving to town she cooked for a time at Miller Time bar and grill in Lakota. She also worked for several years as the Lakota news reporter to the Bancroft and Buffalo Center newspapers.
She is survived by her husband, Lyle, her two children, Brenda (Mark) Schilling of Ankeny and Bill (Julie) Mabus of Lakota; grandchildren, Mitch (Caroline) Schilling, Chelsey (Luke) Huber, Desiree Jorgensen, Dustin Jorgensen, and great-grandchildren, Raegan Huber, Bennett Huber, and Amelia Jorgensen; brother Robert Droessler; mother-in-law Joan Mabus; brothers-in-law Bob Blocker and Cecil Mabus; sisters-in-law Julie Droessler and Marita Cook; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Agnes Droessler; her sisters, Alice Droessler and Rita Blocker; her brothers Ed Droessler and Richard Droessler; and father-in-law, Glenn Mabus.
Memorials in memory of Mary may be directed to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Lakota.
Online condolences may be made to www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com.
