Mary C. Dittmer

A Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Dittmer, of Lacona, will be held Monday, October 30^th at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lacona. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Family will receive friends on Sunday, October 29th, from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m., at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Lacona with a Rosary Service at 1:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Altar & Rosary Society, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lacona, or the Lacona Fire Department.

Mary Catherine Hoch was born May 24, 1933, to Norbert and Josephine (Metz) Hoch in Bauer, Iowa. She attended Bauer Country School through the eighth grade.

On December 20, 1950, Mary was united in marriage to Joseph “Joe” Dittmer at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bauer, Iowa. To this union, eleven children were born: Leon, Jake, Sam, Tony, Sue, Roger, Richard, Sally, Joseph, Gregory, and Lisa.

Mary was a homemaker and a farm wife. She was Joe’s personal secretary when it came to the farm. Mary took care of all the paperwork for their Hampshire hogs and Hereford cattle. She kept an impressive garden and stocked their freezer and shelves with frozen and canned fruits and vegetables every year. Mary also had a beautiful flower garden and was especially fond of her roses.

Mary was a wonderful cook and baker. She enjoyed spending time in the kitchen and was famous for her homemade pies. Mary worked at Rudy’s Rendezvous for twenty-seven years as a hostess and cook. She made countless pies while working at Rudy’s.

Mary was very active in both her church and community. She was a member of St. Mary’s Altar & Rosary Society, a catechism teacher for thirty-seven years, and she loved decorating the altars with fresh flowers. Mary volunteered at the Lacona Community Center, helped locally with Meals on Wheels, and often donated her pies for various events and fundraisers.

When Mary wasn’t working or volunteering her time, she enjoyed embroidering quilt tops and crocheting, putting puzzles together, bowling, playing Solo with family and friends, and bird watching. Mary also loved to travel. She enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and had taken memorable trips to Europe, Canada, and Mexico. Above all else, Mary loved spending time with her family and friends. She looked forward to every family gathering.

Mary passed away on October 26, 2023. She will be greatly missed by her children: Jake (Kathleen) Dittmer, Sam Dittmer, Tony Dittmer, Sue (Bonnie Hodson) Dittmer, Roger (Theresa) Dittmer, Richard (Jo Carroll) Dittmer, Sally (John) Kennedy, Gregory (Shelly) Dittmer, and Lisa (John Schnathorst) Dittmer; 20 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; 4 great, great grandchildren; siblings: Andy Hoch, Ron Hoch, and Ed (Linda) Hoch; sisters-in-law: Pat Hoch, Nina Hoch, and Lois Hoch; along with many relatives and friends. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joseph “Joe” Dittmer; sons, Leon Dittmer and Joseph Dittmer; siblings: Irma Schaefer, Leo Hoch, Joe Hoch, Glen Hoch, Ruth Amos, and Denny Hoch; and grandson, Dustin Dittmer.