Mary Ann Frueh

Mary Ann Frueh died at Knoxville Hospital on January 4, 2023.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Knoxville from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. A funeral mass will take place at 11:00 A.M. at the church. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville.
Memorials may be given in Mary’s memory to the Marion County Humane Society, Knoxville Senior Center, or St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.
Mary was the third of six children of Louis Lawrence and Iola Jean (Rumley) Frueh of Knoxville. Mary was born three months prematurely at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. She spent the first three months of her life in the neo-natal unit of the University Hospital. She lived the rest of her life in Knoxville.
Mary attended Saint Anthony Catholic grade school, Knoxville Junior High School, and she graduated from Knoxville High School in 1974. Mary was a devoted and life-long member of St. Anthony Catholic church. She contributed generously to overseas mission funds and funds for children throughout her life.
Mary worked at Pella Rolscreen from 1976 until 2006.
Mary was devoted to her family. After she left Rolscreen, she helped care for her mother, especially in the latter years of her mother’s life. At various times, she also provided pre- and after-school care for her nieces Lisa and Jessica.
Mary volunteered for a number of years at the Knoxville Senior Center, where her sisters Martha and Marsha worked. She helped in the kitchen, helped to serve lunch, and helped to clean. She was well-known among the staff and guests at the Center.
Mary was skilled at crafts of all sorts; among other things, she drew, colored, and crocheted. She loved collecting: painted clocks, signs, bird cages. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, Soduku, and word games.
Mary loved animals, especially dogs and cats. She had several dogs and cats throughout her life and was devoted to their care.
In September of 2021, Mary was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer which had spread to her lungs. She underwent aggressive treatment with chemo- and immunotherapy, but nonetheless continued to volunteer, as her illness allowed, at the Center.
Mary died of complications of the cancer.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Iola.
Mary is survived by her brother Edward of Pella, and four sisters, Margaret Bales (Rusty) of Darlington, Wisconsin, Marie Jones (Tom) of Knoxville and Fort Worth, Texas. Martha Dykstra (John Kurimski) and Marsha Frueh all of Knoxville. As well as her special friends, Mary Horan and Charlie Jordan. She is also survived by her three nieces (Valarie, Lisa, and Jessica) and one nephew (Nicholas) as well as two grand-nieces and five grand-nephews.