64277_Mary Elaine_Stark
Mary Elaine Stark Greene: Funeral services for Mary E. Stark will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, August 9, 2014, at the First Presbyterian Church in Greene with Pastor John Bates officiating. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Greene. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Friday, August 8, 2014, at Retz Funeral Home, 519 N. First St. Greene.
Mary Elaine Husen was born March 10, 1929 in Council Bluffs, Iowa to James and Esther (Masters) Husen. She passed away on Monday, August 4, 2014 at Liebe Care Center in Greene, Iowa. Mary’s family moved to Denver, Colorado, and then to Harrison, Arkansas, where she graduated from the eighth grade at the Alpena Public School, Boone County, Arkansas, in 1943. Shortly after, her family moved back to Denver. In 1945, Mary was initiated into the Order of Job’s Daughters, Bethel No. 7 of Denver. Mary attended South High School in Denver and was employed at Montgomery Ward Farm Store as a clerk. After her mother passed away at the end of her sophomore year, she left school to work full time in the mail order department of Montgomery Ward. She later attended night school in Denver and earned her High School Equivalency Diploma.
Mary worked as a key punch operator and receptionist in the divisional office of Lerners Shop in Denver. She accepted a position in the check clearance department of the Federal Reserve Bank in Denver, running I.B.M. machines. At the request of a previous employer, she began working at Red Comet Fire Extinguisher Company in Littleton, Colorado, operating I.B.M. machines. She moved with her father to Council Bluffs, Iowa and began working at World Insurance Company of Omaha, Nebraska, as an I.B.M. machine operator.
While in Council Bluffs, Mary was an avid roller skater and attended the Congregational Church where she met Harold Stark. They were married February 5, 1956, in Council Bluffs and began their married life in Emmetsburg, Iowa. While there, two sons were added to the family: Steven in 1956 and Douglas in 1958. The family then moved to Rodman, Iowa before settling in Packard, Iowa. Mary worked for a time as the bookkeeper at Packard Elevator. Harold and Mary were happily married for 58 years.
Mary was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Greene. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy. Mary enjoyed painting and drawing. Her artwork was displayed in her home and created for family. She was an exhibitor at the Big 4 Fair in Nashua, frequently receiving ribbons for her work. She also enjoyed crafting, crocheting, doing needlework, and making jewelry and often gave her finished work to family and friends. Reading and growing flowers and plants were some of her favorite pastimes. She had a special place in her heart for animals and was especially fond of a family pet Boxer named Musty. Mary loved shopping with friends, enjoyed conversation over lunch, and loved to win big at the casino.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; her parents and father and mother-in-law; one brother, Earl Husen; two brothers-in-law, Howard Gebow and Kenneth Stark; one sister-in-law, Mary Stark and one nephew.
Mary is survived by her sons, Steven (Ann) Stark, Greene and Douglas (Sara) Stark, Greene; one sister, Bonny Gebow, Colorado Springs, CO; four grandchildren, Amy (Luke) Johnson, Story City, IA, Emily (Will) Schuldt, Waverly, IA; Nathan Stark, Iowa City, IA; Collin Stark, Conrad, IA; one great-grandson, Leo Johnson; one step-great-grandson, Landon Johnson; one brother-in-law Dean (Helen) Stark, Riceville; and many nieces and nephews.