Mary Vavroch

n Lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Wahrenbrock-Vavroch Scholarship, South Hamilton Foundation, or a youth charity of your choice.

Mary Vavroch, 78 of Jewell, Iowa, died on Sunday, May 26, 2024, at the Israel Family Hospice Home in Ames, Iowa.  Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 9:30-10:45 AM at First Congregational United Church of Christ, in Webster City, followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 AM.  The family has chosen Boman Funeral Home (www.bomanfh.com) to care for their needs.

Mary was born on January 4, 1946, in Ames, Iowa to Earl and Lucille (Gifford) Wahrenbrock.  She was a lifelong learner and an avid reader. She attended South Hamilton High School, ISU and Iowa. She earned her BS and MS in Nursing from Iowa.  As a nurse, she worked as a registered nurse, as a pediatric nurse practitioner, and as a nursing instructor at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids.  She then went on to get her Law Degree and worked as an attorney in the public sector for the City of Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Polk County, and as an Assistant Attorney General for Iowa.  

While attending the University of Iowa, she met Duane Vavroch and they were married on June 14, 1969.  Over the years the couple lived in Iowa City, Sacramento, North Liberty, Cedar Rapids, West Des Moines, and on the family farm in Jewell.  

Mary was active in her community. She volunteered her time by doing sign ups for SHIIP, serving as an election judge, helping with IPR and IPTV fund raisers, and serving on various church boards. Mary was a part of her church’s women’s fellowship, PEO, Questers, book clubs and wood-working club. She was supportive of the youth in her area, helping and donating to 4-H, FFA, South Hamilton Schools and the Wahrenbrock-Vavroch Scholarship.  

In addition to careers and volunteering, Mary was a very creative person.  She enjoyed woodworking and made many Christmas decorations, a rocking horse, doll furniture, and a train bed for the grandkids, as well as collecting and refinishing antiques.  She was a talented quilter, having made many quilts for the family.  Mary loved music. In high school she played flute and was in choir. She and another student co-wrote the lyrics for the South Hamilton Schools fight song.  She continued to sing by participating in church choirs. 

In her free time Mary enjoyed cards, puzzles, and games, playing card games and Rummikub with the grandkids. She also enjoyed cooking her favorite  desserts like Bavarian mint pie, snickerdoodles, and cheesecakes.  Mary liked the outdoors, swimming, camping, backpacking trips, and boat rides at the family cabin. Mary had a love of animals and especially her dogs.  

Her family who she loved deeply includes:  her husband Duane; daughters:  Stephanie (James) Kuphal and Dana (Mark) Niemann; grandchildren:  Mackenzie (Dane) O’Dell, Mark Kuphal, Madeline Kuphal, and Caleb Niemann; and her brother James (Kathy) Wahrenbrock.  She was preceded in death by her parents.