Mary Elizabeth Muell

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Visitation will be 10:00am-11:00am Saturday, April 5, 2025, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Missouri Valley, Iowa. Funeral Mass will immediately follow at 11:00am.

The family invites everyone to a time of lunch and fellowship following Mass at the Houdek Center.

Mary Elizabeth (Schaben) Muell, 92, of Missouri Valley, IA, passed away on March 28, 2025. Mary was born on September 4, 1932, to Clarence (Bud) and Catherine (Block) Schaben. She was the eldest of 8 children. She grew up on the family farm west of Defiance, IA. At 14, her father asked her if she would drop out of school to help take care of her mother and siblings, which she willingly did. She developed her strong work ethic on that farm as a young caregiver and as a housekeeper for the mothers of newborn babies.

She married Richard J Muell on November 16, 1953, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance. To this union, 6 children were born. They made their home in Council Bluffs and Onawa before settling at their current residence in Missouri Valley.

Mary worked a few odd jobs early on before becoming a waitress at the Tamarack Steakhouse. She also worked as a meat wrapper at Safeway and for several years as a cook for Missouri Valley public schools until her retirement. She was a faithful member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. She enjoyed puzzles, embroidering, cooking and spending time with family and friends. She especially loved sports including the Cubbies when cable tv first came out, Iowa State, Creighton and Nebraska as well as taking the kids to stock car races in Harlan and her trips to Talladega for the Nascar races with Terry.

Mary loved attending athletic and other events, cheering on her kids and grandkids. She wasn’t afraid of offering her opinion to coaches and officials! She was also a music lover. Mary loved the trips she took with family, especially vacationing at Okoboji, fishing and staying in cabins there.

She loved her pets when she had them but also loved the wildlife that came to the house, such as wild turkeys, deer, squirrels and others. She enjoyed watching the birds that congregated at feeders outside.

Mary dedicated her life to caring for family, from her children to her grandchildren and even great- grandchildren. Mary loved decorating for all holidays, especially Christmas! She loved cooking for family gatherings, baking, especially Christmas cookies, and meals for the kid’s friends before ballgames. She taught us all love and generosity.

Mary is survived by her husband of 71 years, Richard Muell and children; Terry of Missouri Valley, IA; Richard C. (Joyce) of Council Bluffs, IA; Steven (Pam) of Riverton, IA; Cindy (Rod) Rattenborg of Carroll, IA; Gary (Susan) of Fairbury, NE; and David (Connie) of Urbandale, IA; Brother: Allen (Joanne) Schaben of Harlan, IA; Sister-in laws: Louann Schaben of Defiance, IA and Judy Schaben of Carroll, IA; 12 grandchildren, 21 greatgrandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews as well as a host of other family and friends.

She was proceeded in death by her parents Clarence and Catherine Schaben; her in-laws: Nicholas and Clara (Kramer) Muell; brothers: Adolph, Dennis, Warren and Donald Schaben; sisters: Marlene Christensen and Alice McCullough; step grandson: Jacob Gann and great-grandson; Alexander Hernandez.

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