Mary (McDaniel) Hanks

     Mary (McDaniel) Hanks, age 90, of Missouri Valley, Iowa died Saturday, December 18, 2021 at the Longview Home in Missouri Valley. Mary was born the daughter of William and Mary (Chromy) McDaniel at home in Morse Bluff Township, Saunders County, NE on October 22, 1931. She spent most of her childhood living in western Iowa. Mary graduated from Ute High School in 1949 and was proud to go to all of her high school reunions in later years. Mary met James S. Hanks at the skating rink in Ute, Iowa in 1947. They dated for three years. During their courtship, they went to movies, dancing and to football games. On February 25, 1950, Mary married James S. Hanks at the St. Paul Lutheran Church parsonage at Ute, Iowa. To this union, three daughters were born: Susan, Patricia and Jane. Mary and Jim celebrated 60 years of marriage before Jim’s death on October 19, 2010.

Mary spent most of her life as a devoted at-home wife and mother. She spent a few years in the 1960s working as a paraprofessional for the West Harrison School District. She began working as a certified nurse’s aide at the Longview Home in Missouri Valley in 1985 until her retirement in 1998. Mary thoroughly enjoyed her work at Longview and took great pride in never being late to work in her 13 years there. Mary moved to Culavin Heights in Missouri Valley in 2011 after Jim’s death and quickly became an active part of the social life there—enthusiastically attending events and making friends with many of the other residents. She also enjoyed hosting her family’s annual Christmas luncheon in the dayroom area there. She moved to the Longview Home in February 2020.

Mary’s greatest joy in life was her family—her husband, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking for her family—fried chicken and mashed potatoes & gravy among the “family favorites”. She loved visits and phone calls from her family to keep up with their lives. She was loving and generous—always wanting to help others. Mary survived both breast cancer and kidney cancer in her later years. True to her nature, she never complained or gave in to self-pity. When she was baptized into the Lutheran faith as a young woman, the Bible passage she used was, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”. Mary lived these words her entire life and had no fear of death. She was a member of First Lutheran Church (LCMS) of Missouri Valley.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Jim; daughters Susan Baak, Patricia King, and Jane Johnson Hinkel; sons-in-law Dale Baak and Rodney Johnson; brothers William (Bill) and Ed McDaniel; and sisters Katie McIntosh and Margaret Baldwin.

Mary is survived by her grandchildren: Lisa Steffen of Ute, Iowa; Eric Johnson (Dr. Mark Parker) of Dallas, Texas; Ryan (Keri) King of Mondamin, Iowa; Scott (Mia) Johnson of San Bernardino, California; Kyle (Erin) King of Wentzville, Missouri; and Reagan (Ben) Barry of Carlisle, Iowa. She is also survived by her sister, Adeline Furne of Missouri Valley, Iowa; sons-in-law Roger Johnson of Ute, Iowa; Larry (Donna) King of Missouri Valley, Iowa; and Stan Hinkel of Castana, Iowa; as well as 16 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Monday from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Missouri Valley, Iowa.

In Loving Memory Of Mary (McDaniel) Hanks

Born October 22, 1931 Morse Bluff, Nebraska

Entered Into Rest December 18, 2021 Missouri Valley, Iowa Funeral Service

10:30 a.m. Monday, December 27, 2021

First Lutheran Church Missouri Valley, Iowa

Officiating Pastor Joseph Hanson

Organist Ben McIntosh

Congregational Selections

“Amazing Grace” “What a friend we have in Jesus”

“I’m but a Stranger Here”

Honorary Casket Bearers

Emily Steffen Selah Johnson

Abby Barry Addyson King

Quinn Barry Aiden King

Sullivan Barry Claire Barry

Casket Bearers

Marcus Steffen Jonathon Steffen

Keaton King Logan King

Mason King Jackson Barry

Noah King Seth Johnson

Final Resting Place Little Sioux Cemetery Little Sioux, Iowa

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