Mary Gnade

Mary Anna (Doran) Gnade, one of five children of Frank Lahr and Inez (Dillon) Doran, was born April 30, 1917 in Springview, Nebraska. She was baptized in the Methodist church. Until she was 12 years old Mary Anna?s family alternated between Winnebago, Nebraska (the home of her grandparents Simon and Mary Doran), and Peru, Nebraska (where her grandparents John and Anna Dillon lived). They then moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where Mary Anna graduated from North High School in 1935.

After working for five years in the Real Estate Licensing/State Land Office at the State Capitol, Mary Anna was married to Raymond Gnade in March of 1941. Seven children were born to this union. In 1950 Mary Anna separated from Ray, and moved her children to live with her parents in Peru.

Mary Anna worked for Peru Lumber/Permco Company and then as secretary for Peru State College President Neal Gomon. After his retirement she served interim presidents and then worked a short time at the Bank of Peru and also for Alan Lavigne, the Stella Superintendent of Schools. Mary Anna then returned to PSC to work in the Department of Continuing Education under Mary Ruth Wilson and Bob Baker. After ?retiring? in 1990, she worked part time at Bernard Real Estate in Auburn until finally retiring at age 90.

As a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Auburn, she belonged to women?s circle there and at Bethel Community Church. She was a member of American Legion Post #23 Auxiliary, volunteered at Good Samaritan Society-Auburn, and was a regular blood donor. Her collections of books, videos, dolls, stuffed animals, clowns, angels, and cats plus a resident cat filled her small house. Mary Anna loved to travel, often taking her children and grandchildren with her.

Mary Anna was able to live at her home until just before her 95th birthday. She entered the Good Samaritan Society in March of 2012, and it was there she passed away on Monday, November 19, 2012 at the age of 95 years, 6 months, and 19 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; infant daughter Nancy; brothers Frank, Jr., Peter, Sam and his wife Leota, and Norman; 3 grandchildren; and sons-in-law Mark Falk, Dennis Lavigne, and Richard Morava.

Those left to celebrate her life are her daughters Rae Ann Falk, Jeanne Morava, and Sally Lavigne; sons Robert and wife Lois, Steve and wife Joyce, and Jim and wife Sharon; 20 grandchildren; 63 great- and great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Marian Doran and Ileane and husband Ron Douglas; brother-in-law William Gnade; and many other relatives and friends.

Memorial services were Saturday, November 24, 2012 at Hemmingsen Funeral Home in Auburn, with Rev. Carla Patterson officiating. Special pre-recorded music was played. Family inurnment of ashes will be at a later date at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery at Des Moines, Iowa.