BRONSON, Iowa | MaryAnn Haafke, 87, of Brandon, S.D., formerly of Bronson, passed away Friday, June 29, 2012, at Touchstone Living Center in Sioux City.
Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Elliott Creek Presbyterian Church in Bronson. Burial will be at a later date. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home in Sioux City.
MaryAnn was born on May 20, 1925, in Sioux City, to Lloyd and Helen (Hagan) Oertel. As a young child, the family moved to California. She was moved back to Bronson in 1934 at the age of 9 to live with her grandparents. She attended school in Bronson and graduated in 1943 from Bronson High School.
MaryAnn married Walter "Bud" Haafke on Nov. 3, 1945. He passed away on Aug. 16, 2009. MaryAnn was a farm wife until the last child went to school. She then worked at Lawton-Bronson School from 1970 to 1990, when she retired. She was a resident of the Bronson area until November 2001, when she moved to Brandon, S.D. She returned to the Siouxland area in February 2012.
She was a member of Elliott Creek Presbyterian Church. She was involved in the Ladies Aid, was a Sunday school teacher, taught Bible school, provided communion to the homebound and assisted with the county fair booth. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, gardening, sewing, canning, family gatherings, shopping and spending time with her grandchildren. Her family and friends will remember her as being a truly caring and compassionate individual.
She is survived by four daughters, Kathy and Dr. Earl Kemp of Brandon, Kristine and Craig McNaughton of Lawton, Iowa, Jane and Ron Palumbo of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Edyanne Haafke of Sioux Falls; a son, John and Doris Haafke of Bronson; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; and her parents.