Mary Ann Culbert
February 8, 1940 ~ September 4, 2024
Mary Ann Walsh Culbert formerly of Charles City, Iowa and Rochester, Illinois passed away September 4, 2024 in Green Bay Wisconsin after four months of hospice care due to complications of Parkinson’s disease at the home of her daughter where she had been living since November.
Mary was born February 8, 1940 in Waverly, Iowa to Clark Franklin Walsh and Mary (Avis) Lawrie Walsh of Charles City, Iowa and formerly of Nashua, Iowa.
Mary is survived by her nine siblings. Michael (Anastasia) Walsh of Des Moines, IA, Joan Ochs, Coralville, IA, Bill (Cathy) Walsh, Scottsdale, AZ, Kathleen (Jerry) Bill, Charles City, IA. Margaret Walsh , Des Moines, IA, Rosemary (Don) Hildebrand, Gladwyne, PA, Pat (Nancy) Walsh, Wayzata, MN, Dr. Dennis Walsh, New Hampton, IA, and David (Angie) Walsh, Bogart, GA.
Mary was married August 22, 1959 to Allan B. Culbert at Immaculate Conception Church, Charles City, IA and divorced in 1989.
Mary is survived by her five children and eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren: James (Alice) Culbert of Des Moines, IA, Thomas Culbert and his son (Zaxxaz), Jacquelyn Eckholm, Victor Ndungu. Dr. Kevin (Jo Anne) Culbert, Hamilton, VA, and children Garrett Culbert and Leah Culbert; Gregory (Tracy) Culbert, Wildwood, FL, and children Tim (Sophia) Culbert and Gracy Culbert; Anne Marie Culbert, Alexandria, VA and Teresa (Matt) Sindlinger, Green Bay, WI, and children Jessica (Dave) Byman, Taylor (Kenna) Sturdy and their children Hollyn, Logan & Hallie; Connor (Grace Kennedy) and their son Stetson Sturdy; Jack Sindlinger and Jakob Sindlinger as well as her former husband, Allan Culbert, Nokomis, FL.
Mary is also survived by 20 nieces and nephews: Tony Bill, Sheryl (Walsh) Schwager, Cindi Ochs, Maryann (Bill) Kuethe, Jerry Bill Jr, Brian Walsh, Dr. Michelle (Ochs) Kinney, Steven Walsh, Rodney Bill, Steven Bill, Dan Ochs, Veronica (Walsh) O’Hagen, Anneliese (Walsh) Sarsen, Jason Walsh, Francis Walsh, Ryan Walsh, Meghan (Hildebrand) Fotolopoulos, Kelly (Walsh) Van Avermaete, Martin Hildebrand and her goddaughter Kate (Walsh) Malsbary. And first cousins Michael Brumley and James Brumley.
Mary was proceeded in death by her parents Avis and Clark Walsh, maternal grandparents Rose (Leary) and Harry Lawrie, and paternal grandparents Martha (Boerschel) and Jerome Walsh, as well as her aunt and uncles Margaret (Eugene) Brumley, Dale (Dorothy) Walsh, Baby James Lawrie (uncle), brother-in-law Don Ochs and first cousin Patricia (Brumley) Cilluffo.
Mary was fortunate to grow up in a nurturing environment with both sets of grandparents living in the small town of Nashua. At the age of 12 Mary and family moved to Charles City to be closer to Walsh Manufacturing Company the flourishing company her father started in Nashua. The fondest memories as a child were rollerskating in Nashua and being in Girl Scouts. She was exceptionally close to her grandmother Rose (Rosie) living only six blocks away from her home in Nashua and often staying the night.
Mary attended Catholic school graduating from Immaculate Conception High School in Charles City in May 1958. Mary was Junior Class President, Senior Student Council Treasurer, Choir member, National Honor Society and participated in class plays all four years. Mary was recognized for her Daily Mass attendance all four years, this helping set the foundation for her lifelong Catholic faith. As a young mother, Mary worked at McFarland Clinic in Ames, IA, while her husband attended Iowa State University. Mary later pursued a career in nursing attending NIACC in Mason City, IA. Later while living in Charles City Mary volunteered assisting the activities coordinator at the Chautauqua Nursing Home.
While living in Charles City, Mary was a member of Immaculate Conception Church and an active member of the IC church circles. While living in Illinois she was a member of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Springfield, IL. Mary was dedicated to Catholic ministry through devotionals and attending family retreats. In later years she found an extension to her faith along with daily prayer and her favorite EWTN programming. Mary’s faith and love of prayer was sustained in the last months of her life with daily prayers with her daughter Anne via smart technology whether by FaceTime or Amazon Echo. Always ending the prayers with The Hail Mary and her favorite Apostles Creed.
Devoted to her family and her children, Mary enjoyed family vacations often by camper visiting many National parks, as well as a month long family trip to Europe when the children were young. Mary enjoyed traveling to visit her children and grandchildren going on vacations whether it be to Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Virginia, Utah or Nova Scotia. Mary had the wonderful opportunity to attend the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games as her son was working with the medical team.
Mary’s children often said that she “grew up”with them and enjoyed listening to their music with some of her favorites being the Bee Gee’s and the Doobie Brothers. She enjoyed joining in on their activities, whether it be attending a Jackson Browne concert or driving the support vehicle on RAGBRAI (the week long bike ride across Iowa) and later completed rides in 1986-87.
In 1988, Mary moved to Rochester, Illinois, to be near her daughter, Teresa. Mary worked at the Rochester Veterinary Clinic with her daughter. Living in Rochester gave Mary the opportunity to help in raising her three grand children from birth while enjoying the small rural life in the Land of Lincoln. Mary found joy in the little things…helping take her granddaughter to the horse barn or grandsons to their 4-H or many sports activities giving selflessly of her time. Mary kept a meticulous home and spent hours tending to her lawn and plantings always on the lookout for her favorite cardinal.
Mary will be remembered as someone devoted to her family and her Catholic faith. Her family will have the reminder and memories of her beautiful cursive handwriting on the backs of countless photographs, documenting dates, birthdates and locations. It’s those details and moments that mattered to her. Those characteristics mirrored her interest in the small details in the lives of others helping foster relationships. She was never one to forget a birthday or anniversary always sending her love and prayers. She was looking forward to seeing pictures of her oldest granddaughter’s wedding but was called to Heaven ten days prior. In the past year she found hours of enjoyment viewing her families activities and reminiscing with thousands of family photos on her Aura frame.
The family is grateful for the devoted care provided by her daughter Teresa while living in Charles City and Green Bay. And the most recent care by Unity Hospice in Green Bay with their caring nurses, CNA’s and social and pastoral care given. Mary had a special fondness for her CNA Kelly Thompson who would welcome her with a “hello sunshine” greeting and would play Pasty Cline or Enya music during bi-weekly visits. Mary had been taken under the wing of local Saint Agnes Catholic Parish in Green Bay receiving pastoral care from Fr. Patrick Beno, Fr. Quinn Mann and Eucharistic ministers. We take great comfort from Father Quinn during her third and last Annointing of the Sick proclaiming, “ Mary, you have all bases covered!” We can only imagine from that joyful declaration that God did meet Mary in Heaven with open arms.
Funeral services are private for immediate family with a prayer vigil at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in Nashua, Iowa on Friday evening, September 20th. Private Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, September 21st at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Nashua, IA with graveside burial service at Calvary Cemetery (Saint Jude section) Charles City, IA. A special thank you to the Funeral Ministry at IC Catholic Church in Charles City for providing the hospitality after her burial service.
In lieu of flowers the family requests any donations be made in Mary’s honor to either the Society of the Little Flower or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Society of the Little Flower
1313 N. Frontage Road
Darien, IL 60561
https://www.littleflower.org/product/donation/
The Michael J. Fox foundation for Parkinson’s Research
Grand Central Station P.O. Box 4777
New York, NY 10163 US
To the Culbert and Walsh Families,
We are so sorry to hear of your lost.
Our thoughts and prayers are with your families.
Rich and Ann Finch
John and I send our condolences for Mary. John and Mary were classmates at IC school and graduated in 1958. May God richly bless all her family. With prayers, John and Virginia Ruzicka.
My condolences to the Walsh family and to Mary Ann’s family. We were neighbors in Charles City and Mary Ann was my classmate at IC school. I remember many good times in high school with the Walsh family.
Dear Anne— I am so sorry to hear this news. Please accept my deepest condolences on the loss of your mom. I know what an influence your mom had on your life. May God bring you His peace, comfort and love 💕 and lots of hugs from family and friends. It is hard losing our moms…
With love,
Michelle 🥰🙏