Mary Hauer
September 8, 1924 ~ October 11, 2014
Mary Hauer, 90, of West Union, formerly of St. Lucas, died Saturday, October 11, 2014 at the Palmer Hospital in West Union.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 14, 2014, at St. Lukes Catholic Church in St. Lucas with Rev. Joe Hauer celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in the church cemetery with Matt Hauer, Brady Moss, Dave Moss, John Maher, Jim Moss and Tom Sloan serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Roger Bulgren, Jack Riley and John Woods.
Friends may greet the family 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Monday, October 13, 2014, at the Historic St. Luke’s Chapel where there will be a 4:00 p.m. rosary. Visitation continues beginning at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the chapel.
Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home of New Hampton is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com.
Mary Hauer was born on September 8, 1924 on the family farm near Waucoma, IA, the oldest daughter of Leo and Fidellis (Woods) Sloan. She graduated from Waucoma Public High School in 1941 and attended Upper Iowa University where she received her teaching degree in 1943. She taught third and fourth grades in Garrison, IA. and in Decorah, IA, for five years. On November 3, 1948 Mary Sloan and Edmund Hauer were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waucoma. They lived in St. Lucas where they raised three girls and two boys and were members of St. Luke's Church. Mary was also active in the American Legion Auxiliary, the Catholic Daughters of America and the Catholic Order of Foresters. In 1966 after updating her teaching certificate at Upper Iowa University, she returned to the teaching profession she loved. She taught kindergarten at Turkey Valley Community School first in Fort Atkinson and then in Jackson Junction for the next 20 years. She retired in 1986 and continued to enjoy traveling with her husband, visiting children and grandchildren, baking, canning, cooking and entertaining. In 1994 she was one of five community members who received the Governor's Volunteer Award. In 2006, a year after her husband died, she moved to Kensington Place, an assisted living facility in New Hampton IA, where she enjoyed playing cards and socializing. She moved to Traditions in West Union in 2010.
Mary is survived by children, Peg (John) Maher of Kansas City, John (Tina) Hauer of San Diego, Joyce (Jim) Moss of Lansing, Paul (Lynn) Hauer of Jewell, IA, Donna Hauer of Minneapolis; six grandchildren, five great grandchildren, brothers and sisters, Jack (Maggie) Sloan, David (Bernie) Sloan, Geri Bodensteiner, Ruth (John) Neuzil, Jane (Leo) Huber and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and a brother, Alan Sloan.
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To the Family of Mary Hauer I want to express my sympathy to the family of Mary Sloan Hauer. She was my beloved third and fourth grade teacher at the West Side School in Decorah, Iowa from 1946 to 1948. I was always happy in Miss Sloan’s classroom and can still feel her warmth and see her beautiful smiling face. Once when my mother Iduna (Mrs. H. P. Field) had to be away for some reason I spent the weekend at Miss Sloan’s family farm in Waucoma where I had a great time, played with some of her younger siblings, and attended Sunday Mass with her and her family at St. Mary’s. I am now 76-years-old, but Miss Sloan’s influence and spirit lives on. Elizabeth Field Hogan Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
To the family of Mary Hauer, Our condolences to all of you. She was a great and special lady. My guys remember their kindergarten teacher with smiles and I remember her with ‘always a smile’ and a joy to have known. We reminisce here often about the Hauer family with many fun stories (including the dog..Pepper?). You have many good memories to treasure. My prayers are with you as you remember and celebrate the wonderful life of your Mom. Love and Prayers, Elaine Sloan & family.
Elaine, Thank you for your kind words. I have a wonderful memory of a summer day during a Ragbrai in St. Lucas. A handsome young man climbed the steps of our front porch with a little boy at his side. He approached Mary who was sitting there. He explained that he was Chris Sloan, that he remembered mom fondly and that he wanted his young son to meet his kindergarten teacher. They visited cordially for a time and then just before he left he lifted mom’s crooked, arthritic hand and kissed it. What a precious, tender moment that I will always remember! Peg
To the Hauer Family, Our deepest symathy on the loss of Mary. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Jay Baumler & Family
May the family find comfort in loving memories, and in knowing that God is ‘close to those that are broken at heart; and he saves those who are crushed in spirit.’ (Psalm 34:18) Our loving Creator, Jehovah God, has promised to soon ‘swallow up death forever…and wipe the tears from all faces.’ (Isaiah 25:8) With deepest sympathy.
To the family of Mary Hauer: We were all so sorry to hear of Mary’s death. I have good memories of her coming across the hall to visit me at Traditions. May God Bless you all with lots of great memories of the time you spent with her. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Ann Jespersen and family
To the family of Mary, what a lovely, caring, kind woman she was! I remember my first day of kindergarten so well, and remember my Mom telling me, you will be fine, Mrs.Hauer is a nice lady, and she was so right! She reminded me of my own Mom, and I felt so safe with her as my teacher. She made learning fun, and treated all of her students as if they were her own children. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Norma (Meyer) Bunn
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Hauer family at your time of loss. Mary will be known as a great teacher and a caring person. Mary’s legacy is shared by all of the students who passed through her classroom and knew her outside of the classroom as well. Linda, Gordy, and Halle Arneson
Ever since I learned of Mary’s death, I have been reliving memories of our different times together. The consistent thread in all of the memories is her cheerful personality and wonderful laugh. It is difficult to focus on just one memory but one of my favorites is the November that Carl and I visited St Lucas. There had been a gorgeous snowfall and coming from Arizona that was a special treat for me. We took lots of pictures of her home, the snow and trees. One of those pictures of us in front of her home became our Christmas card that year. I still remember the phone call I received from Mary when she opened the card and the laugh we had over me highjacking her home and snow for our Christmas greetings from Arizona. Mary was a wonderful lady and will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. Betty McKone Ludlow
To the family members of Mary, my thoughts and prayers go out to your today. She was a wonderful teacher. She was my frist teacher to have and one I will always remember. Janel (WInter) Kuennen
To Mary’s Family: My thoughts and prayers are with you today. I am recalling some long ago memories of Mary. I still remember what a beautiful bride she was and what a great time we all had at her and Emmy ‘s wedding. She never lost that beautiful smile and contagious laugh. I didn’t get to see her often but it was great fun when I did. We would talk about our children and grandchildren. She was so proud of all her family. She was a wonderful cousin. Much love, Mary Jo McKone Harper
Donna and family, My sympathy on your loss. Your Mom was a truly compassionate and loving woman. An example of what all teachers should be like. Take care of each other. Bev Rustad
To the Hauer family, Joyce, you have my deepest sympathy on the loss of your mom. She was the kindest person and teacher St Lucas had! You’ll have the most wonderfull memories. Jean (Winter) Hover
Mrs. Hauer – what a gem you were! Being the shy girl I was she always made me feel important in the classroom. She had such great patience with all of us – something I didn’t really ‘get’ until I became a mom myself. I also remember the cardboard bricks and that wonderful play store that we all fought to play with at play time. Those bricks were also used to prevent cheating on tests – she’d stack them up about 3 high so there could be no peeking. 🙂 What a great example she set for all of us at such a young age. God Bless you for a job well done Mrs. Hauer.
I too will remember Billy Goats Gruff and stacking the red cardboard bricks between each of us students. I also remember one Easter her hiding my milk carton basket in her desk. When visiting my grandparents we went to the playground across the street from her house and one of us got hurt. She came to our rescue with band aids and walked us back to our grandparents house. She was a very kind, soft spoken woman. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Keri Wurzer Wirtz
i remember that she was my first teacher great lady
I remember Ms. Hauer letting us play Billy Goat Gruff with the red cardboard bricks, serving graham crackers and milk, having us color and cut paper, and always being so kind and patient. When there were disagreements she gathered us together and spoke kindly and softly. You were a blessing to all of us. Kelley (Kruse) Pujol kindergarten class of 1973-1974 in Fort Atkinson
Beloved Mrs. Hauer…I will remember her always as my kind, caring, creative, and compassionate kindergarten teacher. She made me love school, and now as I’m a teacher, I’m reminded of how a teacher’s presence can make such a difference in a child’s life. So thankful I was lucky enough to know her, and sending my sincere sympathies to her family today….
Medium Dish Garden was purchased for the family of Mary L. Hauer.
I remember Ms. Hauer very well from Kindergarten. One memory I have it when she told me not to run with a stick in my hand and I chose not to listen. I ran with the stick and I jabbed myself in the stomach. I cried and cried. She was a comfort to me, hugged me and then was firm with me about running with sticks. I have not run with a stick in my hand since. Today I work with young children and that memory comes flooding back when I am on the playground with them. Heaven has a new friend today. Say hi to my dad, Doc Nusz, for me. He would love to have a cup of coffee with you. Eileen Nusz Canafax (Kindergarten Class of 1976-1977)
To all of the hauer familly, especially the girls, joyce donna and peg who i got to know so well. i enjoyed my visits with your mom, always so cheerful. i know that you made her last years enjoyable . Blessings and prayers to all of you ! dolores buchheit
When living in New Hampton, bringing the Eucharistic and saying a prayer service for the assisted living, I always enjoyed my visits with Mary…I counted on her to help me to make sure I didn’t forget anyone. She had a beautiful smile to light up the room and always kind words for people, gracious, and very grateful. What a beautiful woman and legacy for you to treasure! My sympathies to your entire family. legacy for your family…my sympathies to your entire family
When living in New Hampton, bringing the Eucharistic and saying a prayer service for the assisted living, I always enjoyed my visits with Mary…I counted on her to help me to make sure I didn’t forget anyone. She had a beautiful smile to light up the room and always kind words for people, gracious, and very grateful. What a beautiful woman and legacy for you to treasure! My sympathies to your entire family. legacy for your family…my sympathies to your entire family
Paul and family – sorry to hear of your mom passing away. I know this is a voice out of the past but you were always such a great guy and I believe that your mom probably had a lot to do with that. My sincere condolences to you and your family. Sue Muth (Goss) and family
Dear Donna and siblings, and all of the family, I send prayers and loving support to all of you these days. I will always remember Mary as the welcoming presence who made treats for the visiting ‘Justice Trip participants’ one year and also as my table companion at another banquet where we shared wonderful food and stories. Her smile and presence was always welcoming. I share an idea from Deidrich Bonhoffer: Nothing can make up for the absence of someone whom we love… It is nonsense to say that God fillsthe gap: on the contrary, God keeps it empty and so helps us keep alive our communion with each other.’ My love, Cathy Steffens