Mary Winter
May 21, 1934 ~ April 8, 2019
Mary Lou Winter, age 84, of Lawler, IA died Monday, April 8, 2019, at MercyOne Hospital in New Hampton.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 11, 2019, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler, IA. Interment will be held at Mt. Carmel Cemetery with John Winter, Brad Winter, David Drahozal, Nick Drahozal, Paul Meirick, Greg Meirick and Tom Meirick serving as pallbearers.
Friends may greet the family from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler. There will be a 7:30 p.m. Parish Scripture Service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass on Thursday at the church.
Mary Lou Winter was born May 21, 1934, in New Hampton, IA at St. Joseph’s Memorial Hospital, the daughter of Phil and Clara (Gebel) Sabelka. She was the second of two daughters. Mary Lou was raised on the farm North of Lawler. She attended country school around the Lawler area.
She met the love of her life, Melvin Winter, at a dance at the Inwood in Spillville. The couple was married on April 14, 1953, at Riley Ridge Church in rural Lawler. To this union, four children were born. They were longtime residents of Lawler. Mary Lou lived there her entire life until going to the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in 2016.
Mary Lou loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing holiday meals for her family as well as special events for the parish priest along with visiting priests. In her free time, she enjoyed making quilts for everyone in her family, collecting Precious Moments and spending time with Melvin on their hobby farm north of Lawler.
She is survived by four children, Jerry (Patty) Winter of Cedar Rapids, IA; Gene (Carol) Winter of Lawler, IA; Debbie (Jeff) Drahozal of Cedar Rapids, IA; Paula (Dennis) Meirick of Protivin, IA; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one sister Phyllis Vsetecka of Lawler, IA; one sister-in-law Alma Ameling of Hawkeye, IA.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Melvin on April 6, 1990.
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Oh Jerry, Debbie, Gene and Paula, so sad to hear your mom passed away. She was a dear sweet lady. She will celebrate a good life with the Lord, your dad, my folks and all her friends. Funny, after my mom passed away, dad talked about wanting to go visit your mom when she was still at the house. But he worried that she would think he had the hots for her. I’m sure they are laughing about that today! Praying for you guys! Norm (Speltz) Creighton
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. My mom and Mary Lou were good friends. I enjoyed taking communion to her home and visiting with her. Please take care and know she is up in Heaven with your dad Melvin and many friends.
Our sincere condolences to all of Mary Lou’s family! She was a sweet lady and I always enjoyed our visits. She had a great sense of humor and I loved her laughter and wit.
Sharon Haskovec
Mary Lou used to bring Tom and Nicole-when they were little!-to the library on Saturday mornings, and we would have such nice visits. My thoughts are with your family.
Cathy Humpal
GOD BLESS THE WINTER FAMILY AT THE LOSS OF THER LOVED ONE MARY LOU. OUR PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
MARGE AND DAVE MAYO
1080 KELLY DR.
NASHVILLE NORTH CAROLINA 27856
Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Florian and Eileen Winter and family
My condolences to you Gene and the rest of the Winter family. Your mom was a nice lady and enjoyed visiting with her anytime I’d see her around. She’d make sure to look me up when she would go to Fareway back in the days when I worked there. She always had something to share and we had lots of laughs together. May she rest in peace.
Sympathies to the entire Winter family.
Sandi (Rausch) Seaver
To Paula and family. You are all in my thoughts and prayers and sympathies to all of you. I share in the loss of your mom. Mary Lou was a dear friend and we enjoyed so many good times when she would come to the beauty shop to get her hair done. She loved you all so much and I felt like I knew you all too as she would share great things about her family. It won’t be the same when I come home this summer and not be able to go to the nursing home to see her but she will always be in my heart. May God Bless all of you.
Jerry, Gene, Debbie, and Paula .. We watched you kids grow up across the street from us at the DX, and Paula, golfing with you and Dennis was so enjoyable. We want you to know we are thinking of you all and sending up prayers for you, and for Mary Lou and Melvin.
My sympathy to all of you. Mary Lou and my mom Eleanor were good friends. Jerry and Gene I have happy memories playing softball in the backyard with you and the other neighbor kids.
Our sympathy to your family in the loss of your mom and grandma. She was a wonderful lady and enjoyed visiting with her. May you carry her memories with you forever.
Our deepest sympathy on the loss of your mom ! She was very special to many ! Our thoughts and prayers are with you all !