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Mary L. Jahnke HAMPTON--Mary L. (Mary Lee) Jahnke, 87, of Hampton, passed away Monday, October 6, 2014, at her home. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Saturday, October 11, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 17 2nd St. NE, Hampton, with Pastor Steven Winsor officiating. Burial will be in Hampton Municipal Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday at Sietsema Vogel Funeral Home, 306 Central Ave. East, Hampton, and 1 hour prior to service at the church on Saturday. Mary Leoma, known to family and friends as Mary Lee, was born September 20, 1927, in Laguna Beach, Calif., to Ida (Willig) and Orley Cox. They later returned to Hubbard, Iowa, where Mary Lee spent most of her childhood. During World War II the family moved to Omaha, Neb., and Mary Lee graduated from high school in Omaha. She went on to attend Iowa State University where she majored in chemistry, but after one year realized she much preferred typing so transferred to business school in Des Moines, earning her secretarial degree. She worked as a secretary for several years prior to her marriage to Harold A. (Hal) Jahnke on May 5, 1951, in Hubbard. He passed away on February 21, 1993. Surviving are her children, Paul (Julie Cogdill) Jahnke, Des Moines; Carol (Dennis) Brumwell, Bloomington, Minn.; Barbara (Jeffrey) Jewett, Mahomet, Ill.; and Marilyn (Michael) Garrett, Bloomington, Ill.; seven grandchildren, Lindsey (Jared) Robertson, Des Moines; Courtney (Adam) Morris, Waukesha, Wis.; Ericka (Jimmy) Kezar, Perry; Jessica (Jordan) Reed, Des Moines; Jason Jewett, Mahomet, Ill.; Vincent Jahnke, Perry; Troy Jahnke, Perry; three step-grandchildren, Brandy (John) McMann, Heyworth, Ill., Robert (Amy) Garrett, Heyworth, Ill., and Ginger (Brian) Brazil, Hallsville, Texas. Also surviving are four great-grandchildren, Caitlyn Robertson, Noah Kezar, Oliver Morris, and Nicholas Kezar; and seven step-great grandchildren, Amber Rusk, Brittany McMann, Erica McMann, Gracie Scheets, Brody Scheets, Tatum Brazil, and Emree Brazil. She was preceded in death by her parents and a newborn sister. As they raised their family, Mary Lee worked side by side with Hal to establish a radio station in Long Prairie, Minn., and after their move to Hampton was co-host with him for a radio talk-show. She later was an income maintenance worker in the Franklin County office of the Iowa Department of Human Services for 18 years, retiring in 1990. She then devoted her life to volunteer work at St. Paul Lutheran, serving on the church council, as a table parent for the Hanging Out On Thursday (HOOT) youth program, the ham dinner chair for many years, president of the women's (WELCA) group for more than 20 years, and a volunteer in the church office. She was also an active member of the Hampton Treble Clef Club, serving as its president, and was a volunteer for the SHARE food program. Mary Lee was a strong advocate of the Hampton Senior Citizen Center, serving as treasurer for two years and president for three years, and enjoyed meals, games and activities with friends there. Mary Lee was an avid reader and game player, and also enjoyed playing the piano. She took organ lessons in high school and at age 16 she began playing the organ for church services, funerals, and weddings, continuing until the development of arthritis forced her retirement from the organ several years ago. However, she had recently resumed playing for funerals and the occasional church service. The family is grateful for those who provided help that allowed Mary Lee to remain in her own home, especially the staff of Franklin County Home Care Service and friend Marilyn Hunt. Memorials may be made to the Hampton Senior Citizen Center (23 1st St SW Hampton, IA 50441) or to St. Paul Lutheran Church.

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Mary Lee Jahnke

September 20, 1927 - October 6, 2014