Mary Wahlert

Mary LaRue (Shannon) Wahlert (77) of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away early Tuesday morning September 23, 2014, at Cass County Memorial Hospital.


Mary was born February 14, 1937, to Maurice and Mary (Karns) Shannon. She was born and grew up on a farm south of Anita, Iowa, in Lincoln Township, where she attended country school. Mary graduated from Anita High School in 1955.


She married Harold E. Wahlert on July 24, 1955. They lived and farmed south east of Anita for several years. Mary and Harold were members of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Anita.


During this time Mary and Harold tended a huge garden from which she canned many vegetables and fruits. Much of this was also given away. She was always cooking for her family and others as well. Everyone looked forward to her dishes. Throughout the years her hobbies would include crocheting, sewing, fishing, playing pinochle, and raising exotic animals, which were the delight and curiosity of the neighborhood. Mary was greatly involved in family get-togethers and in planning the annual Shannon Christmas dinners. She attended Atlantic's first Iowa Community College course in LPN training, graduating and getting her LPN license in 1972.


Mary was employed at the Anita Nursing Home (Colonial Manor) for seven years. She then worked at Cass County Memorial Hospital for twenty-seven years.


Early in 1983 they bought and moved to an acreage on the north edge of Anita on Maple Street where they raised a few cattle, turkeys and llamas. After retirement they moved to Atlantic in 2010 to be closer to her weekly dialysis treatments.


Mary is survived by her husband, Harold; daughter, Virginia (Mike) Blackford and their children, Daryk, Shasta and Rayce; son, Harold E. Wahlert Jr. and his children, Amanda, Harold Jr. III and Liza. Brothers, Jack (Donna) Shannon of Omaha, NE, Lyle (Marcia) Shannon of Washington, NE, Clark "Butch" Shannon of Kansas City, MO, Rellen "Skip" (Phyllis) Shannon of Parkville, MO; sisters, Maurine (Dwight) Gard and Ada (Robert) Scarff of Omaha, NE and Sharon (Roger) Sandhorst of Atlantic, IA; sister-in-law, Hannah (Gail) Shannon of Omaha, NE; sisters-in-law, Ruby Wortman and Lois Jean Vandivort; along with a great many nieces and nephews.


Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Maurice and Mary Shannon of Anita, IA; brothers, Wayne and Gail Shannon; brother-in-law, Dean Wahlert; and sister-in-law, Opal Wheatley.


There will be a memorial service at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 25, 2014, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Anita, Iowa.


Mary's family thanks you for your support and prayers. Please join them for lunch and a time of visitation at the Anita Legion Hall following the memorial service.