Mary A. Sailer

   Mary Ann (Grote) Sailer, daughter of Herman and Colette (Schettler) Grote, was born on January 5, 1941, at St. Anthony Hospital in Carroll, Iowa. She grew up west of Mt. Carmel and graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School in 1959.

   On February 13, 1960, Mary married Leonard Sailer at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church. Together, they built a life filled with love and hard work, raising six children. The couple first lived in Carroll before moving to a farm northeast of Manning in 1971. As a devoted farm wife, Mary embraced country life while also pursuing her own dreams. In 1986, she graduated from Faust School of Cosmetology and established Mary’s Country Clips, a successful business that thrived for many years.

   Mary had a gift for many things. She was an exceptional baker, known for her blue-ribbon pies, cinnamon rolls, and homemade bread. Her green thumb was evident in her beautiful garden and greenhouse, where she cultivated plants to sell at the Farmer’s Markets in Manning and Carroll. More than anything, she cherished time spent with her grandchildren, conversations around the kitchen table, and traveling with her sisters.

   A devoted member of Sacred Heart Church in Manning, Mary was active in the Altar Society, Catholic Daughters of America, and sang in the church choir, finding joy in her faith and community. Mary died Saturday, February 1, 2025, surrounded by her family at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll, Iowa at the age of 84.

   She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard in 2020; two children, Kurt in 2017 and Kreg in 2001; her parents, Herman and Colette Grote; Lenny’s parents, Frank and Anna Sailer; brothers: Paul, Ralph, Norbert “Fiddle”, Leonard, and Jack; sister, Lorraine Vonnahme; sisters-in-law: Irma Grote, Marlita Grote, and Loretta Bernholtz; and brothers-in-law, Lyle Vonnahme, Paul Sailer, Clarence Sailer, and Richard Sailer.

   Left to celebrate Mary’s life are her children: Kim (Scott) Barnard of Manning, IA; Kris (Dave) Weitl of Pine, CO; Karla (Mike) Hamann of Calhoun, GA; Kevin (JoDee) Sailer of Templeton, IA; daughters-in-law, Jill Sailer of West Des Moines, IA, and Kim Sailer of Grimes, IA; 10 grandchildren: Tyler (Krystal) Barnard, Noah Barnard, Haylee (Elliott) Barsby, Hannah (Matt) Scheuring, Zachary (Agata) Weitl, Samantha (Kevin) Geist, Charlie (Chelsea) Hamann, Melanie (Adam) Pruett, Sydney (Ryan) Ball and Ryann (Logan) Queen; 14 great-grandchildren: Everlee, Lydia, Vincent, Vance, Elizabeth, Liam, Dominik, Charlotte, Owen, Ava, Emily, Emberly, Rowdy, Clark and number 15 arriving soon; siblings: Jeanne (John) Rosener of South Sioux City, NE, James (Mary Ann) Grote of Cave Creek, AZ, Bill (Nancy) Grote of Withee, WI, Ted (Peggy) Grote of Gibson City, IL, Alice (John) Hamilton of Jefferson, IA; Judy (Duane “Butch”) Olberding of Iowa Falls, IA; sisters-in-law: Joyce Grote of Minooka, IL, Doreen Grote of Carroll, IA, and Lillian Stork of Anita, IA.

   A Rosary will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., followed by visitation from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and a Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m., all at Ohde Funeral Home in Manning. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, February 7, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manning, with burial at Sacred Heart Cemetery.