Obituary of Mary Gebhard

DYERSVILLE, IOWA Mary A. Gebhard, 94, of Bloomington, IL and formerly of Dyersville died Friday, Oct. 10, 2014, at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, IL. Friends may call from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014, at the Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville where a parish vigil service will be held at 5:00. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thurs. Oct. 16, 2014, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Jeffrey Dole will officiate. Mary was born May 13, 1920, in Dubuque, IA the daughter of Paul and Caroline (Birner) Billmeyer. She married Frank A. Gebhard on Jan. 15, 1946, in Dubuque. Mary loved spending time with her family and friends. She loved to stay busy and throughout her long and active life; she was on a bowling team, enjoyed sewing, worked as a volunteer at the Dyer House, made hosts at the Basilica, enjoyed hiking and walking outside, shopping, baking cookies, and going to the activities at Westminster. She especially loved the holidays as it would bring her family together. She will be remembered as loving mother, grandmother, and proud great-grandmother. Surviving are 5 children: James (Linda) Gebhard of Pasadena, CA, Mary Kay (John) Sheehy of Cincinnati, OH, Tom Gebhard of Orlando, FL, Michael (Lucinda) Gebhard of Bloomington, IL and Jerry (Robin) Gebhard of Tulsa, OK; 13 grandchildren: James Jr. (Cara), Mark, and Peter (Sylvia) Gebhard, Renee, Joseph, Kathy and Dr. John Paul Sheehy, Paul (Courtney) and Hans Gebhard, Miriam (Dan) Troutner, and Joel Gebhard, Eric (Lauren) and Craig (Erin) Gebhard;4 great grandchildren: Phoebe, Willa and Charlotte Gebhard and Ava Troutner; a sister, Jeanette Smith of Des Moines, IA, and a brother, Gilbert (Maureen) Billmeyer of Dubuque, IA. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 1986, 2 brothers, Lt. James and Richard (Ruth) Billmeyer, and a brother-in-law, George Smith. Memorials are preferred to Beckmann High school.