Obituary of Mary Esther Rooney

Mary Esther Rooney, 92, of Dyersville, Iowa passed away Monday, June 3, 2019, at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade, Iowa.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, June 7, 2019, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12^th Ave SW in Dyersville. A Catholic Daughters Rosary will start at 4 p.m.  Visitation will continue from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Saturday at Kramer Funeral Home prior to funeral services.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 8, 2019, St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, with burial in the church cemetery.  Rev. Ralph Davis will officiate.

Mary Esther, born on Oct. 3, 1926, was the daughter of Jack and Esther Bemrich. She attended school in Pioneer, Iowa, and graduated from Mallard, then attended Mankato Business College. 

Mary Esther married Thomas “Bud” Rooney in May of 1947.  They owned and operated grocery stores in Whittemore, and Storm Lake, Iowa prior to moving to Dyersville and opening a grocery store in 1955.  In 1984, a year after Bud’s passing, Mary Esther opened a new grocery store and ran the store until she retired at age 76.

She was an active member of St. Francis Xavier Basilica and the Catholic Daughters of America. Mary Esther enjoyed playing Bridge and traveling.  She was proud of her Irish heritage and enjoyed the annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities. 

Mary Esther is survived by her six children: Colleen (Jerry) Renk of Great Bend, KS; Pat (fiancé Tamara Smith) Rooney of Logan, Ohio; Maureen (Mike) Miller of Camanche, Iowa; Kate (Keith) Knipper of Dyersville; Mike Rooney of Delhi; and Molly (Mark) Thede of Chandler, AZ.  She has 19 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bud, her parents, an infant daughter Rebecca, a daughter-in-law Leslie Rooney and her brother Dale (Ruth) Bemrich.

The family would like to thank the staff at Shady Rest Nursing Home in Cascade, as well as Hospice, for providing love and care to Mary Esther.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.