Obituary of Mary Jo Ann Ernzen

LUXEMBURG IA

Mary Jo Ann Ernzen, 64, of Dubuque IA, formerly of Luxemburg IA, died Thursday, July 25, 2024, as a result of COPD disease progression.

Visitation will be held 2 - 7 p.m., Sunday, July 28, 2024, at Kramer Funeral Home in Holy Cross.  Visitation will continue 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 29, at Kramer Funeral Home, Holy Cross prior to funeral services.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 29, 2024, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Luxemburg.  Rev. Tyler Raymond will officiate.

Mary was born May 23, 1960, in Dubuque. Mary experienced a difficult childhood, but held the words of Footprints in the Sand close to her heart.  She married James “Jim” Ernzen. He preceded her in death on July 5^th, 2016.  Together they raised their family in Luxemburg.  Mary worked in various roles, primarily in childcare, where her love for children was visible.  As a homemaker, her five children remember always having meals to eat and laundry to help put away.  Mary and Jim nourished their family and many others with the fruits of their garden and meat processing skills. She was a devoted daughter in law to the one she called “Mom”, Florence Ernzen.  Mary had a great love for the Iowa Hawkeye Men’s basketball team and recently enjoyed watching women’s basketball too.  Mary was a simple person, who enjoyed playing euchre and spending time with family and friends. She lived for any moment she had with her eight grandchildren.

At Jim’s death, Mary experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury. Over the past eight years, Mary’s health slowly declined, as expected living with a TBI.  Mary became part of her children’s social groups, making inappropriate comments, ensuing laughter and always being feisty.  In the first five years of caregiving, Mary’s children accepted help from her sisters-in-law and the Cozy Corner adult daycare. She was spoiled by all her caregivers.  When she and her children made the difficult decision to admit more help was needed, Mary moved to Sunset Park Place, an assisted living community in Dubuque.  Mary was known for teasing her caregivers, making new friends and playing euchre seven nights a week.  She was everyone’s favorite.

Survivors include her children: David (April) Ernzen, Beth (Will Neumeister) Ernzen, Ben Ernzen, Jessica (Robert) Young, and Robin Ernzen; grandchildren: Ella, Carter and Brie Ernzen, Jack Neumeister, Joseph, Michael and Lucille Young, and Marielle Gossling; siblings: Teresa (Tom) Theisen, Sandy (friend, Terry) Neuhaus, Joe (Kerri) McDermott, Jackie (friend, Tom) Seikola, Tom (friend, Sheonna) McDermott, Bill (Colleen) McDermott and Dan McDermott; siblings in-law: Leonard Kremer, Kay (Dave) Stoffel, Geri (Bill) Hall, Mark (Bev) Ernzen; aunts and uncles, several nieces & nephews, great nieces & nephews; and Josh, Nicole, and Montgomery Gossling who Mary thought of as family.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her father, Joe McDermott, her brother Jimmy McDermott, Jim’s parents Harold and Florence Ernzen, brothers-in-law Axel Seikola, Dean Neuhaus, Davey Ernzen, Donnie (Rosie) Ernzen, sister-in-law, Mary Ann Kremer, and Irvin & Lucille Stoffel who were just like family.

The family wishes to thank Hospice of Dubuque for the tender care over the past two months.  As Mary needed more help, she made new friends with the hospice team who loved on her every need. 

Kramer Funeral Home in Holy Cross is assisting the family.  Information is available at www.kramerfuneral.com.  Memorials may be sent to the family, (in care of Kramer Funeral Home) 750 12^th Ave SW, Dyersville, IA  52040