Mary Ellen Steckly

Mary E. Steckly, 87, of Clarence, formerly of Frytown, passed from this life on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at the Clarence Senior Living Center, in Clarence. A celebration of her life will be held Sunday, February 18, 2024, at 1:00PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. The family will greet friends two hours before the service. Private family interment will follow at the Frytown Cemetery. Memorial donations may be directed to Above and Beyond Hospice of Monticello.

Mary Ellen (Cahill) Steckly was born March 8, 1936, in Williamsburg, Iowa, the daughter of William A. and Wilma (Jones) Cahill. She graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic School in 1954. On August 18, 1956, she was united in marriage to Dean Steckly at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City. Mary was a full-time mother to her seven children while also working several different jobs over the years. She retired from NCS in Iowa City after working there for 14 years.  She enjoyed gardening, crocheting, and sewing in her free time.  She loved it when her children and grandchildren came to visit and enjoyed watching them grow.

Survivors include seven children: Denise (Todd) Miller of Kalona, Diane McCormick of Olin, Patty (Brian) Coppess of San Tan Valley, AZ, William Dean (Lisa) Steckly of Wellman, Sara (Mike) Hammen of Keota, Sam Steckly of Wellman, Mike (Jen) Steckly of North English; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren, one sister Pat Christensen, and several nieces and nephews. 

Preceding Mary in death were her parents, her husband Dean, son-in-law Bruce McCormick, four brothers: Dave, James, John and an infant, and two sisters, Rose Cahill and Elyse Lewis.