Mary Ann Carlson

SIOUX CITY -- Mary Ann (Casper) Carlson, 79, of Sioux City died Monday, Nov. 15, 2010, after a short illness at a local hospital surrounded by her family and friends.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, 6200 Morningside Ave., with the Rev. Jeff Moes officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be the hour prior to the service Friday at the funeral home.

Mary Ann was born Oct. 6, 1931, in Whiting, Iowa, the daughter of Fred and Grace (Tempest) Casper. She graduated from Castana (Iowa) High School.

She was united in marriage to Leland J. Shinkle on June 26, 1950, in Luverne, Minn. To this union, she had four children. She then married Earl Carlson on Oct. 3, 1967, in South Sioux City. They made their home in Sioux City until Earl's passing on April 21, 2009.

Mary Ann worked as a waitress for many years and after that she spent time with her grandchildren watching them grow up and she took great pride in this.

She was a member of Boys Town of Nebraska. She volunteered many hours to a couple of organizations in Sioux City using her office skills. She was a friend of Bill W.

Mary had an avid love of baseball, especially the Cubs and the Braves. She loved photography, movies, gardening and traveling. Her greatest love was her family and spent all her free time taking her grandchildren swimming, to the movies, to breakfast, and making every holiday special, especially birthdays and Christmas. She was very passionate about helping others. She was a kind, graceful, caring, fun friend and will be missed by all her family and friends.

She is survived by four children, Leanna Andrews of Sioux City, Donna Lewis of Sioux City, Donald Shinkle of Tucson, Ariz., and Dennis Shinkle of Sioux City; a brother, Lawrence (Audrey) Casper of St Louis, Mo.;11 grandchildren, Lisa Shinkle-Guadamuz (Armando), Adam Wingo, Shane Wingo, Maria Shinkle-Lamp, Benita Cale, James Shinkle, Jenilyn Nieuwenhuis (Erik), Jennifer Bish Wagher (Tom), Rapheal Shinkle, Eric Purgett, and Leland Purgett; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Carlson; her parents; six sisters; five brothers; a daughter-in-law; and a very special great-granddaughter, Melissa Wagher.

Pallbearers will be Donald Shinkle, James Shinkle, Will Fergen, Erik Nieuwenhuis, Joe Baker and Greg Johns. Honorary pallbearers will be Carolyn Byrns, Joanne Baker, Mary Lou Vaughn, Sheila Johns, and Stacy Trip.

Memorials may be made in her name to the family.