Mary Ellen O'Dell

Mary Ellen O'Dell, 85, of Dakota City, NE passed away at her residence, while surrounded by her family on Sunday, August 4, 2013.Services will be held at 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, August 8, 2013 at the Mohr Funeral Home in South Sioux City, NE with Rev. Terry Hudson officiating. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., prior to the service. Burial will be in Omaha Valley Cemetery in rural Homer, NE.Mary Ellen was born in Hubbard, NE on January 28, 1928, the daughter of William and Lucy (Purucker) Jones. She grew up on a farm in Dixon County and graduated from Allen High School in 1945. She taught in a country school in Dixon County. Mary Ellen married Daniel "Mike" O'Dell on June 2, 1948, after he returned from WWII. They lived in the Waterbury area where they farmed until 1961. They moved to rural South Sioux City, then into Dakota City in 1968. She worked for the Dakota County Civil Defense Office and was an active volunteer for the Hanson Greenleaf Legion Auxiliary in Dakota City. After the Civil Defense Office closed, she worked for the Dakota County Social Service Office in Dakota City, before working as a secretary for O'Dell Superior Sales and Service from 1986 until she retired in 1996. Daniel "Mike" passed away on May 20, 2006.She was a member of First Lutheran Church in South Sioux City and the American Legion Auxiliary, serving at the district and state levels.Mary Ellen loved to play cards and dominos, spend time with her family, and go to the timber with her grandsons. She always had a pot of coffee on for anyone who might stop by.Survivors include her son, Dave and daughter-in-law, Mary Ann O'Dell of South Sioux City; grandchildren, Justin (Tami) O'Dell of Dakota City and Alex (Ashley) O'Dell of South Sioux City; 5 great-grandchildren, Chloe, Carson, Hudson, Brady and Brynn; and her sister, Helen Osbahr of South Sioux City, NE.Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, William and Lucy Jones; her husband, Daniel "Mike" O'Dell; brothers, Harold and Louis; and sisters, Lena and Beulah.