Mary Jo Gerleman

MARY JO GERLEMAN

Mount Pleasant

Mary Jo Gerleman, 83, of rural Mount Pleasant, passed away Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Park Place Elder Living Center in Mount Pleasant surrounded by her loving family.

Mary Jo was born Feb. 14, 1938, north of Lockridge, Iowa, the daughter of Edison and Lola Mae Hazel (Johnson) Leu. She was united in marriage to Norbert J. Gerleman in 1958 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant. Mary Jo had a long career as a Beautician. She had her own shop in Mount Union, then went on to work at MHI and later worked at several nursing homes before she retired. Mary Jo worked for 32 years and never raised her prices. She enjoyed dancing with her grandchildren to the music of the Lawrence Welk Show, enjoyed cooking, working in her vegetable and flower gardens and collecting chickens. Mary Jo was a very kind hearted and caring lady. She was a member of the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and the Altar and Rosary Society.

Mary Jo is survived by her husband, Nobert of 63 years; her children, Tim Gerleman of Mount Pleasant, Todd Gerleman of Lockridge, Tina Opzeeland of Oregon City, Ore., and Troy Gerleman of Ottumwa; 11 grandchildren, Jessica Landess, Jamie Pardell, Jacque Gerleman, Jalyn Gerleman, Alex Gerleman, Liam Gerleman, Gabriel Opzeeland, Gavin Opzeeland, Dominic Gerleman, Katelyn Gerleman and Anna Gerleman; four great-grandchildren, Teagan Landess, Coral Landess, Ezra Pardell and Brecken Michael Lally; and her brothers and sisters, Larry Leu of Jackson, Miss., Ronnie Leu of Kansas City, Mo., Connie Danner of Colbert, Wash., and Terry Leu of Gillette, Wyo.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Norma Stodgel and Virginia Cooper; and one brother, Raymond Leu.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant with Father Paul Connolly officiating. Burial will be in St. Alphonsus Cemetery. Friends may call after 2 p.m. Wednesday at Murphy Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant, where the family will be present from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. A rosary service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society in her memory.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com

Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is caring for her arrangements.