Mary Louise Attig

1931 - 2024

We honor the life and accomplishments of Mary Louise Attig, known to her family and close friends as “Skeeze.”  Mary died at Unity Point - St. Lukes Medical Center in Sioux City, IA on October 13, 2024 at the age of 93. Mary was transported there from her residence at Akron Care Center after a short illness. Her family appreciates the excellent care provided during her stay at Akron Care Center and at Unity Point - St. Lukes. 

A private celebration of life with immediate family will be planned at a later date.  A burial will be held at Holman Cemetery in Sibley, Iowa. If you would like, donations in her honor can be made to the flood relief in Hawarden, Iowa at People's Bank (920 Avenue E, Hawarden, IA 51023) or mailed to Hawarden United Foundation, PO Box 232, Hawarden, IA 51023.

Mary grew up and started her adult life on a farm near Hawarden, IA. She remarried and moved to Sibley, IA where she and her husband farmed, then established and ran Red Barn Pizza.  In her later years, she enjoyed living at Oakhill Assisted Living in Hawarden, where she made many friends, and received care from people who treated her as a cherished family member. We will always be grateful to Becky and all of the wonderful staff at Oakhill.

Mary loved looking for opportunities to be of service and make the world a better place.  She was a valued volunteer at her church in Hawarden and in Sibley.  No one went hungry when she owned the Red Barn, including people traveling with no money to pay her; she made sure they had a nutritious, hot meal and felt welcome in Sibley. 

Mary enjoyed a wide range of hobbies and activities including walking, reading, gardening, caring for pets, quilting, painting, sewing, and travelling.  Her sixties, seventies, and early eighties were devoted to adventures to exciting locations including Alaska, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Kenya, and Tanzania.  She also visited many US states to explore and to visit loved ones.  Mary always sought adventure, and even bunjee jumped in her early 70’s from the New Zealand bridge where modern bungee jumping originated. 

Mary is survived by her daughters: Leah (Art) Terpstra of La Penita, Nayarit, Mexico and Michelle (Rick) Wessels of Littleton CO; grandchildren: Heather (Kevin) Scruggs of Houston, TX, Tiffany Small-Brandt of Akron, IA, and Gemma Wessels of Arvada, CO; great grandchildren: Cole (Tosha) Brandt, Ashley (Taylor Andringa) Brandt, Emily Small, and Jayven Scruggs; niece, Cheri Shively; and many great-great grandchildren, step children, and step grandchildren.  

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Alice Keehn; husbands: Clarence Winkelman and Harold Attig; sister, Geraldine La Rae Spannagel.