Mary Kathryn Beckmann

Mary K Beckmann, 100, died September 1, 2025, at MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center. The family will receive friends from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Church in Ankeny. A vigil service will follow at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, September 11, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Church in Ankeny. Burial will follow at Ankeny Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Mary K was born on February 5, 1925, in Dyersville, Iowa to Renilda and Peter Hentges. She married John Luke Beckmann in 1948 and spent the early years of her adulthood working as a dental assistant in practices in Dyersville and Anamosa, where John served as an Iowa State Patrol officer. Subsequently, they lived in Spencer for three years and then moved to Ankeny in 1967, when John was promoted to Commander of Post 1 in Des Moines. Mary K worked for many years as the attendance secretary at Ankeny High School, a position she loved because it brought her into contact with many wonderful students, faculty, and administrators.
A lover of conversation, connections, and community-building, Mary K provided a vivid example of the importance of hospitality and the value of building and maintaining relationships with a wide variety of people. To the end of her life, she was still in contact with friends and the offspring of friends from all the towns and cities in which she had lived. In her Ankeny neighborhood she was viewed as the matriarch of the street and nearly every night, spring, summer, and fall, neighbors ranging in age from toddlers and elementary students to young adults and retirees gathered on her front porch to discuss the events of their days.
Mary K is survived by her daughter, Dr. Aimee Beckmann-Collier (Dr. David Collier) of West Des Moines; her son, Jim Beckmann (Lisa) of Faribault, MN; and daughter-in-law, Jeri Beckmann of Johnston; grandchildren Emily Nichols (Levi) of Ankeny; Molly Stormer (Dylan) of Madrid, IA; Dr. John Collier of Boise, ID; Dr. Michael Beckmann (Samantha) of Minneapolis; Joe Beckmann of Syracuse, NY; and Maggie Beckmann of St. Cloud, MN; as well as her treasured great-grandchildren, Charlotte Nichols and Brooks Stormer. Mary K was preceded in death by her husband, John, and her son, David.
Memorial contributions may be made to Dowling Catholic High School https://www.dowlingcatholic.org/give/memorial-gift,
Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Church https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Form/180ab201-d7bc-4a9e-b8df-019f25b60cf7,
or Saint John's University (Collegeville, MN) https://connect.csbsju.edu/register/sju_gift.
Online condolences are welcome at www.IlesCares.com
Arrangements by Iles Westover Chapel
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