Mary Frances Hacker

Mary Frances Hacker, 81, died on February 11 at her home in Iowa City.

Visitation will be held from 10-11 AM on Thursday, February 19, 2026 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Coralville, followed by a funeral mass at 11 AM. Interment will be at Oakland Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Doctors Without Borders, the Sierra Club, or the United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties.

Mary was born on October 7, 1944, in Des Moines, IA to Galen and Marione (Ross) Boller. She lived briefly in Pasadena, CA before returning with her family to Waterloo, IA. She married David Hacker in 1968 in Waterloo.

She studied chemistry at St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN, after which she followed in her father's footsteps and attended medical school at the University of Iowa, receiving her MD in 1968 as one of only two women in her graduating class. After her residency in pediatrics, she worked at the Child Health Clinic in Minneapolis, MN. Returning to Iowa, she was part of the Coronary Clinical Research Project at the University of Iowa before joining the University's Student Health Services in 1979, where she practiced until her retirement in 2009.

Mary was a prodigious walker, undeterred by multiple knee replacements, and could be found on the move at the mall, on local park trails, and, on a recent trip, in the shadow of Stonehenge. She enjoyed reading, gardening, and season-specific decoration. She was a committed supporter of organizations promoting environmental justice and access to health care, and was a dedicated volunteer in her community. She kept a full schedule in her retirement, but was always happy to spend time with her children and grandchildren, especially if a game was involved.

Mary is survived by her three children: Sarah (Ken) Hacker of North Liberty, Will Hacker (Dina Bishara), and Geoff Hacker, both of Iowa City; grandchildren: Benjamin and Josephine Hacker; brother, Tim Boller and sister, Jenny Adamson.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Galen and Marione, and by her husband, David.