Mary Lee Kelch

Mary L. Kelch, 97, of Clarion passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Honoring Mary's wishes, her body was generously donated to the University of Iowa Body Donor Program in support of medical education and scientific advancement.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, June 12, 2026 at 10:30 AM at St. John's Catholic Church in Clarion.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at Ewing Funeral Home in Clarion, with a Rosary and Vigil Scriptural Wake beginning at 4:00 PM prior to visitation.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, a donation be considered to St.

John's Catholic Church in Clarion.

Mary Lee (Neis) Kelch was born on July 15, 1928 in Deadwood, SD and was raised in Saint James Children's Home in Omaha, NE.

She married Charles A. Kelch on September 23, 1950 in Estherville, IA. They moved to Clarion in 1953 where they raised eight children.

Mary met her fourteen siblings later in her life at her grandmother's funeral. It was a day she would never forget and would forever be grateful. She discovered the new joy of knowing her brothers and sisters.

Mary was so full of love for her family, friends, and anyone who walked through the doors of her home. She loved baking; many Saturdays were spent baking bread for the nuns at the Catholic school. She made cookies, pies, kringla, candies and many other goodies over the years and shared them with anyone and everyone throughout Clarion.

Mary enjoyed having daily co ee with her friends for many years at the "big house". They would gather in her home and sit around the kitchen table, snacking on her goodies, talking, laughing, and deepening their bond as friends.

After her children were all in school, Mary joined the kitchen sta at the high school; she gave the sta and students 27 years of service and retired in 1997. She would spoil students who would drop by the kitchen to say "hi" and would leave with a few cookies. The sta loved their Wednesday morning meetings because Mary would give them fresh, warm cinnamon rolls. She was quite famous for her rolls, frosted or pecan; they were delicious.

Serving her community was very important to her. She loved cooking in the school kitchen when service groups such as Ruritans and Lions club were preparing community meals. She was very involved in the Catholic Church including the church sewing committee where many quilts were made for graduates and for those less fortunate.

Mary was a faithful member of St. John's Catholic Church since 1953. She gave many years of service to the church. She made many life long friends, shared love and laughter with them, missed them when they passed, and missed her friends when she could no longer live alone and moved to live with her daughter Annette in Williamsburg, IA.

Mary showed her family how to love with integrity, with kindness, with compassion, with gentleness, with strength. She was so very loved by so many and will forever be missed.

Mary is survived by her children: Mark (Sandy) Kelch, Logandale, NV; Jill (Virgil) Swanson, Greenfield, IA; Margaret (Joseph) Duffy, Marshalltown, IA; Patricia Lee, Indianola, IA; Annette (Alan) Vasher, Williamsburg, IA; Alice Trask, Nampa, ID; Charles (Pamela) Kelch, Clarion, IA; and Paul Kelch, Marshalltown, IA; twelve grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren. Her surviving siblings are Donna, John, Bernice, Christine, Veronica, Raymond, Michael, and Paul.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, son-in-law Bernie Jones, siblings Donald, Marlene, Margaret, Jerome, Joseph, and William.

Mary's family will remember her as a giver…a giver of food, clothing, shelter, a giver of friendship, love, hope…and when her life was over, a giver of her body to science so that others may have a better life in the future.