Mary Kay Langholdt

Mary Kay Langholdt (Schleef) left this world on January 23, 2024, surrounded by her husband, her children, and her sister Molly Galm. Visitation will be at Greenwood Schubert on January 31, 2024, at 5-7PM, followed by a Rosary at 7PM. The funeral mass will be at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee, IA, on February 1, 2024, at 10:30AM, followed by a rite of Christian burial the Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.

Mary Kay was a phenomenal woman, providing a warm and love filled home for her entire family. She served as a mother figure for many of her extended family, several foreign exchange students, family friends, and the “Fareway Boys.” She leaves a void in the hearts of many.

Mary Kay was born in Cherokee, IA on February 10, 1943, to Bill and Dorinne Schleef, the second of their eight children. She graduated from Immaculate Conception Catholic School in 1961 and spent a year at the Servants of Mary Convent in Omaha, NE. On February 9, 1963, she married the love of her life, Dennis Langholdt. They joyfully welcomed seven children, six daughters and one son, into their home. Over the course of their marriage, they moved several times, finally arriving in Boone, IA where they have lived since 1987. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church (Ascension Parish) in Boone, IA.

She loved taking care of people. Family or not, she quickly made them feel like family. She loved to sew and channeled that into making clothes when her children were little and shifting to quilting in her later years. She found great joy in gifting people with her creations, especially quilts and cloth books for new babies. With her daughters and friends, she enjoyed quilt shops, completing the Great Iowa Quilt Shop Hop twice.

She enjoyed travel, both in the States and internationally. From Hawaii to Maine, to Italy, Spain, Germany, Scotland, Amsterdam, and Portugal, she saw the world. Mary Kay and Dennis enjoyed traveling with John and Mary Wojcik, and Wolfgang and Barbara Mehl from Germany. For many years, she and Dennis would road-trip to Arizona to visit family. She particularly enjoyed traveling with her daughters.

Mary Kay delighted in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. From being called Grandma, Gram, Nina, and Grandma Grape, she was loved intensely in return. She will be greatly missed.

Mary Kay leaves behind her husband of 60 years, Dennis Langholdt, and their children: Julie Langholdt (Richard Hart) of Omaha, NE, Kathy (Troy) Delp of Phoenix, AZ, Amy (Curtis) Coughlin of Chandler, AZ, Kari (Scott) Swain of Altoona, IA, Jennifer (Dan) Wojcik of Boone, IA, Adam (Tiffany) Langholdt of Pleasant Hill, IA, and Andrea (Joel) Langholdt of Lake Oswego, OR. Her grandchildren: Taryn, Alyson, Cole, Drew, Ben, Ethan, Ellen, Dmitri, Elinor, Vivienne, Maddy Kay, and Jack. Great-grandchildren: Flynn, Tanis, and Alec. Her siblings: Mike (Shari) Schleef of Columbus Junction, IA, Monica (Jerry) Anfinson of Morristown, TN, Melanie Robinson of Sioux Falls, SD, Mark (Staci) Schleef of Cherokee, IA, Matt (Janel) Schleef of Cherokee, IA, and Molly (Dave) Galm of Spencer, IA; brothers and sisters-in-law: Dianna Langholdt of Cherokee, IA, Randy (Judy) Langholdt of Surprise, AZ and Rick (Dot) Langholdt of Iowa City, IA; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Dorinne Schleef and her beloved brother, Marly; brother-in-law Ronnie Robinson; nephew Heath Robinson; her mother and father-in-law, Jeannette and Clarence Langholdt; and brother-in-law Terry Langholdt.