Mary Spayer

 Mass of Christian Burial: Will be held on Friday, October 25, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the St. John’s Catholic Church in Greenfield. Burial will be in the Greenfield Cemetery with a luncheon following the burial at the church. Father Phillip Bempong will officiate the service. The Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com. 

Rosary: Will be held at the St. John’s Catholic Church in Greenfield on Friday, October 25, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. 

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Friday, October 25, 2024, at the St. John’s Catholic Church in Greenfield from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. 

Memorials: May be directed to the Mary Spayer Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date. 

Mary Margaret (Reis) Spayer passed away October 16th, at Lakeside Village in Panora, IA. at the age of 91. Mary Margaret (Marg), daughter of Lawrence F. and (Mary) Eileen (Strong), was born April 7, 1933, in Greenfield. She grew up attending rural school and graduated from Greenfield High School and Iowa State University.

After college Marg was a stewardess for TWA Airlines and traveled extensively during her time with the airline. After her marriage Marg worked as a school secretary at several schools in California and Georgia.

On May 17, 1957, she married Gerard (Jerry) Spayer at St. John’s Church in Greenfield and they made their home in Chicago Heights, IL. Jerry and Marg loved traveling and entertaining. In the summer of 1967 Jerry’s job took them to northern California. In March of 1968 they adopted their son, Jon Gerard. Together they traveled all over the world. Subsequent moves took them to Washington, Georgia and eventually back to California.

After Jerry’s passing Marg returned to Greenfield to take care of her mother, Eileen Reis, until her death. During her time in Greenfield, she was very active in Saint John’s Catholic Church as her relationship with God was very important. Her interests were her family, cooking, sewing, gardening, traveling and helping with the annual neighborhood Christmas crafts sale (in California). 

Marg is proceeded in death by her husband Jerry; parents; brother Larry Reis; brother-in-law Patrick Benedict; niece Katie Benedict and nephew Kurt Benedict.

Marg is survived by her son Jon Spayer of Des Moines, IA; Stepdaughters Tery Spayer of Orlando FL. and Caryn (Ben) Putra of Westchester, IL; sister Isabel Frances Benedict of Sabin, MN; sister-in-law-Virginia (Ginger) Reis of Greenfield, IA and many Reis and Benedict nieces and nephews.

Tery and Caryn would like to extend special thanks to Tim Reis for his help and support of their stepmother over the past two years and making sure that she was well cared for.