Maria Rosa Magenheimer

1938 - 2025

Maria Rosa Magenheimer

March 5, 1938 - November 13, 2025

Maria Rosa Magenheimer was, is, and forever will be my beloved Mom. Maria (aka Oma and Tante Ria) passed at the age of 87 on November 13, 2025, in Sioux City, IA. She was born Maria Rosa Gehringer on March 5, 1938, on a small farm in Rüdenau, Germany. Maria was the daughter of Anna (nee Heller) and Valtin Gehringer, and one of 9 siblings. They were a family of kind, generous catholic farmers.

She had many experiences as a young child during WWII, including 2 visits from the SS in which they tore crosses off the walls to hang Hitler and swastikas in their place. Horrible. But her best experience was watching the American tanks roll into Rüdenau with our amazing soldiers who gave the kids oranges (which they had never had) and everything else they had including food, gas, and cigarettes.

My mom was incredibly hard-working, strong, generous, often in charge of her younger siblings, and a super go-getter. At 21 years old, she was sponsored by her aunt and uncle in NY, Rosie and Herm, and bravely came alone by boat to the US, to work and earn dollars to bring back to her family. But her plan went differently than expected. She fell in love with and married my father Edward Magenheimer (now deceased) on December 8, 1962, in Poughkeepsie, NY. My mom chose to stay in America as a resident legal alien for the next 63 years, because she had also fallen in love with this wonderful country! During the next 20 years, she put her heart into being a mom, a good wife, homemaker, and a friend to many.

We belonged to St. Mary's Church in Poughkeepsie NY, where she was a beloved soprano choir member. After, she was a member of Holy Name in Valhalla, NY, St. Stephen the Martyr in Omaha, NE, and lastly Mater Dei in Sioux City, IA. She often did volunteer work, sewing, and knitting. But my mom also loved her "Lunch Bunch." A group of mostly German ladies, super close friends that had their weekly/monthly lunches lasting 7 or 8 hours! Those women could talk!! It was one of the main reasons I learned to speak German, so I could eavesdrop! My mom also loved her rosary group, meeting every morning at St. Stephen's. Oma Ria also loved going to horse races with my dad (a racing fanatic!) and I.

Family and friend time were also very important to her. We went back to Germany every 3 to 4 years, and had many German family and friends visit us here in the US. At 50 years of age, she began a new career at Maragret Chapman home for disabled, as a seamstress for the donations department. My go-getter mom had, of course, become the Director of the Donations, Repairs, Distribution, and Housekeeping Departments when she retired 15 years later. At 65, my mom came to live with me, my then husband Joel Berry, and our children, Siobhan and Ed. We were blessed to have her living with us, so many wonderful memories. She adored living with her grandchildren Siobhan and Ed, and having many visits from Caitlin, Sean, and Liam (Joel's 3 children from a prior marriage). She was a huge part of all their lives.

At the age of 80, she moved to Sioux City with my husband, Blake Uhl, and I. She had started to slow down, but still enjoyed her small walks, the dogs, and sitting on the front porch. She loved our family gatherings, baking German Christmas cookies, singing German songs, her Bill O'Reilly, and mass at Nativity when she was able to attend.

My beautiful mom is preceded in death by her parents, Anna and Valtin, and by many siblings, spouses, and relatives, including Anneliese und Edi, Paul, Paul und Paula, Josef und Getraud, Hubert und Alma, Michael, Annchen und Hermin, Ida und Eberhard, Rosie und Herm, and cousins Elfriede, Erika, und Pete.

My mom is survived by us, Susann and Blake Uhl; her grandchildren, Siobhan, Ed, Caitlin, Sean, and Liam Berry; her sister, Renate, and sister Erika und husband Terry.

A memorial service is planned for early January 2026 in Sioux City, IA. Details will follow. So many will miss her forever. Her love, spirit, kindness, sense of humor, and strength will live in our hearts until we all see the magnificent Oma Ria again.