Mass of Christian Burial for Mary J. Herum, 93, of Estherville, was held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Jan. 22, 2024 at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Estherville with Father John Thomas, celebrant. Interment will be at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery, Estherville. She passed away on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at Good Samaritan Society in Estherville.
Mary J. Herum was born on December 14, 1930, at the family home west of Wallingford, Iowa to LeRoy and Elizabeth (Reuland) Schacherer.
Mary attended Emmet County Country School, Wallingford School, and graduated from Estherville High School in 1949. Following school, she worked at Richie’s Grocery and Wallingford Coop. She also worked at JCPenney’s in Estherville. On July 30, 1955, she was united in marriage to Phil Herum in Estherville. The couple moved to South Dakota for a short time. In 1957 the family returned to Wallingford, where she stayed at home to raise their boys and manage the house. In 1975, she was named Emmet County Rural Homemaker of the Year. Phil passed away on July 20, 2002 and Mary moved to Estherville in 2009.
Mary was a lifelong member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish in Estherville. She was a devout catholic, participating in church activities as a Eucharistic Minister, usher, member of the Catholic Daughters and Altar and Rosary Society. Mary was always on the go; she enjoyed volunteering with the New Hope Relay for Life team and serving on the election board in Wallingford. She loved to host friends and family at her home, always providing a good meal. Weaving rugs, crocheting, putting together jigsaw puzzles, and playing dominoes and cards filled her “down-time.”
Mary is survived by her son Doug (Julie) Herum; daughter-in-law Amy Herum; grandchildren Allison (Brad) Nelson, Bryan (Carly) Herum, Zachary (Marissa) Herum, Claire Herum, Carson Templeton, Tess Jackson (Mark Foss), Hallee (Jordan) Salton, and Bailey (Matt) Sievers; and 17 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters Lucille McCombs and Margaret Hunt; sisters-in-law Shirley and Carmen Schacherer; and brother-in-law David Origer.
Mary is preceded by her parents; husband; sons Gregory and Roger Herum; sisters Dolores Umscheid and Lorraine Origer; and brothers Eugene and Louis Schacherer.
In lieu of flowers, Mary’s family requests memorials to the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church or the American Cancer Society.
Online condolences may be left for Mary’s family at www.henryolsonfuneral.com.
