Mary Ann Kirsch

October 27, 1935 - September 1, 2018

Mary Ann Kirsch, age 82, of Carroll died Saturday, September 1, 2018 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll surrounded by her family. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, September 7, 2018 at St. John Paul II Parish-St. Lawrence Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Shinoj Jose. Music will be by Kate Cuddy and the St. Lawrence Choir. Lectors will be Melissa May, Kendra Linder, and Sarah Kirsch. Gift Bearers will be Mary Ann’s Great-Grandchildren. Eucharistic Ministers will be Vince Gross, Angie Anderson, and Sarah Huegerich. Casket Bearers will be Nick Kirsch, Mike Kirsch, Matt O’Brien, Nate O’Brien, Logan O’Brien, Nick May, and Jason Linder. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Carroll. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4 p.m. on Thursday. There will be a Rosary prayed at 5 p.m., and a Christian Wake Service held at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to St. Lawrence Church on Friday morning, where visitation will continue from 9-9:45 a.m. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for the Kirsch family at www.sharpfuneral.com. Mary Ann was born on October 27, 1935 at Carroll, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Janning) Gross. She grew up near Maple River, and attended St. Francis School. On January 22, 1957, Mary Ann was united in marriage to Andrew Kirsch at St. Francis Catholic Church in Maple River. The couple made their home near Halbur, where Mary Ann helped serve lunch at St. Augustine School in Halbur. In addition to being a devoted homemaker, Mary Ann also worked at the Carroll Health Center for over 30 years. In the early 1990’s Mary Ann and Andrew moved to Carroll. Mary Ann enjoyed traveling, baking, cooking, flowers, watching and listening to birds, and the outdoors. She loved being around people and visiting with them, even if it was a complete stranger. Most of all Mary Ann adored her family, especially her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, always making sure to be a part of their lives. She had a deep devotion to her faith, attending mass regularly. She was a member of St. John Paull II – St. Lawrence Church in Carroll, and St. Lawrence Ladies Guild. Left to celebrate Mary Ann’s life is her husband of over 61 years, Andrew Kirsch of Carroll; children: Charlie (fiancé Bev) Kirsch of Carroll, and Nancy (Bob) O’Brien of Carroll; grandchildren: Melissa (Nick) May of Urbandale, Nick (Sarah) Kirsch of Lakeville, MN, Mike (fiancé Kama) Kirsch of Hastings, MN, Kendra (Jason) Linder of Waukee, Matt (friend Bailey) O’Brien of Sioux City, Nate (fiancé Kristin) O’Brien of Waterloo, Logan (friend Miranda) of Carroll; Britni (Tony) Hubbard of Carroll, and Bryce (Annie) Schmitt of Des Moines; 14 great-grandchildren; her siblings: Vince (Lenora) Gross of Carroll, Bernice Drees of Mapleton, Louise (Don) Mikkelsen of Carroll, Joey (Diane) Gross of Carroll, Cecilia (Mike) Simpson of Cedar Rapids, Dolores (Leroy) Boes of Carroll, Ben (Vickie) Gross of Breda, Aggie (Denny) Grossman of Glidden, Joleen (Dave) Sander of Carroll; sister-in-law: Norma Gross of Carroll. Also surviving in the Kirsch family are 5 sisters-in-law and 6 brothers-in-law, as well as many neices, nephews, and extended family. Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents Margaret and Joe Gross; her parents-in-law: Andrew and Leona Kirsch; her brother Walter Gross; sister-in-law: Carol Gross; brother-in-law Dick Drees.