Mary Weidner, age 90, of Ralston, died Friday, April 26, 2024 at her home in Ralston.
A public visitation will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll. A prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m.
A private funeral service will be held at Peace Lutheran Church in Glidden with Pastor Alan Miller officiating. Burial will be in Merle Hay Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Mary’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
The oldest child of George C and L Wilma Siegenthaler, Mary Alice (Siegenthaler) Weidner, 90, was born at home in Menlo, Iowa, March 4, 1934. She was joined by 4 sisters and 2 brothers, and graduated from Cooper High School in 1952. While in high school, Mary played 6 on 6 girls’ basketball and was known for her beautiful soprano voice.
Immediately following high school, she married and was blessed with her daughters.
She worked at Finn Photography Studio in Jefferson while raising her family. During that time, Mary met Harold Weidner. They married on December 30. 1964 in Blair, Nebraska, with her daughters in attendance. Soon after, the family moved to Glidden and Mary and Harold began a life of partnership.
Weidner Service Center began in 1968, starting first as a Felco gas and repair center, followed by Gulf, and later, a Mobil station after moving across Highway 30. Mary served as bookkeeper, parts runner, gas pumper, oil checker and windshield washer in the days of full-service gas stations.
The couple’s partnership continued on their acreage, known as Fleecy Hollow, where they raised sheep and operated a truck farm.
Later Mary worked at B & H Super Valu in the deli, General Electric and as a very successful Avon lady. In 1992, Mary began a 28-year career at Walmart, where she retired in 2020 at the age of 86. Mary was affectionately known as the “voice of Walmart.”
Never known to slow down, Harold and Mary started a new enterprise, Pappy’s Kettle Corn. They traveled the western portion of Iowa, making friends along the way.
Surviving Mary are her daughters, Cindy (Glenn) Kerkhoff of Glidden, Belinda (Kelly) Caldwell, of Carroll, and Billie (Dan) Wenck, of Glidden; step-children: Denise Clapp of Waterloo, and Mike (Michelle) Weidner of Waterloo; Four grandchildren, Brooke (Andrew) Galinsky and their children, Samuel and Norah of Waukee; Christopher (Abby) Wenck and their children, Lane, Stella and Reese of Carroll; Emily (Jonathan) Greteman and their children Adeline and Cora of Waukee and Morgan Rushton of Grand Junction, Colorado; step-grandchildren: Kahla (Steve) Dutcher and their daughter Hattie, Jessica Clapp and her children: Maddox, Owen, Britton; Andrew Weidner, Lauren Weidner; an ex-son-in-law: Jim Rushton of Glidden; sister, Andi Blume of Ames; Brother-in-law, Dean Ury; Sisters-in-law, Florence Siegenthaler of Jefferson and Carol Miller of Marshalltown; many nieces and nephews; and her special friend, Glennda Klommes of Carroll.
Preceding Mary in death were her husband, Harold in 2007; grandson, Cameron Kerkhoff in 1989; her step-son-in-law, Bill Clapp; her parents George and Wilma Siegenthaler; her parents-in-law, Art and Chloe (Walker) Weidner; sisters Rita Campbell and her husband Darold Campbell, Irene Siegenthaler and Patricia Ury; brothers Duane Siegenthaler and Dean Siegenthaler; sisters-in-law, Clara Rose and her husband, Phil Barker; Dorothy Spindler, Florence Siegenthaler; brothers-in-law Dr. Allen Blume; Hershal Weidner and his wife Shirley; Charles Weidner and his wife, Marie; Richard Weidner.
