Mary Chase Lehmann

Tuesday, October 20, 2015 2:26 pm

Mary Chase Lehmann, 53, formerly of Independence, died Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, at the Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah, with Deacon Nick Francois officiating. Lector was Brooke Steffans. Organist was Mary Beth Bouska. Cantor was Cindy Schissel. Hymn were “Be Not Afraid,” “On Eagle’s Wings” and “How Great Thou Art.” Honorary casket bearers were all of Mary’s children and grandchildren. Interment was at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Cemetery in Festina. Arrangements were handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah.

Mary Margaret (Chase) Lehmann was born Dec. 27, 1961, the daughter of Charles Burton and Mary Jane (Hauber) Chase in Waterloo. Mary attended and graduated from North High School in West Union in 1980.  Mary started caring for people at the age of 16 at the Good Samaritan Center in West Union and worked there for 10 years. She was united in marriage to John Lehmann, had three children and later divorced. Mary worked at the Independence Nursing Home and then continued independently to take care of the elderly for many years in their homes. She had a loving, big heart and a lot of compassion to care for her clients. Mary also worked at Dollar General as an assistant manager in the Independence and Oelwein areas. Mary, along with Bill Kurtz, the love of her life, enjoyed painting homes inside and out as well as fishing.

Mary is survived by her three children: Melissa (Jarrid) Campbell, Independence, and their daughters, Khloe and Lilly; Skyler (friend, Chastity Jensen, along with their baby on the way) Lehmann, Independence, and his daughter, Olivia Burns; and Kassandra Lehmann, Independence; one step-daughter, Emily (Chad) Elliott, Roland and her children: Caleb Lehmann, Samantha, Ross, Kierra and Annarose Elliott; one step-son, Andy (Shannon Starch) Lehmann, Iowa City and his children, Lucy and Eve Lehmann; five siblings: Tim (Rhonda) Chase, Cameron, Mo.; Charlene (Tom) Kriener, Decorah; Lori (Jed) Siebrecht, Clermont; Chuck (Barb Youngblood) Chase, West Union; and Chris (Mike) Miller, St. Charles, , along with many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and –nephews; three aunts: Linda (Steve) Swartz, Marshalltown; Sharon (Kenny) Even, Gilbertville; and Sister Mary Charlene Chase, RSM, Cedar Rapids; and many cousins.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Burton and Mary Jane (Hauber) Chase; her sister, Angela Chase; one grandson, Zander Campbell; her grandparents, Donald and Violet Hauber and Charles and Margaret Chase; her very close companion, Bill Kurtz, in June 2015.