Mary E. Calkins

Mary E. Calkins, age 86, passed away on Thursday, April 22, 2021, with family members surrounding her. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 8, 2021 at the First United Methodist Church, Marengo, with Pastor Lisa Crow officiating. Inurnment will be in the Marengo Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, May 7, 2021 at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo. A memorial fund has been established. Masks and social distancing are required.

Mary E. Hinkle was born July 15, 1934 at home near Macy, NE on a sweltering summer day to Glenn L. and Lida Abell Hinkle. She was named for each of her grandmothers. She graduated from Macy Day School and married Everett B. Calkins on June 1, 1952. They lived in Macy, rural Thurston County, and Walthill, NE. They had five children, four of whom survived birth. Mary stayed at home with their children until the youngest started school, with the exception of helping her parents’ dry goods store and later Saturdays at Chet’s Market. In August 1965 they moved their family to Marengo. Mary worked part time as a hostess at the Middle America Restaurant, Williamsburg, followed by 23 years in several positions for the General Telephone Company in Marengo, then Grinnell. She loved her work and coworkers, and took early retirement in December 1991. Mary and Everett, who also retired early shortly following Mary, began their epic travels including living in Dewey, AZ for weeks at a time, visiting all 50 states and Europe. They sold their home in Iowa and lived in Marengo six weeks to 6 months a year in their RV or with their children. Due to Mary’s health conditions, they moved back closer to family in May 2012.

Mary is survived by Everett, her husband of over 68 years; her four legged son Wally; children, Linda (Mike) Simmons, of Lakeville, MN, Rob (Debbie) Calkins, of Marengo, Kandi (Don) Ryan, of Marengo, and Lori (Joe) Rooney, Prior Lake, MN. Her license plate proudly boast Gramma11; those grandchildren are Megan (Mike Nation) Simmons, Kate Simmons, Devon (Alyssa LoPiccolo) Simmons, Diana (Doug) Orth, Cole (Katy) Calkins, Cody (Kelsey) Calkins, Elisa Ryan, Gregory (Britt) Ryan, Collin (Laura) Rooney, Alli Rooney, Kaelyn Rooney, and Brendan (Jordan) Bradfield. They also hosted two AFS Exchange students, Osi Galliker, of Switzerland and Sirkka Sivula, of Finland. She also has one surviving sister, Karen Castor, of Apple Valley, MN; 14 great-grandchildren, a brother-in-law Ronnie Calkins, a sister-in-law Sharon Calkins, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; a brother Franklin Hinkle; a stillborn daughter Kerrilynn Kae; brothers-in-law, Jim Calkins, Phillip Teeters, and Charles Castor; sisters-in-law, Mary Ellen Hinkle, Betty Conway and Lucille Teeters; several nephews and a niece.