Mary J. Conover, age 100, of Holstein, passed away on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at the Willow Dale Wellness Village of Battle Creek.  A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 5:30 PM at the United Methodist Church of Holstein with the Rev. Doresa K. Collogan officiating.  Burial will be at the Holstein Cemetery of Holstein.  A visitation will be held on Friday, January 19, 2018 from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM with the family present from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Holstein.  Memorials maybe directed to the United Methodist Church of Holstein Scholarship Foundation or the Ida County 4H. 

Mary was born in rural Holstein on December 17th, 1917, the sixth of Hiram and Christina (Schroeder) Leonard’s ten children. She graduated from Holstein High School in 1936.

On January 13th, 1938 she was united in marriage to Alex Conover. The couple farmed southwest of Holstein. They were blessed with the birth of eight children. In 1982 the couple retired to a cozy dwelling in Holstein. After Alex’s passing, the title of “Grandma Mary” expanded as she began providing in-home daycare for multiple families. In 1998 Mary had counted a total of 51 children from 31 different families that had, or were, at one time under her care. Between homemaker duties, her membership in the Methodist Church, Ladies Aid, Circle, Lone Star Homemakers’ Club, and as a long-time Grigg’s Comet’s 4-H leader, along with being a chauffeur and attendee at her children’s multiple activities, much of her time was occupied taking care of others. When she did have time to herself you would find her gardening or perhaps, sewing/quilting.  When it came to home improvement projects, no tasks were too large or undaunting for her to conquer.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, infant daughter Constance Lee, husband Alex, son Clifton, son-in-law Gary Getzmier, great-grandson Gavin, one sister, Viola Sinns, and her eight brothers: Abe, Arnold, Jesse, Elvin, Ransom, Maurice, George, William, and many in-laws.

Survivors include her children, Clark (Jean), Mary Ann (Bob) Schulz, Sandy Getzmier, Burdette, Jean (Darrell) Elkins, daughter-in-law Gayle (Rick) Arnburg, Darlene (Bob) Still. She is also survived by grandchildren Ann, Amy, Tom, Clark Edward, Carrie, Angie, Aaron, Chris, Clint, Jessica, Casey, Connie, Dustin, Wade, Alex, and special connection children Holly and Samantha. Eighteen great-grandchildren also blessed her life. Her legacy lives on through the strong roots she established in her family and friends and community.

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