Mary Marousek

Mary Beth Marousek was born to the late Robert and Elizabeth (Pendergraft) Prunty in Mapleton, Iowa, on January 25, 1926. She passed away at the age of 90 on Monday, February 22, 2016, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital.

She was the fifth out of ten children born in her family. Mary Beth was always very close to her family and they meant the world to her. During her junior year of high school her family moved to Omaha, Nebraska. Mary Beth attended and graduated from Tech High School in Omaha, were she met the love of her life Leslie Marousek. They were married on February 15, 1947, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Omaha.

Mary Beth and Les owned a drive-in restaurant in Omaha for three years called The Derby Drive-In. They moved to Atlantic, Iowa, in 1961 when Les was transferred there with his employer. They became members of SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic. Mary Beth worked as a bookkeeper for a number of local businesses over the years. However, being a mother and wife was always number one and most important to her. She would work during the day as a bookkeeper but was always home when the kids got out of school. Mary Beth was devoted to her children and her family. She had sweets ready to eat when the kids came home from school, homemade meals, and sewed clothes for them. Mary Beth was very gifted in sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting, cooking and baking.

Above all, her biggest joy in life was when she was able to adopt Laurie and David from Catholic Charities. Mary Beth and Les wanted for so long to have children and Laurie and David were an absolute blessing and gift from God. Yet, the crowning of happiness came to her when she was able to help raise her grandchildren and watch them grow.

Mary Beth is survived by her children, Laurie (Dave) Knudsen of Atlantic and Dave (Sherrie) Marousek of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Joel (Greta) Farley, Ashley (Pete) Messerli, Lesley (Matthew) Drogo and Bob Marousek; two great-grandchildren, Oliver Drogo and Taylor Messerli; siblings, Shirley Stell, Ruth Rausch, Jack Prunty and Rex (Linda) Prunty; numerous nieces, nephews and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Les; and siblings, Virginia, Louisa, Bob, Betty and Kay.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 26, 2016, from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m., at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, Iowa.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 26, 2016, at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, Iowa.

Burial will be in SS Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery in Atlantic, Iowa.