Mary Agnes Waechter

DYERSVILLE, IOWA

Mary A. “Pudge” Waechter, 87, of Dyersville passed away Thursday, March 9, 2023, at MercyOne Senior Care in Dyersville.

Visitation will be held from 9 – 10:30 am Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Chris Podhajsky will officiate.

Mary was born on March 23, 1935, in Cascade, the daughter of Alfred and Anna (Rettenmeier) Breitbach. She married Eldon “Hank” Waechter on April 24, 1954, in Farley. Mary was a CNA for many years, volunteering for Hospice, working for Area Residential Care and eventually retiring from Mercy Hospital.

She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 656. In her spare time she enjoyed crocheting, donating to the Layettes, bowling and playing cards with her friends, cards and board games with her grandkids and residents of ARC.

Survivors include her children: Bob (Margie) Waechter of Dyersville, Bev (Bob) Kluesner of Bentonville, AR, Becky (Jim) Nickol of Dyersville, Barb (Joe) Westhoff of Celina, TX, Brenda (Rick) Moore of Dubuque , Barry Waechter of Celina, TX, and a daughter-in-law, Kathy (Dunkel) Waechter of Cedar Falls; grandchildren: Greg (Annie) Waechter, Stephanie (Dan) Gioimo, Anne (Andrew) Woodle, Sarah (Stephen) Bridgeford, Lisa (Rodney) Shelby, Chris (Katie) Nickol, Lori (Jeremy) Kloser, Tracy Westhoff, Bill (Lauren) Westhoff, Jeff (Diana) Westhoff, Scott (Alex) Waechter, Amy (Chris) Shylman, Madeline, Taylor and Nic Moore; 16 great grandchildren; a brother, Alfred “Speed” Breitbach of Des Moines, and a sister-in-law, Germaine Breitbach of Neponset, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband “Hank” in 1987, two sons, William Waechter in 1973 and Brian Waechter in 2021, granddaughter, Jody Waechter in 1975; siblings: Lyle Breitbach, Rita (Joe) Burd, Darlene (Russ) Curley; and in-laws: Rita Breitbach, Carl (Vivian) Waechter and Rita Waechter.

The family would like to thank the staffs at the Ellen Kennedy Living Center and MercyOne Senior Care for the wonderful compassion and care.

Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville is assisting the family and information is available at www.kramerfuneral.com. Memorials may be sent to the family, (in care of Kramer Funeral Home) 750 12th Ave SW, Dyersville, IA 52040.