Mary Josephine Elizabeth Agnes Wilhelmi Gifford was born January 18, 1939, in Bancroft, the daughter of Leo and Eva (Dudding) Wilhelmi. She attended St. John's Catholic School in Bancroft.
On September 7, 1954, she was united in marriage to Gordon Gifford in Humboldt. Mary Jo and Gordon made their home in Burt. In 1968 they moved to Meservey until 1973 when they moved to Indianola and later then to Waterloo. Following the death of her husband in 1985, Mary Jo settled in Ankeny where she worked at Principal Financial Group until retiring in 2001. She then worked part time for the Ankeny Community School District.
Mary Jo enjoyed fishing, camping, and traveling. She also liked playing cards, puzzles, crossword puzzles, and crafts. Most of all Mary loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her cat Boots.
Mary Jo Gifford died Sunday, January 17, 2016, at her home in Ankeny at the age of 76.
Mary Jo is survived by her six children, Charles (Kaye) Gifford of Des Moines, Vickie (Randy) Pals of Ankeny, Larry (Letha) Gifford of Indianola, Roxann (Frank) Owens of Forest City, David (Crystal) Gifford of Des Moines, and Michael (Wendy) Gifford of Pleasant Hill; 21 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; her siblings, Roger Wilhelmi of Bancroft, Joyce (Claire) Reutzel of Burt, and Karen Danhelka of Evansville, WI; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Gordon Gifford on January 7, 1985
On September 7, 1954, she was united in marriage to Gordon Gifford in Humboldt. Mary Jo and Gordon made their home in Burt. In 1968 they moved to Meservey until 1973 when they moved to Indianola and later then to Waterloo. Following the death of her husband in 1985, Mary Jo settled in Ankeny where she worked at Principal Financial Group until retiring in 2001. She then worked part time for the Ankeny Community School District.
Mary Jo enjoyed fishing, camping, and traveling. She also liked playing cards, puzzles, crossword puzzles, and crafts. Most of all Mary loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her cat Boots.
Mary Jo Gifford died Sunday, January 17, 2016, at her home in Ankeny at the age of 76.
Mary Jo is survived by her six children, Charles (Kaye) Gifford of Des Moines, Vickie (Randy) Pals of Ankeny, Larry (Letha) Gifford of Indianola, Roxann (Frank) Owens of Forest City, David (Crystal) Gifford of Des Moines, and Michael (Wendy) Gifford of Pleasant Hill; 21 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; her siblings, Roger Wilhelmi of Bancroft, Joyce (Claire) Reutzel of Burt, and Karen Danhelka of Evansville, WI; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Gordon Gifford on January 7, 1985
Mary Josephine Elizabeth Agnes Wilhelmi Gifford was born January 18, 1939, in Bancroft, the daughter of Leo and Eva (Dudding) Wilhelmi. She attended St. John's Catholic School in Bancroft.
On September 7, 1954, she was united in marriage to Gordon Gifford in Humboldt. Mary Jo and Gordon made their home in Burt. In 1968 they moved to Meservey until 1973 when they moved to Indianola and later then to Waterloo. Following the death of her husband in 1985, Mary Jo settled in Ankeny where she worked at Principal Financial Group until retiring in 2001. She then worked part time for the Ankeny Community School District.
Mary Jo enjoyed fishing, camping, and traveling. She also liked playing cards, puzzles, crossword puzzles, and crafts. Most of all Mary loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her cat Boots.
Mary Jo Gifford died Sunday, January 17, 2016, at her home in Ankeny at the age of 76.
Mary Jo is survived by her six children, Charles (Kaye) Gifford of Des Moines, Vickie (Randy) Pals of Ankeny, Larry (Letha) Gifford of Indianola, Roxann (Frank) Owens of Forest City, David (Crystal) Gifford of Des Moines, and Michael (Wendy) Gifford of Pleasant Hill; 21 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; her siblings, Roger Wilhelmi of Bancroft, Joyce (Claire) Reutzel of Burt, and Karen Danhelka of Evansville, WI; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Gordon Gifford on January 7, 1985
On September 7, 1954, she was united in marriage to Gordon Gifford in Humboldt. Mary Jo and Gordon made their home in Burt. In 1968 they moved to Meservey until 1973 when they moved to Indianola and later then to Waterloo. Following the death of her husband in 1985, Mary Jo settled in Ankeny where she worked at Principal Financial Group until retiring in 2001. She then worked part time for the Ankeny Community School District.
Mary Jo enjoyed fishing, camping, and traveling. She also liked playing cards, puzzles, crossword puzzles, and crafts. Most of all Mary loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her cat Boots.
Mary Jo Gifford died Sunday, January 17, 2016, at her home in Ankeny at the age of 76.
Mary Jo is survived by her six children, Charles (Kaye) Gifford of Des Moines, Vickie (Randy) Pals of Ankeny, Larry (Letha) Gifford of Indianola, Roxann (Frank) Owens of Forest City, David (Crystal) Gifford of Des Moines, and Michael (Wendy) Gifford of Pleasant Hill; 21 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; her siblings, Roger Wilhelmi of Bancroft, Joyce (Claire) Reutzel of Burt, and Karen Danhelka of Evansville, WI; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Gordon Gifford on January 7, 1985
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Married Sept 7, 1954. Parents of Chuck, Vickie, Larry, Roxann, David & Mike
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