Obituaries : Mary Ann Root

Mary Ann Root, 83, of Cedar Rapids, died on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha from complications from a longtime battle with cancer. Services will be at a later date. Teahen Funeral Home and Cremation is serving the family.

Mary Ann is survived by her husband of 63 years, Larry; daughters, Cheryl Mahraun of North Liberty and Kara (Nick) Sanford of Cedar Rapids; son, Allen  (Linda) Root of Norway; 8 grandchildren, Kevin, Janine, Shannon, Shaun, Michael, Benjamin, James and Jordan; several great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and cousins; special friends, Joanne Ward and Brenda West-Chase; and sister-in-law, Marjorie Asby. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, David Asby; sister, Janet (Elliott) Schroder; and son-in-law, Robert Mahraun.

Mary Ann was born on January 25, 1941, in Burlington, the daughter of Frederick and Ethel Bohlen Asby. In 1958, she graduated from Danville High School. Mary Ann attended Iowa State University and graduated with an accounting degree from Mt. Mercy College. On June 4, 1960, she married Larry Root in Danville.  Mary Ann worked for the Sisters of Mercy as an accountant for 10 years and the Black & Decker Company, Baltimore, Maryland. She was a member of Lovely Lane Methodist Church was a volunteer at hospice and Stephen's Ministry.

Mary Ann was a quiet, gentle woman with a smile everyone loved to see. She always went out of her way to be a great friend. Mary Ann liked researching the genealogy of her Bohlen and Asby families and enjoyed wintering in Green Valley, Arizona. Most of all, Mary Ann loved spending time with her family and she will be missed. 

Memorials may be directed to the family.