Obituary of Mary Fouchek

Mary M. Fouchek, age 83 of rural Iowa City, died at her home with her brother, Eldon by her side on Saturday, December 13, 2025.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City where there will be a time of visitation on Monday from 4 to 6pm.  Burial will be at the Memory Gardens Cemetery following the funeral services on Tuesday.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Mary’s honor to the Lone Tree First Responders or Iowa City Hospice. We will be forever grateful to Hospice as they provided assistance making it possible for Mary to stay at home until she was called to Heaven.  

Mary Margaret Fouchek was born November 18, 1942, in Iowa City, Iowa the daughter of Harold and Edith (Hotz) Fouchek.  She attended country school near their home farm through the 8^th grade, when she then attended City High School in Iowa City graduating in 1961.  She continued her education at the Iowa City Commercial College where while attending she taught English Courses.  She entered the world of work as a secretary for the former State Senator, D.C. Nolan and two local county attorneys. She later began working for Landmark Surveying, where Mary worked for 20 years until her retirement.  She was so thankful for this opportunity as it was her favorite employment.

Mary’s life began on the farm, she worked hard along side of her parents and brother Eldon helping with everything.   She was a woman of vision and gratitude.  Years ago, she had heard of a young neighbor boy whose dreams were to be a farmer, even though his closet family to the farm were his great-grandparents, this didn’t keep him from pursuing his dreams.  She contacted him about working her farm and later helping her brother with his farm.  This turned out to be a perfect match for all of them and including his family as he married and had children.  She would say “Succession at work” when asked why she would do such a thing.  She so enjoyed watching Brent Parizek’s passion for their farms and as their children grew, all knew that Mary and Eldon had a family that would be there on the farm long after they were gone.  Another of Mary’s favorite sayings was “You plant your harvest year after year” and this was evident to all that ever saw Mary’s flowers!  Year after year, the beauty of her hard work would bless the eyes that saw them.

As her parents aged, Mary was so good to care for them, this was just so natural for her to care for others.  She cherished her many relationships with her tenants, neighbors, friends and family.  They will always remember a very giving, caring and loving soul who taught by example and believed in the good in everyone.

Her family includes her loving brother, Eldon; cousins, Ronald Waldschmidt (MaryAnn), Donald Flannery and Dean Krehlik (Paula)  special caring friend, Beverly Underwood; and her favorite four legged friend, Frosty; will miss her deeply.