Mary Anne (Crowley) Slagle, age 85, of Storm Lake, Iowa died on Saturday, June 2, 2023 at her home in Storm Lake.
A visitation will be held Thursday, June 15, 2023 from 4-7 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Burial will be Friday, June 16, 2023 at 11 a.m. in the St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Emmetsburg, Iowa. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorials may be directed to Santa’s Castle in Storm Lake or the Storm Lake School Foundation for the purchase of library books.
Mary Anne Crowley was born on April 22, 1938 in Emmetsburg, to Joe and Della (Schwartz) Crowley. She was baptized into the Catholic faith at Emmetsburg, and was confirmed at St. Thomas Church in Emmetsburg. She attended elementary through junior high school at St. Ellen’s Catholic School in Emmetsburg, and attended Emmetsburg High School, graduating with the class of 1956. Upon graduating high school, she attended Emmetsburg Junior College, where she earned her associate of arts degree in 1958. She continued her undergraduate studies at the University of South Dakota, earning her bachelor’s degree in 1968.
Mary was engaged to Charles Slagle on Thanksgiving Day 1958, and they were married on May 30, 1959 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Emmetsburg. To this union, four children were born: Susan in 1969, Margaret (Peggy) in 1971, Ellen in 1975, and Karl in 1977.
A lifelong educator, Mary taught kindergarten in Elk Point, SD, Lake View, IA, and Thompson, IA. After her daughters were born, Mary paused her teaching career to stay home and be Mom. How lucky they were. She was the best elementary room mother, school volunteer, Brownie troop leader, picnic lunch maker, story book reader, lullaby singer, and cute picture artist ever. When she returned to work, Mary was one of the first educators of adults with disabilities at the Red Barn (now known as Imagine the Possibilities) in Storm Lake. She also served disabled adults doing activities at the BV County Home. Mary continued educating others as the director of the Learning Center (now known as the Center for Academic Excellence) at BVU. She ended her career at BVU as the International Student Advisor, helping students from all over the world make BVU and Storm Lake their home away from home. Some of Mary’s other professional accomplishments included creating the curriculum and being lead teacher for the summer English language learning institute for groups of visiting students from Showa Daiichi High School in Tokyo, Japan; helping establish a soccer club at BVU that evolved into today’s Beaver men’s and women’s soccer teams; and working with a group of other BV faculty wives to establish what is now the annual tradition of Beaunification Day.
Mary retired from BVU in 2000 so she and Charles could spend more time with their family, especially their four grandchildren. Mary enjoyed playing bridge, quilting, reading, watching CSI and NCIS shows, and helping answer the hardest crossword puzzle questions when no one else could. She perfected the art of E.B.B. (encouraging bad behavior, a.k.a. spoiling grandchildren), was a master of the Irish gift of blarney, and kept her quick wit and sass right up until the very end. The legacy she leaves behind is one of selflessness, love, and laughter.
Mary is survived by her children: Susan (Cary) Boyd and Margaret/Peggy Slagle; grandchildren: Chloe Christie and significant other, Austin Moro; Nickolas Slagle; Isaac Stone and significant other, Sally Henry; and Liam Stone and significant other, Geoshua Topacio; step-grandchildren: Jodi (Daryl) Krikke, David (Jenna) Boyd, and Carly (Kyle Craft) Boyd; cousins, Anne Hurlbut, Michael (Kate) Wilson, and Ute Wilson; sisters-in-law, Joan Schlegel and Nancy Slagle; brother-in-law, Tom Slagle; nieces: Joyce Thielhorn, Sarah (Russ) Poppler, and Camilla (Brian) Ringler; nephews: Richard (Rhonda) Schlegel, Joe (Teresa) Schlegel, Peter (Missy) Schlegel, Ed (Kelly) Schlegel, Rob (Heather) Schlegel, and Sam Slagle; sons-in-law, Shawn Stone and Jason Christie; and many extended family, friends, and former students who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 63+ years, Charles; infant son, Karl Slagle; daughter, Ellen Slagle Christie; her parents, Joseph and Della Crowley; parents-in-law, Francis and Veronica Slagle; sister, Judy (Crowley) Nixon; brother-in-law, Dave Nixon; brother-in-law, Arman Schlegel; infant niece, Mary Clare Schlegel; and, niece, Renee Schlegel.
Special thanks are given to the at-home caregivers who became a part of the family, especially for their care and dedication in the 2 ½ years they assisted Mary and Charles so they could remain living in their home as long as possible: Leandro Marin, Jocelyn Ramos, Beauna Thammathai, Heather White, Alejandra Rodriguez, Makenna Eppes, Cheyenne Barnes, and Liz Swartz. Also, a special thanks to the nurses and CNAs at Methodist Manor who were so kind to Mary before and after the passing of Charles.
Although tiny in stature, Mary’s departure from this Earth leaves an unfathomably large void. She will be missed beyond measure.
