MARY CATHERINE (DUNLAP) NELSON, 90, formerly of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away on Friday, July 14, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Memorial services for Mary will be held on Friday, July 21, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee, Iowa.  Pastor Larry Ostercamp will officiate.  Private family burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Cherokee, Iowa.  There will be no visitation.  The Boothby Funeral Home of Cherokee, Iowa is assisting the family with the arrangements.  Online condolences may be left at www. boothbyfuneral.com.

Mary Catherine (Dunlap) Nelson was born August 31, 1932, in rural Galva, Iowa, to George and Margaret (Hall) Dunlap, who were immigrants from Ireland.  She was baptized and confirmed at Silver Creek Methodist Church of rural Galva.  She received her early education in a rural school located on the corner of their farm.  When the school closed, she attended school in Arthur and graduated from Arthur High School in 1950.  She continued her education, graduating from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake with a degree in education.

Mary was an elementary school teacher for 39 years, retiring in June of 1994.  She enjoyed teaching very much.  She taught in Corwin #3 in Ida Grove, Battle Creek, Calumet, and Cherokee, Iowa.

Mary was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee and a member of the ELCA Women's Group.  On February 10, 1957, Mary was united in marriage to Robert D. Nelson at the Arthur Methodist Church.  They lived in Cherokee their entire married life.  Their union was blessed with two sons, Michael, married to Jill, of Snohomish, Washington, and Daniel, married to Shauna, of Des Moines, Iowa.  She has five grandchildren: Alexander, Adam, Megan, Lillian, and Evelyn.  Her children and grandchildren were very special to her and the delight of her life.

Mary enjoyed time spent with the Out of Towners walking group and the Monday morning retired teachers' coffee group.  She loved to travel and to visit her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, her parents, George and Margaret Dunlap, her sisters, Florence Stevenson and Marguerite Rath, and several dear brothers- and sisters-in-law.  She is survived by her children, grandchildren, her brother-in-law, Leslie Rath, and many beloved nieces and nephews.