1937
Mary
2007
Mary Ellen Melinda Bahmer-Whitsel (Benson)
May 21, 1937 — July 29, 2007
Mary Ellen Bahmer-Whitsel, on July 29, 2007, Mary Ellen a devoted Christian and longtime community activist, went home, she was received with open arms into God's house. God believed her work was finished here on earth and he needed her in heaven. She will now be a guardian angel to all, shining her ray of love upon all whom seek. Just as she lived her life here on Earth with open arms and ministering to all God's children and her own, her door was always open. Her home was built with strength, love and understanding. We must not hold her down with our tears but let her go with our blessing and make her proud as she looks down upon us and show her the strength and love in the legacy she leaves with her children.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Christy-Smith Morningside Chapel, with the Rev. Robert S. Rasmussen of Faith Christian Fellowship Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home.
Mary Ellen was born May 21, 1937, in Madrid, Iowa, to Johan Charles Benson and Mary Hawkins.
From her marriage to Jim Morgan in 1953, her son, Jim Morgan was born. From her marriage to Bernard Bahmer in 1956, her children, Melody, Bernard, Cheryl, Cherri, Dale Lynn, Joey, Mary Beth and David, were born. From her marriage to Boyd Whitsel in 1971, came her children, Kandy, Cyndi and Sky Lynn.
While raising these children and many grandchildren and being a parent or grandparent to many neighborhood children, she also found time to be an active leader in Girl Scouts for many years. She was a member of the board of directors of the Siouxland Food Bank for many years, president of the Grant Elementary School PTA and active in other school PTAs, the Head Start program and the Community Action Agency. She was active in community organizing regarding special issues affecting low-income citizens and was a charter member of the Coalition for Community Reform. She was a devoted softball and tee-ball coach over many years in both SYA and Floyd Slow Pitch.
She received her most enjoyment from her relationship with her Savior and her work for her church, the Faith Christian Fellowship Church in Greenville. She taught Sunday School, directed and worked in the church's programs to feed those in need.
Carrying on after her are her children, Jim Morgan and Mary, Melody and her husband, Sonny Dawdy, Bernie Bahmer and his wife, Shelley, Cheryl Blanchard, Cherri Bahmer, Dale Lynn and her husband, Lee Sturgeon, Mary Beth and her husband, Chris Hanner, David Bahmer and Michele, Kandy Sanchez, Cyndi Whitsel and Warren, and Sky Lynn and her husband, Jose Vargas.
She leaves behind her devoted grandchildren, Robbie and his wife, Shawna, Marci and her husband, Rich, Mindy and her husband, Scott, Jamie, Marty, Angel Daytona, Crystal and Roberto, Bobby, Cherri Rae, Beth Ann and her husband, Josh, Patrick, Alyssa and her husband, Alexi, Cash, Mark, Mary Lee, Jennifer, Kristy, Justin, Joey, Luke, Cody, Aerial, Zoe, Landon, Destiny, Madison, Wyatt and soon will be Aiden Allen. As well as her great-grandchildren, Emma, Miles, Cameron, Dawson, baby boy, Sean, Ericka, Katie, Hannah, Reina, Adreian, Flor Azucen, Emma Leigh, Sky Leigh, Briana, Jose "JJ", Maria, Julian, Aracellie, Jesus, Guillermo and Joshua. Also her mother, Mary and her husband, Harold Hawkins; and a sister, Sherry and her husband, Erv.
Going before her were her husbands, Boyd and Bernard; her father, Johan Charles; and a child, Joey.
She and all of her survivors thank the nurses and staff of the ICU at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center for all that they did to make her last days more comfortable.
She selected as her honorary pallbearers each of her daughters. Pallbearers will be Pati Kreisel, Robbie Hasler, Marty Struthers, Mark Hamilton, Joey Hanson, Cody Whitsel, Cash Sturgeon, Landon Whitsel, Todd Babb and Alexi Serrano. Additional pallbearers will be Lee Sturgeon, Sonny Dawdy and Chris Hanner.
Memorials may be sent to 1321 Dubuque Street, Sioux City.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Christy-Smith Morningside Chapel, with the Rev. Robert S. Rasmussen of Faith Christian Fellowship Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home.
Mary Ellen was born May 21, 1937, in Madrid, Iowa, to Johan Charles Benson and Mary Hawkins.
From her marriage to Jim Morgan in 1953, her son, Jim Morgan was born. From her marriage to Bernard Bahmer in 1956, her children, Melody, Bernard, Cheryl, Cherri, Dale Lynn, Joey, Mary Beth and David, were born. From her marriage to Boyd Whitsel in 1971, came her children, Kandy, Cyndi and Sky Lynn.
While raising these children and many grandchildren and being a parent or grandparent to many neighborhood children, she also found time to be an active leader in Girl Scouts for many years. She was a member of the board of directors of the Siouxland Food Bank for many years, president of the Grant Elementary School PTA and active in other school PTAs, the Head Start program and the Community Action Agency. She was active in community organizing regarding special issues affecting low-income citizens and was a charter member of the Coalition for Community Reform. She was a devoted softball and tee-ball coach over many years in both SYA and Floyd Slow Pitch.
She received her most enjoyment from her relationship with her Savior and her work for her church, the Faith Christian Fellowship Church in Greenville. She taught Sunday School, directed and worked in the church's programs to feed those in need.
Carrying on after her are her children, Jim Morgan and Mary, Melody and her husband, Sonny Dawdy, Bernie Bahmer and his wife, Shelley, Cheryl Blanchard, Cherri Bahmer, Dale Lynn and her husband, Lee Sturgeon, Mary Beth and her husband, Chris Hanner, David Bahmer and Michele, Kandy Sanchez, Cyndi Whitsel and Warren, and Sky Lynn and her husband, Jose Vargas.
She leaves behind her devoted grandchildren, Robbie and his wife, Shawna, Marci and her husband, Rich, Mindy and her husband, Scott, Jamie, Marty, Angel Daytona, Crystal and Roberto, Bobby, Cherri Rae, Beth Ann and her husband, Josh, Patrick, Alyssa and her husband, Alexi, Cash, Mark, Mary Lee, Jennifer, Kristy, Justin, Joey, Luke, Cody, Aerial, Zoe, Landon, Destiny, Madison, Wyatt and soon will be Aiden Allen. As well as her great-grandchildren, Emma, Miles, Cameron, Dawson, baby boy, Sean, Ericka, Katie, Hannah, Reina, Adreian, Flor Azucen, Emma Leigh, Sky Leigh, Briana, Jose "JJ", Maria, Julian, Aracellie, Jesus, Guillermo and Joshua. Also her mother, Mary and her husband, Harold Hawkins; and a sister, Sherry and her husband, Erv.
Going before her were her husbands, Boyd and Bernard; her father, Johan Charles; and a child, Joey.
She and all of her survivors thank the nurses and staff of the ICU at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center for all that they did to make her last days more comfortable.
She selected as her honorary pallbearers each of her daughters. Pallbearers will be Pati Kreisel, Robbie Hasler, Marty Struthers, Mark Hamilton, Joey Hanson, Cody Whitsel, Cash Sturgeon, Landon Whitsel, Todd Babb and Alexi Serrano. Additional pallbearers will be Lee Sturgeon, Sonny Dawdy and Chris Hanner.
Memorials may be sent to 1321 Dubuque Street, Sioux City.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Ellen Melinda Bahmer-Whitsel (Benson), please visit our flower store.
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