Mavis Maurer

March 14, 1945 — May 11, 2018

Larchwood, IA

Mavis Maurer age 73 of Larchwood, IA died Friday, May 11, 2018 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at the United Church of Christ in Larchwood, IA with Rev. Anne Dilenschneider, officiating. Burial will follow in the Hillside Cemetery at Lester, IA.

Visitation will be Tuesday, May 15th from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Larchwood.

Mavis Arlene Maurer was born March 14, 1945 in Worthing, SD. Growing up Mavis was an only child yet surrounded by family – grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all contributed to her upbringing and interests. Her parents Mary (Anderson) and Leonard Olson were beloved and inspired her lifelong work ethic, independence and sense of right and wrong.

While attending country school and Canton High School Mavis developed an interest in music. Singing was her gift to the world and she shared it in Easter and Christmas programs at church; she was also honored when asked to sing at special events. She loved to dance and listen to 60’s rock music.

She moved around the area, living in Canton, Worthing, Sioux Falls and Larchwood before ultimately moving to a farm outside Lester, IA, with her husband Paul Maurer, who she married on November 14, 1970. She cared for her rambunctious family while farming and working at K-Products in Rock Rapids, IA until 1996.

When her children were grown she decided to go back to school where she earned her degree in Psychology from Killian Community College, earning valedictorian honors for her performance in the classroom. She put her education and caring nature to work at Sioux Vocational Services as a Residential Trainer, a job she retired from in 2007.

Mavis was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in November of 2010. She received treatment in Sioux Falls and later in Rapid City when she and Paul moved to their permanent home in Hermosa, SD. She fought through transplants and chemotherapy for over seven years before succumbing to the disease while surrounded by her family on May 11, 2018 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.

She is survived by her husband, Paul of Hermosa, SD; her children Bob (Lori) Tracy of Larchwood, IA; Richard Tracy of Sioux Falls, SD; Chrystine (Kevin) Tracy of Worthing, SD; Priscilla (Frank) Briones of Canton, SD; Paula Maurer of Denver, CO and Marie Maurer of Larchwood, IA; ten grandchildren and three great granddaughters; along with her special lifelong friends, Judy Groeneweg of Rock Valley, IA and Sherrie Veldman of Rock Valley, IA.

Mavis was preceded in death by her parents and an infant son, David.

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Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

4:00 - 8:00 pm (Central time)

Jurrens Funeral Home

, Larchwood, IA 51241

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Funeral Service

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Starts at 2:00 pm (Central time)

United Church of Christ