Mary Ellen Jungers

HAWARDEN, IOWA ~ Mary E. Jungers, 89, of Hawarden, passed away on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at Hillcrest Health Care Services in Hawarden.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 26, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hawarden with Father Mauro Sanchez officiating. Burial will follow at Grace Hill Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 25th with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Mary was born December 24, 1934, to Geneva Catherine (Burns) Horst and Charles August Horst in Worthington, Minnesota. She attended school in Sanborn, Iowa.

She married Kenneth L. Rensink on July 18, 1955, in Sheldon, Iowa. They moved to Hawarden, Iowa, where they owned and operated the town bakery until moving to Sioux City, Iowa, in 1957. Where she was employed by Younker Martins bakery department and later working a long side her husband at Anderson’s bakery in Morningside. She also assisted him with his taxidermy business by painting the inside and around the mouths of the animals.

In 1973 she moved back to Sanborn, Iowa. She married Edward W. Jungers on April 15, 1978, in Cherokee, Iowa, adding his son Scott to the family. Employed by Upper Des Moines Opportunity as Head Start bus monitor. She loved dancing and going trucking with Eddie during the summer months. In 1992, the family moved back to Hawarden.

She loved playing dice at family gatherings, afternoon soap operas, receiving presents, football bantering with her sons defending her Patrick Mahomes, a good prank, and never passed up an opportunity for a trip to the casino. She was famous for her fudge, fried chicken, and especially her potato salad.

Mary is survived by her 8 children, Donna (Forrest) Childre of Keaton Beach, Florida, Debra (Scott) Radloff of Hawarden, Iowa, David (Marlene) Rensink of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Danny (Rita Johnson) Rensink, Darin Rensink, Scott Jungers, Denis Rensink all of Hawarden, and Charles (Kendra) Rensink of Remsen, Iowa; 11 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; sister, Margaret Pry of Hawarden; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Geneva and Charles Horst; her siblings, Catherine Stallman, James Horst, and Norene Petrich; spouses, Kenneth Rensink and Edward Jungers.