Mary Lou Mau, age 78, of Ida Grove, Iowa, passed away on Saturday,
October 22, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Society of Holstein, Iowa.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 27, 2022, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. Rev. Richard A. Salcido will officiate.
Committal Services will follow in the Wall Lake Cemetery of Wall Lake, Iowa.
A Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, at the Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa.
The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com
Mary Lou (Borton) Mau was born on September 2, 1944, to Thomas and Pauline (Schulz) Borton. She grew up in rural Marshall County, Iowa, mostly in the State Center and Rhodes, Iowa, areas. Mary graduated with the final class from Rhodes High school in 1964. In December 1968 she graduated from Buena Vista College with a degree in Elementary Education. She immediately began teaching 1st grade at the Maple Valley Community School District in Mapleton, Iowa. Mary taught 1st grade, Title I, and Reading Recovery throughout her 35 ½ years at Maple Valley.
In 1975 Mary wed Alvin Mau at the Rhodes United Methodist Church in Rhodes. They made their home in Ida Grove, Iowa, with their daughters Rachelle and Janice. Mary enjoyed helping Alvin with gardening, sewing, plastic canvas crafts, and reading. She was a member of the Dorcas Society, Bible Study, and ladies circle at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove. After Al retired and both girls were in their careers, Mary and Al took up wood carving and volunteering at the Orphan Grain Train in Ida Grove.
Mary retired from teaching in May of 2004. The best part of retirement for Mary came in 2013 when her grandson, Liam, was born. Mary and Al made sure Liam knew he was loved and adored beyond measure. In January of 2022 Mary relished the addition of her granddaughter, Eva, who was equally a treasure and adored.
Missing her presence in their lives are her daughters Rachelle Mau of Humboldt, IA and Janice Winkelbauer (fiancé Jeff Tessman) of Onawa, IA; grandson Liam and granddaughter Eva; brother Paul (Anita) Borton of State Center, IA; nephews Jed Borton, Todd (Michelle) Borton and niece Lori (Gary) Schaffer all of State Center, IA; sister-in-law Judy Mau of Sac City, IA; as well as her great nieces and nephews, aunts, and uncles.
She was preceded in death by her husband Alvin Mau (Dec. 2021); parents Thomas and Pauline Borton; in-laws Herman and Anna Mau; as well as several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
