Mary Lou Minard was born May 17, 1930 the daughter of Warren and Amelia (Hartman) Palmer in Charles City, Iowa.  She was raised and educated in Charles City, where she graduated from high school.

Mary Lou was united in marriage to Keith S. Minard on November 11, 1949 in Charles City.  The couple made their home in Charles City, Bakersfield, CA, New Berlin, WI, East Moline, IL and Cedar Falls, IA until moving to Spirit Lake in 1989.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, as well as the YMCA in Spirit Lake.  She enjoyed painting, bowling and bridge.  She also enjoyed boating, cooking and sewing.
Mary Lou bravely fought a short battle with cancer, passing away Friday, August 22, 2008 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota at seventy-eight years of age.

She is survived by her husband, Keith Minard of Spirit Lake; children, Phil Minard and wife Sue of Lenexa, Kansas, Michele Muecke and husband John of Sheridan, Wyoming, Jill Harake and husband Fadi of Huntington Beach, California; grandchildren, Kim Minard of Chandler, AZ, Matt Minard and wife Devon of Des Moines, IA Mike Minard of Greenwood Village, CO, Liesa Seifert and husband Ole of Asia, Sarah Otto and husband Jason of Billings, MT, Angela Brugger and husband Tim of Sheridan, WY, Zoe Harake and Lena Harake of Huntington Beach, CA; great-grandchildren Quin and Anya Seifert and Isaac and Garrett Otto.  Also surviving are siblings, Irene Klinseis of Ames, Iowa and Bernard Palmer of Charles City, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by  her parents, Warren and Amelia Palmer, siblings, Keith and Kenneth Palmer and Bernice Stanley.

Mary Lou’s kind ways and loving smile will be missed by all.

In Loving Memory

Mary Lou Minard
May 17, 1930 ~ August 22, 2008

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
Spirit Lake, Iowa
Thursday, August 28, 2008  11:00 AM

PRESIDERS
Rev. James Smith
Rev. Albert O. Grendler

MUSIC
Wilma Clauson, Organist   Neala Rienke, Cantor

HONORARY BEARERS
Mary Lou’s grandchildren
Kim Minard          Mike Minard              Sarah Otto
Matt Minard          Liesa Seifert      Angela Brugger
Lena Harake                                           Zoe Harake