Mary Schiernbeck

Mary Jean Schiernbeck, age 88, of Lamar, passed away Monday evening, April 17, 2017, at Truman Healthcare, surrounded by the love of her family.      Mary was born June 18, 1928 in Odebolt, Iowa, one of the thirteen children of Bernard and Irma Jean (Dinges) Bengford.  On October 25, 1946, at Papillion, Nebraska, she married Hugo Schiernbeck and they had celebrated nearly 68 years together before his passing on August 24, 2014.  Mary was also preceded in death by her parents; seven brothers, Norbert, Bernard, Wilbert, Ken, Tom, John, and Ted Bengford; three sisters, Loretta Bengford, Alice Haffner, and Madeline McTasney; and two grandchildren, Dakota Schiernbeck and Travis Schiernbeck.      Hugo and Mary were an inspirational team as they farmed and raised their four children.  In addition to being a devoted farmwife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker, Mary had worked as a retail clerk in various stores in Lamar for many years.  She served her community as a Red Cross Bloodmobile volunteer and was a faithful and active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.      Survivors include two sons, Milo (Wanda) Schiernbeck of Schleswig, Iowa and Merlin (Brenda) Schiernbeck of Osceola, Wisconsin; two daughters, Marlene (Tom) Shaw of Liberal, Missouri and Marlys (Steve) Buckner of Lamar; a brother, Norm Bengford of San Jose, California; a sister, Margaret Jennett of Muscatine, Iowa; eleven grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and a large extended family.      Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Friday, April 21st at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lamar.  Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.      Memorial contributions are suggested to Barton County Memorial Hospital or American Cancer Society, in care of Daniel Funeral Home.