Marilyn Mabeus

Marilyn Mabeus, 84, of Ponca, NE, passed away peacefully at CountryHouse in Omaha on Wednesday, August 3, 2016.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, August 6, 2016 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ponca, NE with Father Andrew Sohm officiating. Burial will be in Calvary at South Creek Cemetery in rural Ponca. Visitation will begin at 5:00 P.M. on Friday, August 5, 2016, with the family present at 6:00 P.M. and a Scriptural Wake Service at 7:00 P.M. at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Mohr Funeral Home in Ponca. Online condolences to the family may be posted at www.mohrfuneralhome.com.Marilyn was born in Ponca on March 24, 1932, the daughter of Charles and Pearl (Hillen) Lowe. She graduated from Ponca High School in 1950. Marilyn married Luvern "Bird" Mabeus at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ponca on August 23, 1950 and shared the next 62 years of her life with him. Luvern passed away in 2013.Marilyn loved her role as a homemaker. She also worked seventeen years in employee benefits at IBP and twelve years for Nebraska DHHS, both in Dakota City, NE. Marilyn kept busy in retirement enjoying volunteer work in the community, daily Mass, involvement in Ponca Senior Center, and frequent visits with family and friends who she loved like family.During hunting season, the Mabeus home served as 'bed and breakfast' for hunter friends from across the country. Marilyn found joy in preparing an early morning breakfast so the hunters could be at their destination by daybreak. Wonderful memories ensued and cousins forged lasting bonds when Marilyn and Luvern hosted 'grandkid camp' two weeks each summer. Their big yard was the backdrop for hours of outdoor fun and a nearly endless supply of corn-on-the-cob. Young and old were welcomed with a cold glass of lemonade or a hot cup of coffee and a cookie jar rarely without fresh-baked cookies.Marilyn moved to CountryHouse, a memory care residence in Omaha, in March of 2014. There she had frequent visits of family and friends and endeared herself to the caring staff at CountryHouse and Serene Care Hospice. Survivors include her children, Julie Lukken (Gene Hrubetz) of Omaha, NE, Vicki (Robert) Irby of Ponca, NE, Roxanne (Myron) Thompson of Shelton, NE, Kirk (Jeanne) Mabeus of Rainbow City Alabama, Bryan (Shelisa) Mabeus of Omaha, NE, 11 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Joanne (Saxon) Lowe of O'Neill, NE and Leona Mabeus of Osco, IL, brothers-in-law Doyal Mabeus of Hillsdale, IL and Norman Mabeus of Warsaw, MO and many nieces and nephews.Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Pearl Lowe; her husband, Luvern Mabeus; her son, Robert Mabeus; brother Robert Lowe, and sisters Shirley Butler and Sally Lowe.