Mary Frances Geers

Mary Frances Geers, 87, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully with family present on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, Iowa.

On Thursday, October 16, 2025, there will be a 4:30 p.m. vigil service, followed by visitation from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m., and then Holy Rosary prayer led by the Knights of Columbus at 7:30 p.m., all at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, Iowa.

On Friday, October 17, 2025, there will be a 10:00 a.m. funeral mass with a one-hour visitation prior to services held at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids. Immediately after Mass, the graveside committal service will take place at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. After graveside services, Mary’s family invites you to join them for a luncheon in the Kearn Hall in the church basement. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Marion is assisting the family.Livestream link: https://youtube.com/live/_S9gOTShBtY

Mary was born on December 8, 1937, in Ossian, Iowa to Albert F. and Cathrine E. (Zweibohmer) Gerleman. Mary was the 6th of seven children. Their family had a farm in Frankville Township, outside Ossian, where they raised cattle, pigs, chickens, crops and a large garden. As a child she helped with all the daily chores. Mary attended a one room schoolhouse and often said each student brought a potato to bake on the woodstove for lunch. In 2nd grade, Mary started at DeSales Catholic School in Ossian, to prepare for her First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Mary graduated from DeSales High School with the class of 1956. After high school, Mary moved to Cedar Rapids for employment. While visiting family in Ossian, she met Robert A. “Bob” Mihm from St. Lucas, Iowa. Mary and Bob married on May 5, 1958, in Ossian, shortly thereafter, Bob was drafted into the United States Army and was stationed in Germany. Mary and Bob lived in Germany, then returned to Iowa and continued to build their family and made their home in Marion. Mary ensured all five of her children received a Catholic education from 1st through 8th grade at St. Joseph's in Marion, Iowa and 9th through 12th grade at Regis High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mary was incredibly proud of each of her children. After 21 years of marriage, Bob passed away in 1979, leaving her with five children to raise.

A few years after Bob’s death, Mary married Alfred M. Ahern in 1981, and they moved to Cedar Rapids. Al passed away in 1998.

In 1999, while working at the Linn County Court House, she met Francis “Fritz” Geers, and they married in August 2000. Mary and Fritz enjoyed 25 years together going on fishing trips, vacations, gambling, margaritas at CJ's, entertaining friends but most of all enjoyed going to dances all around the area wherever polka and waltzing was available.

Through out her life, Mary had a number of different jobs. Some of the jobs Mary had were in the mail room at Cherry Burrell, waitressing at the Alcove Cafe, babysitting kids in her home, production line work at Souvenir Pen and Pencil, providing samples to customers at the Hy-Vee Bakery, a ward clerk at Mercy Hospital, working with stencil plates at ALCO printing, touching up glass stencils for printed circuit boards at Rockwell International (Collins), and finally as a court attendant at the Linn County Court House.

Mary was able to travel abroad and to many different states and had many hobbies and talents that kept her busy. Mary really enjoyed trying new recipes and baking. Mary’s homemade bread and cinnamon rolls were highly requested and savored by her family and friends. Mary and Fritz had a beautiful flower garden every year, as she would collect seeds and flowers. When given a bouquet of flowers, it may only last for one day until she would promptly pluck out the flowered stems to dry them so they could later be used to adorn wreaths of pepper grass or Sweet Annie. Every wreath was carefully and lovingly assembled before she would give them away. Mary also enjoyed quilting until her loss of vision decreased her ability to perform daily activities and pursue hobbies.

Mary was a lifelong practicing Catholic, served in several ministries at the parishes she attended and was a devotee of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ and many saints. Praying the Rosary was so engrained in her nature that in her last few months, out of the blue, she would start praying the Hail Mary or the Glory Be To The Father.

Mary is survived by her husband of 25 years, Francis “Fritz” R. Geers; her five children, Jacquelyn Mihm of Cedar Rapids, Jeffrey (Janice) Mihm of Denver, Colorado, Steven (Dena) Mihm of Hamlin, New York, Laurie Frances of Cedar Rapids, and Brad (Amy) Mihm of Norway, Iowa; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; some sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews; as well as Fritz’s four children, Mike (Dianna) Geers, Kathy Geers, Susan Geers Ryan, and Dan (Jamie) Geers.

She was predeceased by her first husband, Robert Mihm; her second husband, Alfred Ahern; her parents, Cathrine and Albert Gerleman; her siblings and their spouses, Marceline (Lester) Daniels, Doris Gerleman, Helen (William) Juen, Lawrence Gerleman, Lois Jean Gerleman, and Ronald (Kathy) Gerleman; as well as all of Robert Mihm’s brothers and sisters.

Memorials in Mary’s name may be directed to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa or an animal rescue of the donor’s choice.

Mary’s family would like to thank the staff of the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House. Special gratitude is extended to Dane, Amber and Audri for their kind, attentive, and compassionate care they gave to our mother, Mary, and we include you in our extended family.