Mary Dreier

Mary Ellen Dreier (1920 – 2013) Mary Ellen was born on a farm near Sigourney, Iowa on April 15, 1920 to Ritta and Harry Shanafelt. She attended a one-room school until she moved into town to attend Sigourney High School. Her parents were strong believers in education and in 1942 she graduated from Iowa State College with a degree in Home Economics. After teaching briefly she married Private William Dreier in the Sigourney First Methodist Church on April 13, 1943. She joined her husband moving from base to base before he was shipped over seas. Soon after, she gave birth to a baby girl named Marion Carol, who died at childbirth. During her husband's absence, she joined her sister Marge (Bitter) in St. Paul, MN and began a long career as a nursery school teacher. In 1949 Mary Ellen and Dr. Bill Dreier moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa where Bill began his long tenure in the Education Dept. at Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI). In 1952, they moved their young family from temporary housing units to a house on the corner of 26th and College St. There they would raise their five children (Dan, Ted, Ruth, James and Ritta), host their 10 grandchildren and live for 48 years. Mary Ellen and Bill became active in the Cedar Falls First Baptist Church and in 1960 joined a group to establish the new Valley View Baptist Church on Orchard St. They were leaders and active supporters of this church for 50 years. Later they became involved in Inter-faith Charismatic Fellowship group and in July of every summer could always be found at the Green Lake Conference Center for a spiritual retreat. In 1963, Mary Ellen's widowed mother Ritta Shanafelt joined the family at 2604 College St. and Mary Ellen renewed her educational path by walking across the street to the (now) State College of Iowa. She received her master's degree in Special Education and was soon employed as a Special Ed. teacher and stayed in the Cedar Falls school system and Area Education Agency until her retirement in 1984. During her retirement years Mary Ellen stayed active in a variety of professional and faith-based women's groups, was a volunteer tutor for adult students and gave aid to numerous people in need. She and Bill enjoyed being active with their grandchildren near and far. Mary Ellen was present at, or shortly after, the births of many of her grandchildren, giving her full love, attention and support. In 2000 Mary Ellen and Bill moved into the Windgrace Retirement Center. Shortly before Bill passed away in 2006, they moved to Windhaven Assisted Living, where Mary Ellen continued to lead an active and full life. She enjoyed the company of her friends there and visits by her family, including her 2 great grand children. When Valley View closed its doors in 2010, she attended Waterloo First Baptist Church where she soon became a beloved elder of the church. Mary Ellen Dreier died peacefully in her Windhaven home with friends and family close by on September 8th, 2013.

Mary Dreier

April 15, 1920 - September 8, 2013