White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

INDEPENDENCE – Mary A. Klotzbach, 95 years old, of Independence, IA, passed away peacefully of natural causes on Thursday morning, June 6, 2024, at ABCM Rehabilitation Center – West, in Independence, IA.

Celebration of Life Committal Services will begin at 9:30 a.m. – July 6, 2024, at White Funeral Home with a procession to Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence.

Memorial Services will be 11:00 a.m. – Saturday, July 6^th, at the First Presbyterian Church in Independence, with an hour of visitation, at the church, prior to services. Lunch will be served following the services at the church.

Celebration of Life Visitation will be 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., Friday, July 5, 2024, at the White Funeral Home in Independence.

Mary Alice McMahon was born February 12, 1929, in Sioux City, IA, the daughter of F.J. “Bud” and Elsie (Paulsen) McMahon. She was raised in Manning, IA, where her father owned and operated McMahon’s Feed & Seed. Her mother was a nurse who graduated from Jenny Edmunds School of Nursing in Council Bluffs, IA. Mary was an older sister to John Robert, who died at the age of eight in 1941, due to a congenital heart condition.

Mary graduated from Manning High School with the class of 1947. She started her college education at Iowa State University, but transferred to the University of Iowa, where she graduated with a teaching degree. It was there, at the University of Iowa, she met Independence native William G. “Bill” Klotzbach, and they were united in marriage on June 6, 1952, at “Old Brick” Presbyterian Church in Iowa City, IA. After Bill received his J.D. they moved to Independence.

She taught one year of Fifth Grade in Independence and worked at the family’s dry goods store in downtown Independence. The couple had a happy life in Independence raising four children and being active in the community. Mary loved helping and serving others. She often said she lived with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. She exemplified Micah 6:8 – “God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Mary was active in the Presbyterian Church - local, Presbytery, and Synod; she served on the Independence School Board, including time as president. She was a member of the Buchanan County Homeless Council, LACES, Buchanan County Democrats, PEO Chapter BD, and an ecumenical Bible study group that was formed from the “Key ‘73” initiative. She also enjoyed her water aerobics group and friends at Liberal Latte. Mary loved nature and was proud of being involved with Fontana Park – especially sponsoring the skunk. She enjoyed spending time sitting in her chair surrounded by nature at her corner garden at home, and she loved going to the Independence Farmer’s Market and was humbly honored with her own bench simply known as “Mom’s Bench.”

Mary is survived by her four children, Karl (Kim) Klotzbach of Dalton, WI, George (Karen) Klotzbach of Ames, IA, John Klotzbach of Independence, IA, and Sarah (Jeff) Dickinson of Papillion, NE; five grandchildren, Hannah (Grayson Nielsen) Klotzbach, Liam (Olivia Mayne) Klotzbach, Katie (Jason Baalke) Klotzbach, John (Peyton) Klotzbach, and Erin Dickinson; one great grandchild, Calvin Baalke; her niece Janet (Mark) Kohlmeyer of Guttenberg, IA; her nephew, William (Vicky) Risk of Tempe, AZ; her beloved cat Charlie; and other extended family.

In addition to her brother, John; Mary is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bill, on August 19, 2000; her sister-in-law, Kate Risk; former brother-in-law, Donald Risk, and her nephew, John Risk.

A memorial fund has been established and will be given to organizations close to Mary’s heart.

Condolences may be placed at www.White-MtHope.com
White Funeral Home, Independence is in charge of arrangements.