Mary Ellen Hutchison

Mary Ellen Hutchison, 94 of Cedar Rapids, NE, died on Thursday, July 21, 2022 at Good Samaritan Society in Albion, NE.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 25, 2022 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church with Fr. Mark Tomasiewicz officiating.  Burial will be at a later date.  Visitation will be Sunday from 4-6 p.m. with a 6:00 p.m. wake service at church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the Cedar Rapids Senior Center, Cedar Rapids Library or the Juvenile Arthritis Foundation.

In honor of Mary Ellen's love for the Huskers please feel free to wear Husker gear or red.

Levander Funeral Home of Albion, NE is in charge of the arrangements.

Mary Ellen Hutchison was born December 17, 1927, on a farm southwest of Cedar Rapids to John (Jack) L. & Elizabeth (Kleffner) Buechter. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. She attended St. Anthony's grade school, except for the 3 ^rd & 4 ^th grades, which were spent at a rural school. She graduated from Cedar Rapids High School in 1945 with a degree in normal training. Her next three years were spent teaching in Boone County rural schools.

On June 17, 1948, she married James L. Hutchison at St. Anthony's Church. They lived in Spalding for a short time and then moved to Cedar Rapids and bought St. John's Lutheran Church which they made into their home. Mary Ellen worked as a secretary at Cedar Rapids High School for 13 years. She was President and a member of the Altar Society, the Parish Council and on the building committee the year the Parish Hall was built, and St. Anthony's school closed. She was also a member of the Young Wives Extension Club, JWG and Kibitzer's bridge club, the Legion Auxiliary, the Pinochle Club and D.D.C. Club. She was on the board and a member of the ANAC (Association of Nebraska Art Clubs) and a member & President of the Cedar Valley Art Guild. She was a long-time member of St. Anthony's Choir. She liked to bowl and was a member of the Batenhorst Gravel bowling team. She also loved to golf.

Mary Ellen and Jim designed and built both their houses and remodeled many others. She was an avid Husker and St. Louis Cardinal fan. She was an artist and loved to paint. Many of her paintings now hang in the homes of her children and grandchildren. She also loved to sew and made many clothes for herself and family in the early years. She and Jim enjoyed spending 14 years of winters in Mesa, Arizona where she enjoyed playing golf and making china dolls, along with many other activities. She enjoyed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their accomplishments in academics, sports, and music.

Mary Ellen moved to the Good Samaritan Home in Albion May 14, 2020.

She is survived by her children: Dan Hutchison (Angela), Diane Buettner (Ron), and Renee Marquardt (Jeff). Grandchildren Tracey Buettner (Dean), Todd Buettner (Julie), Tamara Guthard (Dan), Tori McCarthy (Mike), Anita Zweiner (Dave), Derek Hutchison (May), Alex Hutchison (Kara); Drew Hutchison, Dusty Marquardt (Megan) and Brandee Chapman (Jay). Great-grandchildren Colton and Dylan Boesch, Ben and Joe Zweiner, Darlan and Paulo Hutchison, Calle and Garrett Guthard, Carter, Austin and Erynn McCarthy, Taylor Scott, Wesley (Kelly Loughman), Missy and Trey Zoucha, Dyanna Buettner, Easton and Emersyn Marquardt, Jaxton and Hadlee Chapman and Ella Hutchison. Her sisters Betty Palmaffy, Katie Mahoney and Elaine Orr along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband Jim L. Hutchison, her parents John and Elizabeth Buechter, brothers-in-law Michael Orr, Michael Palmaffy and Ed Mahoney. Brothers and sisters-in-law Richard and Inez Carter, Glen and Margaret Finell and Vern and Lucille Fitzsimmons.