MARY ELLEN (MATLAGE) PLAEHN

St Marys

Mary Ellen (Matlage) Plaehn, 86, passed away Friday, October 21, 2016 at Vintage Hills in Indianola. Visitation will be held at the St. Marys Hall on Monday, October 24th from 4:00 to 7:30 with a Rosary at 7:30.  The funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 25th at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys with burial following at the St. Marys' Cemetery.

Mary Ellen was born January 2, 1930 in Des Moines, IA to Michael Hraha and Leona (Croat) Hraha. At the age of 3, the family moved back to the family farm in St. Marys.  She was a graduate of St. Marys High School where she was active in Drama, Basketball and 4-H as well being the class valedictorian. At age 16, she began working for the Iowa Des Moines National Bank.  She remained an employee of the acquiring companies until her retirement in 1992 from Wells Fargo.

She married Clifford Matlage in 1954 and to this union five children were born.  Clifford and Mary Ellen purchased a farm in St. Marys.  Tragically, Clifford died in 1964 leaving Mary Ellen with five children between the ages of seven and eighteen months.  In 1968, she met and married Fred Plaehn of Des Moines and later divorced in 1975.

In addition to her career in banking, Mary Ellen's life consisted of running the family farm with her children.  She was a devout Catholic and a lifelong member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys.  In her retirement, Mary Ellen enjoyed her Red Hat Society activities as well as attending her grandchildren's numerous athletic, musical, theatrical and 4-H activities.

She is survived by her five children, Mark (Jackie) Matlage of St. Marys, Brian (Julie) Matlage of Olathe, KS, Susan Matlage-Simms of Prole, Caroline (Mike) Davitt of St. Marys and Annette Smith of St. Marys along with 15 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Clifford, her parents, Leona and Michael Hraha as well as her brothers George and Frank Hraha

A very special thank you to the caregivers at Vintage Hills Memory Care Unit in Indianola, for their loving care during the last 2 ½ years of her life.

Memorials may be made to Immaculate Conception Church or the St. Marys' Fire and Rescue Department.  Online condolences may be made at www.overtonfunerals.com.