Surrounded by her loving family, Mari Jane Fitzpatrick of Oelwein passed away on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at MercyOne Hospital in Oelwein. A Rosary Service will begin at 3:30 PM on Sunday February 4, 2024 at the Geilenfeld-Buehner Funeral Home in Oelwein. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 PM at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 AM on Monday February 5, 2024 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein with Fr. Ray Atwood officiating. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery at Oelwein. Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.
Mari Jane was born April 03, 1941 in Dubuque, Iowa. At three days old she was adopted through Catholic Charities and welcomed into the loving arms of her new parents, Les and Winnie (Pickering) Olsen of Oelwein.
She was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Parish Oelwein, having celebrated Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and now Last Rites.
She graduated from Sacred Heart School and Pitze’s Beauty School, Waterloo.
Mari Jane was the loving and supportive wife to Robert “Bob” Fitzpatrick for sixty six years, married on August 31, 1957.
As a young wife and mother she was a beauty operator at the Elite Beauty Shop, Oelwein until 1969.
Her love of all children led her to open a home daycare where she was a dedicated caregiver to over ninety children in forty two years. To Mari Jane this was not “work”, but a passion that she enjoyed until her retirement in 2012 at the age of 70.
Mari Jane was a lover of family and friends; her Catholic faith was unwavering. No one ever came to her without leaving happier. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren filled her heart with unending joy till the day she passed away. They knew her as “Grandma Jane” or “Honey”, a carryover of hearing Grandpa Bob call her “Honey”. She enjoyed working in her flower gardens, and springtime trips with Bob to pick out flowers at local greenhouses. Living across from the Oelwein swimming pool and park made it a favorite place for her grandchildren to visit. She was a lover of dogs her entire life.
Dedicated Mother to Tammy (Reggie) Byrd, Cedar Falls, Todd (Cheryl) Fitzpatrick, Fort Worth TX, Troy (Jennifer) Fitzpatrick, Oelwein, and Trent Fitzpatrick, Waterloo.
Loving Grandmother to Sarah (Ryan) Jepson, Iowa City, Caitlyn Van Blaricom, Cedar Falls, Christopher (Kathryn) Byrd, Fargo ND, Alyssa and Alec Fitzpatrick, Fort Worth, TX, Kyan and Collin Fitzpatrick, Oelwein, Tyler, Austin, and Alexis Fitzpatrick, and Madisyn (Holden Bentley) Fitzpatrick, Fayette.
Loving Great Grandmother to fifteen great grandchildren plus one expected.
Mari Jane is also survived by her brothers Joe Olsen, Albuquerque, NM, and Jerry (Connie) Olsen, Boone, nieces, nephews and cousins-especially MariAnne Reynolds and Amy Otting.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Les and Winnie (Pickering) Olsen and great niece, Annie Stolfus, as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
