Mary Kathleen Empen

Mary Kathleen Empen, age 84, of Preston, Iowa, passed away peacefully Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at Bickford Assisted Living in Clinton, Iowa. A Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Preston, Iowa. Visitation will be held 9:00 – 11:00 am Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at the Church prior to the Mass. A memorial has been established for the Manna Center Food Pantry.

Mary was born September 10, 1938 in Clinton, the daughter of Vernon “Red” and Lucille (Kelly) Badrick. She is a 1956 graduate of the Preston High School, and then she went on to Marycrest College. After some time, at a dance, she met the love of her life, Donald Empen. On July 15, 1961, Mary and Donald were married in Preston. They celebrated 34 years of marriage before Don’s passing in 1995.

Most important in Mary’s life was family. First, she became a farmwife and enjoyed chores, cooking and anything else to help around the farm. She also worked as a bank teller in Spragueville and Preston for several years. Mary liked making their home a special place by decorating and remodeling. Traveling out west with the whole family, or somewhere fun with Don, was one of her favorites. In later years, the grandchildren were her focus, and she always enjoyed baking them chocolate chip cookies.

Her faith and her community were also very important to her. She was active in St. Joseph Catholic Church and helped at the Manna Center Food Pantry. Mary loved her friends throughout life and treasured the time they spent playing cards or taking short trips.

Mary will be dearly missed by her son, Don Jr (Ann) Empen of Eldridge, Iowa; her daughter, Cristi (Mike) Foster of Naperville, Illinois; three grandchildren, Adam Empen, Mitchell Foster and Megan Foster; and a brother, Charlie (Julie) Badrick of Sugarland, Texas. Mary is preceded in death by her husband Donald in 1995, her son Mark in 1999, and both parents.