Mary Wachter

Mary H. Wachter, 89, of Harpers Ferry, IA, died Friday, April 11, 2025, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon, IA. Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 17th, at 11:00 AM at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Fr. Paulraj Sellam officiating. Burial will be in St. Pius Cherry Mound Cemetery, rural Harpers Ferry. Friends may greet the family from 9:00 AM until the time of services Thursday at the funeral home.

Mary Helen Wachter was born October 18, 1935, the daughter of Maple and Veronica (Muench) Moody. She was baptized and confirmed in McGregor, IA, and graduated from McGregor High School in 1953. On June 13, 1953, Mary married the love of her life Jim Wachter at St. Pius Cherry Mound Catholic Church in rural Harpers Ferry.

Throughout her life, she worked at Northern Engraving in Waukon for 32 years. Mary was a social butterfly and always had a kind word and a conversation ready for anyone who would listen. She was a fantastic cook and baker, enjoyed yardwork and tending to her garden, talking politics, and was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan, especially basketball.

Mary is survived by her four children: Connie (Bruce) Snitker of Harpers Ferry, IA, Cindy (Gary) Egan of Waukon, IA, Charlie (Jackie) Wachter of Prairie du Chien, WI, and Gary (Meika) Wachter of Rochester, MN; five siblings: Donna Amfhar, Dorothy Hitchens, Eileen Cooper, Bill Moody, and Lynn Moody; 12 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Jim in 2018; her parents; two sons: Glenn and Joseph; two brothers: Bob and Paul; and a granddaughter Jill Birkenholtz.

Honorary casketbearers are Tami Snitker, Jody Mohwinkle, Keri Ghelf, Nikki Bartell, Megan Vorwald, and Keara Wachter. Casketbearers are Jeremy Snitker, Josh Snitker, Chad Egan, Jeremy Mohwinkle, Eric Birkenholtz, Brian Wachter, Kade Wachter, and Mike Moody.