Mary Belle Dausel Pokorny, daughter of Viggo and Anna Kathrina Nielsen Dausel was born on March 18, 1923, in Turin, Iowa. She graduated from Onawa, Iowa High School and Normal Teacher’s College in Sioux City, Iowa. She married Andrew Louis Pokorny on May 29, 1944, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Onawa, Iowa.
Mary Belle is predeceased by her parents, her five brothers, Walter, John Harlen, Leo, Floyd, and Viggo (Ike) Dausel; her beloved husband of 64 years, Andrew; her eldest son Thomas Jerome Pokorny; and her granddaughter Jennifer Marie Lewis.
She is survived by her daughters, Marie Elizabeth Pokorny and her husband Robert Thompson of Greenville, NC; Catherine Ann and her husband James Lewis, Coralville, IA, and her sons, Philip Andrew Pokorny and wife Patricia of Gladstone, Mo; Paul Joseph Pokorny and his partner, Erin Swanson of Omaha NE, as well as six grandchildren, twelve great-children, two step-grandchildren, and three step-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and their children.
Mary Belle and Andrew farmed near Onawa, Iowa, before moving to Harlan, Iowa, in 1953. During her long and joyful life, she enjoyed walking, gardening, raising flowers, crocheting baby booties and lace for pillowcases, tatting lace for handkerchiefs, sewing clothes, polka dancing, playing the piano by ear, baking rhubarb and cherry pies, eating corn on the cob, and remembering teaching grade school in a one-room country school in Monona County Iowa. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, watching game shows, and most of all, visiting her children and grandchildren. She was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan and was active for many years in the Women’s Guild.
The family wishes to thank her many caregivers at Living Well Home Care in Harlan and Avoca Specialty Care, who helped her over the past several years. She will be sorely missed, even knowing she enjoyed a long, joyful life and is now at peace.
Memorials may be made to the Jennifer Lewis Science Scholarship.
Make checks payable to:
Jennifer Lewis Science Scholarship
WCSD Foundation
P.O. Box 311
Washington, Iowa 52353
Mass of Christian Burial is Saturday, October 29 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan. Burial will be in the Harlan Cemetery. Visitation is Saturday, October 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan. Pauley Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
