Mary Jo Schreck

Mary Jo Schreck, 81, of Reinbeck, IA, passed away on January 31, 2018 while in the care of Cedar Valley Hospice. A visitation will be held Sunday, February 4, 2018 from 1-3 PM at Engelkes-Ables Funeral Home Dike Chapel with a rosary service to be held at 3 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, February 5, 2018 at 10:30 AM at Saint Gabriel’s Catholic Church in rural Reinbeck with Father Dennis Quint officiating. Visitation will resume prior to the service at 9AM. Interment will be held at Blessing Cemetery in rural Hudson at 1:30 PM.  Engelkes-Ables Dike Chapel is caring for Mary Jo and her family. Online condolences may be made at www.abelsfuneralhomes.com. Memorials may be made to the family or Cedar Valley Hospice.

Mary Jo was born July 30, 1936 in Waterloo, Iowa, daughter of Edward and AnnaLuella O’Connor. She was raised in the Dike area and graduated from Dike High School in 1954.  After high school graduation, she attended Clark College in Dubuque where she received a bachelor’s degree in science, biochemistry, english and journalism, graduating in 1958. Following graduation, she worked for Schoitz Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa as a biochemist.  On June 6, 1959, Mary Jo was united in marriage to Paul Schreck at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Grundy Center, Iowa. Mrs. Schreck went back to school at the University of Northern Iowa to gain her teaching certificate and began teaching part time at Dike High School as an English teacher.  Mrs. Schreck taught 28 years at Reinbeck High School, later Gladbrook-Reinbeck High School.

Mrs. Schreck was a member of St. Gabriel's Catholic Church.  She was also a member of the Serra Catholic Club of Waterloo. Mary Jo enjoyed teaching and made many connections with students and families. Being an avid reader, she was known to say to her students, “There is nothing to take the place of a good book.”  She also enjoyed her role as farm wife, mother, and grandmother.  She treasured spending time and supporting her grandchildren in all of their activities.  She was frequently seen sitting along the arena rail watching and cheering them on in all of their equestrian competitions.  Faith and family were extremely important to Mary Jo and she will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Survived by: her husband; son, David (Carole) Schreck of Murphy, Texas; daughter, Amy Jo (Adam) Naughton of Indianola, Iowa; five grandchildren, Anna Marie and Ellie Schreck and Thomas, James and Emily Naughton; brother, Thomas O’Connor. Mary Jo is preceded in death by: her parents; sisters, Emily O’Connor and Theresa Bennett; brothers, Paul and James O’Connor.