Mary Beth Turgasen

Mary Beth Turgasen

Iowa City

Mary Beth Turgasen, 76, of Iowa City, died on Sept. 22, 2023, at Hallmark Care Center in Mount Vernon, Iowa, with family by her side.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at Lensing’s Oak Hill, Coralville, with remarks at 11:30 a.m. A family burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, Coralville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed toward the Alzheimer’s Association.

Mary Beth was born on April 4, 1947, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Joseph Edmund Mason Sr. and Lucille (McNeely) Mason.

Mary Beth attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Sleepy Eye, Minn., before her family moved to Independence, Iowa. She attended St. John’s Catholic School and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1965. She attended Mercy School of Nursing in Mason City, Iowa, and completed her RN at Mercy School of Nursing in Dubuque in 1968.

Following graduation, Mary Beth worked at Allen Hospital in Waterloo before moving to Iowa City to work at Mercy Hospital in the ICU and eventually in the ER as a charge nurse, retiring in 2009 after 40-plus years in the nursing profession. As a charge nurse, Mary Beth enjoyed her time as a preceptor for nursing students from Kirkwood Community College and the University of Iowa and volunteering at Iowa City’s Free Medical Clinic. She often brought in homemade treats to share with her fellow nurses and doctors, always bringing the recipe to share. While she was at Mercy Hospital, she made many lifelong friends, especially Gloria Hoffman and Joellen Megan, who continued to visit her during her last days of life.

Mary Beth married her high school sweetheart, John Charles Turgasen on Oct. 4, 1969, at St. John’s Church in Independence. Together they had three children (Jeremy, Michael, and Amanda), seven grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren and many beloved pets.

Mary Beth had many hobbies. She joined a card making club and loved to send her homemade cards to everyone she knew for every occasion possible. She was also an avid reader, volunteered for many of her children’s activities, crocheted baby blankets for friends and for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Besides her family, Mary Beth’s passion was baking and cooking everything from scratch, which spoiled her family from liking anything store bought, especially spaghetti sauce.

Mary Beth was happiest with her family. Many family vacations were spent camping and exploring the mountains in Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota and Utah. In their later life, John and Mary Beth enjoyed spending their Januarys in Mexico. She enjoyed attending her children’s activities and, eventually, her grandchildren’s activities; having her grandchildren dropped off for the day, the weekend or even the week and always prepared with fresh-baked cookies or cinnamon rolls. Mary Beth was very proud to have two sets of twins for her grandchildren and spoiled all seven of her grandchildren.

Mary Beth is survived by her children: Jeremy (Amy) Turgasen of Altoona with their children Cole and Evan; Michael (Danielle) Turgasen of North Liberty with their children Jacob, Jackson and Drew; and Amanda (Jeff) Schwarting of Amana with their children Mason and Lauren, and stepgrandchildren, Allissa and Nolan. Mary Beth is also survived by her sisters: Susie (Cory) Kissell of Bloomington, Minn., Pam (Ed) Winfield of Burnsville, Minn., and Jill (Jack) Mason Dicker of Dallas, Texas; many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and -nephews.

Mary Beth was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Joe, and her husband John in 2022.

Online Condolences and memories may be shared at www.lensingfuneral.com.