Mary Catherine Tokheim

Mary Catherine was born in St. Paul, MN to Frederick and Elizabeth (Ponathe) Gaertner, the third of seven children. Mary met her future husband at a dance at St. Thomas Academy where John was a student and she was attending St. Joseph Academy in St. Paul, MN. She was united in marriage to the love of her life, John T. Tokheim on June 11, 1949. John preceded her in death January 26, 2012 after nearly 63 years of marriage. They were the best of friends and were rarely seen without one another.



Mary and John settled in Charter Oak, lA in 1953 where they carried on the family banking business for many years. Active in Iowa politics for over 30 years, she attended the 1960 Democratic National Convention as an alternate delegate. She loved a lively political debate and hosted many dignitaries around her kitchen table. Mary never knew a stranger and welcomed everyone into their home. Mary enjoyed world travel, dancing, entertaining and summers with family and friends at Twin Lakes, lA. John and Mary made Omaha their part time home in 1981 to be closer to family.



Mary' s greatest source of pride and joy were her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband John, grandchildren Thomas James Loeffelholz and Katherine Ann Garvey. She is survived by her loving children, Mary Elizabeth (Jim) Robinson of Dayton, OH, Therese Ann (Dr. Jeffry) Graham of Phoenix, AZ, Thomas John (Nancy) Tokheim of Rancho Mirage, CA, Jean Marie (Jim) Michalak of Lebanon, IL, James Terrence Tokheim, Kathleen Joy (Dr. Thomas) Spoonhour, Richard Ward (Cari) Tokheim, all of Omaha. She enjoyed her 21 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.



Mary was very devoted to her Catholic faith and will be lovingly remembered by her many friends and family.



Services:

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in memory of

Mary on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Vincent

de Paul Catholic Church, 14330 Eagle Run Drive, Omaha,

NE with Rev. Daniel Kampschneider

officiating. Memorials in memory of Mary can be made to

St. Vincent de Paul Church or Charities of your choice.



Visitation:

Starting at 5:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. will be held on Wednesday, December

16, 2015, at John A. Gentleman Pacific St. Chapel.