Mary Jo Harlow

Mary Joleen Miller Harlow was born on March 1, 1938 in Wahoo, Nebraska to LeRoy and Grace (Adsit) Miller. She grew up in Yutan and Waterloo, graduating from Waterloo High School in 1955. As a young girl, Mary Jo enjoyed 4-H and Volleyball and she was a cheerleader. Being a tom-boy, she spent a great deal of time helping her father on the farm and with her uncles, Joe and Jim. Mary Jo married Kenneth Harlow on November 22, 1956 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Yutan, Nebraska and they were blessed with five children: Mike, Randy, Vicki, Pat and Sheryl. Mary Jo has always made her home in Waterloo. Mary Jo always worked hard, early on she de-tasseled then when the children came she was a full time Mom. After raising her family, Mary Jo returned to work at Mutual of Omaha, Douglas County Annex, Douglas County Gazette and she was a photographer for All-American. Then she was a substitute rural mail carrier before taking over the route full time before retiring from the US Postal Service. Mary Jo had a great love of the outdoors. She enjoyed all that nature provided. She enjoyed reading, painting and collecting. In her later years, Mary Jo took up Power Lifting and was a National Champion in her age group. She was a compassionate, giving woman who was involved in her community. But through all of this, her passion was for her family. She treasured times when the whole family could gather for holidays. Mary Jo passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2013 at the Lakeside Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 75 years, 4 months and 12 days. She was preceded in death by her parents LeRoy and Grace, son Pat, grandchildren: Olivia Harlow, Christopher Wollen and Douglas Swift. Mary Jo is survived by her sons and daughter-in-law Mike of Valley and Randy and Alicia of Waterloo; her daughters and son-in-law Vicki and Jack Wollen of Yutan, NE and Sheryl Swift of Waterloo; and daughter-in-law Penni (Ron) Chappelear of Waterloo; 12 Grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; and sisters: Kathy (Jim) Wollmer of Mauston, Wisconsin and Margie (Mike) McGinness of Gretna, Nebraska.

Mary Jo Harlow

March 1, 1938 - July 13, 2013