Mary Ellen (Ponsar) Besler

Mary Ellen Besler, 60, of Fairfield, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, October 15, 2016, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids.  She was born on January 15, 1956, in Iowa City, the daughter of Louis and Ruth Ann (Hamlett) Ponsar.  She was raised in the Delhi area and attended Maquoketa Valley High School.

Mary was united in marriage to Gary Besler in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  Five children were born to this union.  They later divorced.  For the past 20 years she lived in southeast Iowa, residing in Ottumwa and Fairfield.  Mary recently moved back to northeast Iowa to be near her family.

Mary loved making people happy.  Her faith and reading her Bible was important to her.  She enjoyed teaching Sunday school.  Mary loved to paint, cook, being around animals, dancing, and singing.  Her family was the most important thing to her.

Survivors include her five children, Michael (Wendy) Besler of Kirksville, Missouri, Sarah (Jeremy) Meyer of Manchester, Brian (Rebecca) Besler of Ryan, Anna (Matt) Ramirez of Newport, Rhode Island, and Therese (Brian) Hansen of Manchester; and six grandchildren, Carter Klostermann, Lukas and Cash Meyer, Ethan Besler, and Conner and Jace Hansen.

Mary was preceded in death by her father, Louis Ponsar, Jr.

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