Mary Mikos

Mary Ann (Matt) Mikos, 87 was called home on April 19th, 2020. A Celebration of Mary's life will be from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM held on Saturday July 3, 2021 at the Bob Heun Shelter House 1415 Nelson Avenue at Kennedy Park just north of Fort Dodge Mary Ann was born in Carroll, Iowa to Genevieve and Hugh (H.A) Matt. She was blessed with one brother, Bob Matt, whom she adored and who doted on her endlessly. She grew up in Carroll and attended St Angela's all-girls Academy where she made many life-long friends. The ladies continued to gather for lively monthly lunches, giggling like school-girls until they were into their 80's. Mary Ann was blessed with perfect pitch and attended Loretto Heights College in Denver, CO to pursue her love of music. While at Loretto she met her future husband, Chicago native Walter Mikos, after being invited to a dance at the neighboring Regis University. They married in Carroll in 1952 and settled in Cherokee, IA where Wally went to work for Mary Ann's cousin Warren Matt at Matt Furniture. In 1953 the couple welcomed their first child and moved to Fort Dodge, IA settling into the Dodger Apartments. Under the guidance of Mary Ann's father Hugh, Wally and Hiram Bleeker opened Mikos and Bleeker which soon became Mikos and Matt. The store is now owned and operated by Mary Ann and Wally's son John, wife Corinne and their sons Chris and Justin. Mary Ann had attended buying markets with her father as a child and continued to enjoy them while accompanying Wally on buying trips to furniture markets for their store. She even developed a flare for decorating and a love of building and remodeling. Her children remember how she loved to redo a room! Mary Ann met many life-long friends while living in the Dodger Apartments. They shared a love of the card game Bridge and quickly formed a Bridge club. They gathered together to play twice a month and continued this for more than 60 years forming bonds Mary Ann cherished throughout her life. Always artistic and endlessly productive, Mary Ann had many hobbies beyond her music and Bridge. She built and taught evening classes in scaled miniatures and dollhouses, she read books to kindergarten classes and volunteered at the Blanden Memorial Art Museum. She also served as Chapter President for the Iowa Questers - an antique collecting group that is dedicated to preserving the past for the future. She was also an avid quilter and enjoyed attending many quilters' classes and retreats. Her children and grandchildren treasure the many quilts they have been given. Mary Ann was a devoted Catholic and readily thought of her church community as a second family. She was very active in the church both spiritually, serving as a Eucharistic Minister, and musically singing in the choir and playing the organ at weekly mass as well as weddings and funerals. Mary Ann did all this while raising 10 children and filling the house with sounds of her singing and the aromas of her baking. It was no secret Mary Ann loved her sweets! She knew the value of family, friendship and faith and she lived by example. She loved life and lived it to the fullest. Whether it was hunting for a 'treasure' while out 'junking' at antique shows as far away as Brimfield, MA, working on a 'crazy quilt', singing with the Sunshine Singers, playing Bridge, traveling to Chicago and New York with her daughters, decorating for all the holidays or enjoying a sweet treat, she made everything an adventure. She was preceded in death by her parents Hugh and Genevieve; daughter Mary Jane; husband Wally; brother Bob and great-grandson Gavin Klebs. She will be missed dearly and is survived by 9 children: Judy (Wayne) Miller of St Paul, MN; Jerry (Carol) Mikos of Anchorage, AK; John (Corinne) Mikos of Fort Dodge, IA: Anne (Todd) Kassman of Encinitas, CA; Bill Mikos of St Paul, MN: Dick (Claudia) Mikos of Inver Grove Heights, MN; Jim Mikos of Rochester, MN; Ruth Mikos of Rochester, MN; and Rob (Cindy Kam) Mikos of Nashville, TN. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be sent to St Edmond Catholic School.