Mary E. Cassell

Mary E. Cassell (nee Powell) was born Aug. 3, 1931 to Homer Eugene and Nellie Ruth (Robinette) Powell, a farming family in northern Kansas.  She died on December 25, 2020 in Lake Zurich, Illinois, following a 5-year journey into the fog of Alzheimers.  She is survived by 3 siblings, Betty Klatt, Larry (Lorna) Powell and Annette (Don) Carlson, her 2 children, Nancy Cassell, and Jeff (Sherri) Cassell, a granddaughter, Nikki Cassell, 2 sisters-in-law, Dorothy Cassell and Belva Cassell, cousins, and scores of nieces and nephews, all of whom love and miss her dearly.

8 ^th child of 10, and the 7 ^th daughter, Mary was an “outside” girl – she helped her father with milking and did other chores around the farm.  She feared very little, with the flock rooster being the one exception to that rule.  Like many in the 1930s and 40s, Mary attended a rural 1-room schoolhouse throughout her elementary years.  She graduated high school from Miltonvale Wesleyan (Kansas) in 1949 and moved with a friend to Steele City, Nebraska, where they both worked in a medical clinic for Dr. I.N. Morgan, a well-known osteopath.

While in Steele City, Mary met Gene Cassell.  They married on August 25, 1951, and continued to live in Steele City, where Gene farmed.  Within a couple of years the oil pipeline came through and Gene got a job with the oil company.  They moved to Missouri, then out to Wyoming, finally landing in Powell, Wyoming, where they resided until their retirement in 1986, when they returned to Steele City Nebraska.  Gene died in 2001.

Mary was a “people person,” had many friends and was a woman of tremendous faith in God.   She enjoyed being with people, serving, helping and investing herself in others.  She was active in local church congregations wherever she lived, and with her husband, taught scores of children the basics of the Christian faith.  She had a beautiful voice and sang frequently at churches, weddings, and funerals.  She had an extensive collection of angels and often gave her “angel program” at various activities, or recited one of her amazing, dramatized readings.  After retirement, she was active in the Steele City Presbyterian church, Jansen Bible church, 5-Star Bible Camp, and served several years on the Steele City Cemetery board.

A memorial service will be planned for later this spring when public gatherings may hopefully be held more freely.  The family suggests memorial donations in her honor may be made to any of the following 501c3 tax exempt organizations:

• Alzheimers Association (225 No. Michigan Ave., 17 ^th Floor, Chicago IL 60601 or online at  http://www.alz.org)
• 5 Star Bible Camp (checks made out to 5 Star Bible Camp may be sent c/o Mary Glenn, 56095 720 ^th , Fairbury NE  68352)
• Steele City Cemetery Association (checks made out to the Cemetery Assoc. may be sent c/o Lyle Katz, 500 E. Main St., Steele City NE 68440)