Obituary of Mary Margaret Jordan

Mary Margaret Jordan, the daughter of Anton "Tony" and Clara (Johnson) Hilton, was born February 8, 1932 in Cumberland, WI. Mary graduated from UW-Superior in 1954 with honors in English. She taught junior high English in Wausau, Wisconsin, for a year. Next, she was hired by her old Cumberland High School as an English teacher/Librarian. She enjoyed the two years teaching with her former teachers back in her hometown. In 1958, Mary went back to college at the University of Wisconsin and earned her Masters in Library Science. That same year she married Lawrence Jordan from Mellen, Wisconsin and moved to Newton, Iowa where she lived ever since. First, Mary was the assistant librarian at the Newton Public Library, then high school librarian. She "retired" for 16 years to raise two kids: a daughter JoHanna and a son Eric. In 1979, she took the job of continuity director for the local radio station, KCOB. Mary had her own little talk show for a couple of years. She returned to working part time at the public library for a number of years. Another phase of library work started in 1964 with the beginning of the church library at First Lutheran Church. Mary was very involved with the Lutheran Church Library Association and gave workshops across the country. She had many articles and book reviews published on all phases of church library work and took part in chairing the LCLA Advisory Board. Beginning in 1997, she managed the bookstore located in the Prairie Learning Center at Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge. Mary and Larry spent many hours driving back and forth volunteering their time. One hobby of Marys was the U.S. Presidents. She collected enough items to have a presidential bathroom, which school kids have visited. She not only collected items but also could remember all the Presidents and First Ladies. Mary had a sports side to her too. She would admit not being the best athlete in the world but she enjoyed baseball, tennis and football. She was a proud one stockowner of the Green Bay Packers. Most of all, Mary loved to read! She always had a book nearby. Mary died Thursday, December 19, 2013, at Newton Health Care. She was 81 years old. Mary was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Larry on November 8, 2003. Those left to honor Mary's memory include her daughter, Johanna (Randy) Morris; her son, Eric (Carey) Jordan of Newton, IA; her grandchildren, Megan Seward, Jordan (Summer) Seward, Victoria Jordan and Brock Jordan; a special "son", Dari Clark of Newton; her brother, Paul Hilton of Cumberland, WI; brother-in-law, James "Jim" (Harriet) Jordan of Minocqua, WI; sister-in-law, Elizabeth "Betty" Reiderer of Ashland, WI and many nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 3, 2014, at the First Lutheran Church in Newton. Friends may greet the family from 10:00 a.m. until service time Friday, January 3rd at the church and following the service during lunch. Arrangements have been entrusted to Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home and Cremation Services.