Mary Lou Book

FERTILE - Mary Lou Book, age 61 of Fertile, died Thursday, April 2, 2009 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, Iowa.



Funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM Monday, April 6, 2009 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating.



Vsitation will be from 4 to 7 PM on Sunday, April 5th at the funeral home and an hour prior to service at the church.



Inurnment will be held at a later date at Lincoln Cemetery in rural Fertile, Iowa.



Mary Lou Book was born on June 10, 1947, in Mason City, Iowa, the daughter of Jacob and Melita (Schmidt) Alt. She grew up in Mason City and attended school there.



On December 27, 1967 she was united in marriage to Duane (Snookie) Book at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City.



The couple lived in several north Iowa communities including Miller, Lake Mills and Fertile before moving to their present home in rural Fertile 37 years ago.



Mary Lou worked for a time at Winnebago Industries in Forest City but mostly enjoyed being home and caring for her husband and children. She was a wonderful cook and loved to bake. She kept a big garden and enjoyed her flowers.



For many years Mary Lou and Snookie took the family camping and fishing ~ enjoying ball games at the same time. Spending time with her grandchildren was very special to Mary Lou. She was a long-time member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City.



Mary Lou is survived by her husband, Duane (Snookie) Book of Fertile and four daughters: Toni Rasmussen of Forest City; Jodi Book of Joice and fiancee Jeremiah Manns; Lou Ann (Allen) Hare of Fertile and Julie (Chad) Gentz of Forest City; 13 grandchildren: Jon, Samantha, Jacob, Jordin, Ashley, McKenzie, Jesse, Nevaeh, Melita, Hailey, Mikaela, Coltan and Sidney.



Also surviving is her foster-father Cecil Weaver of Mason City and many friends.



Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Dennis Alt, her sister Judy Alt and grandson Michael Brooks.