Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Takes, 90, died peacefully on Wednesday, May 27th, at home surrounded by her beloved family and close friends in the care of Hospice of Dubuque, the organization she founded. Visitation will be from 2 to 7 pm on Monday, June 1st, at Siegert Funeral Home on JFK, where a Vigil Service will begin at 6:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, June 2nd, at Saint Raphael Cathedral. The Nurse Honor Guard will be present to pay tribute to her many years of dedicated service.

Betty, the daughter of Emmett and Leona Mahoney (Woolstrum), was born in Waukon, Iowa, in 1936, on a small farm with no electricity or running water, where she attended a one-room schoolhouse. She liked to say, “We were poor, but we never felt poor. Money was never a big deal to my parents.” Values that stayed with Betty throughout her life and informed her commitment to work without pay for many organizations. Eventually, the family moved to Dubuque, and she attended Saint Patrick School and Saint Joseph Academy, where she was awarded the highest science prize. She graduated from Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital School of Nursing with an RN degree in 1957 and shortly afterward married the love of her life, Bernard “Bud” Takes. They met in grade school when Betty noticed “Bud,” the cute boy at a baseball game, and took a picture of him. They were married for 40 years and had three children before he died of injuries sustained in a car accident in 1998, in which Betty was also severely injured. She worked hard to make a full recovery and resume her nursing career and her volunteering, but mourned Bud’s early death for the rest of her life.

Betty’s passion in life was nursing, particularly end-of-life care. She returned to college to earn her Bachelor of Science in nursing at the University of Dubuque, graduating Magna Cum Laude while working full-time in the ICU and Recovery Room at Finley Hospital. After graduating with her BSN, Betty became the nurse manager at Dubuque Internal Medicine. She remained lifelong friends with the nurses who worked under her guidance. She was a fierce advocate for treating nurses with professional respect, and she put patient care at the forefront of her nursing practice. Notably, Betty’s greatest achievement and recognition came as the founder of the non-profit Hospice of Dubuque. She personally met Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and afterward felt compelled to spread the message of compassionate care for those at the end of life. Betty spent years educating doctors, nurses, administrators, religious leaders, and funeral directors on the principles of hospice. It was her persistence and passion that made Hospice of Dubuque a reality. After founding Hospice with four other RNs, she served on its board and volunteered as a nurse: eventually stepping down from the board to become the organization’s first nursing home coordinator. Betty’s distinguished career earned her several honors, including the Volunteer Award from the National Hospice Conference, the Alumna of Distinction Award from the University of Dubuque, the Hospice Volunteer of the Year, and induction into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame. In a recommendation for the state award, her peers credited her with Hospice of Dubuque’s success, explaining that as a volunteer, she was on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, sacrificing personal time to be with dying patients and their families. Upon retirement, she continued to serve on the board and volunteer at Hospice of Dubuque, while also teaching arthritis aquatics to senior women at the Roberta Kuhn Center. Additionally, she served on the Dubuque Civil Service Commission and the State Advisory Board for Adult Continuing Education and volunteered with many organizations, including the Presentation Lantern Center, Opening Doors, Second Chance, and Maria House.

As an active member of Saint Raphael Cathedral and a BVM Associate, Catholic faith informed her life and work, especially her belief that all life is sacred. Like ripples in a pond, Betty’s work as a nurse and hospice founder leaves a lasting legacy of service to others, particularly those at the end of their lives. In February, she celebrated her 90th birthday with a party attended by family and former colleagues, who came to honor her and her nursing career.

She will be greatly missed by her family: daughter Lisa Gallet (Andre) of Cedar Hill, Missouri, formerly of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; granddaughter Elise Gallet Lohrer (Cam) of Luzerne, Iowa; grandson Joseph Gallet (Jill) of Bremerton, Washington, and great-grandchildren Grayson and Parker Gallet; granddaughter Danielle Gallet Kukielski (Stephen) of Fenton, Missouri, and great-grandchildren Emil, Gianna, and Matthias Kukielski; son Craig Takes (Heather Trees) of Durango, Iowa, and grandchildren Jackson, Ian, and Lilah Takes; and daughter Theresa Schmitt (Gary) of Dubuque, Iowa, granddaughter Jessica Schmitt Mueller (Mike) of Waterloo, Iowa, and great-grandchildren Charlie and Jackson Mueller, and grandson Alex Schmitt (Bre) of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, and great-grandchildren Lainey and Delia Schmitt and her devoted niece and fellow nurse Diane Mahoney and sister-in-law Pat Mahoney Link of Des Moines, Iowa formerly of Dubuque.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Dale Mahoney (Pat), and her cherished husband Bud.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Dubuque. The family also wants to thank Becky Greene and Tanya Welter, who helped make it possible for Betty to live at home until the end of her life. Their care, concern, and love for Betty are deeply appreciated.