Mary Jo Ries, 85, of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, October 4, 2026, surrounded by her loving family at MercyOne in Dubuque.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a wake service at 2:45 p.m. at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at The Church of the Nativity, 1225 Alta Vista, with Msgr. James Miller officiating. Burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery will follow.

Mary Jo was born on February 20, 1941, in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of John and Gertrude (Herzog) Callahan. She married Milo Ries on June 6, 1964, at the Cathedral in Dubuque.

She is survived by her husband, Milo of Dubuque; daughter, Chris (John) Simon of Dubuque and son, Michael (Jill) Ries of North Liberty, IA; grandchildren: Abbey (Aidan) Velle of Chicago, IL, Emily (Kody) Nauman of Sherrill, IA, Lauren (Jarret) Orr of Independence, IA, and Megan (Ben) Vander Leest of Urbandale, IA, along with her sisters-in-law, Wilma Ploessl of Dubuque and Martha Holden of Des Moines, IA.

Mary Jo is preceded in death by her parents, her parents-in-law, Paul and Agnes Ries, her brother, John Callahan, sister Susan Thieman and siblings-in law, Paul Ries, Richard Ries and Mary Ann Knudson.