Mary L. Loes, 86, of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away January 15, 2026, at Hawkeye Care Center in Dubuque.

A visitation will be held Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Leonard Funeral Home and Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd. A funeral service will follow at 12:00 p.m. with Pastor Travis Rhoem officiating. Burial will take place in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Dubuque.

Mary was born June 13, 1939, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Carl and Helen (Butler) Hirsch. She married Jerry Loes, October 12, 1957, in Virginia. Jerry preceded her in death on January 30, 2012. She worked for 30 years for the Dubuque Community School District and retired as their Board Secretary.

Mary enjoyed playing cards, bingo, gambling, camping with her family, and time at the cottage at Leisure Lake. She most of all loved spending time with family, even if it required her to travel across the country to do so. She was always an amazing care giver to her family, anything they needed, at any time she was there.  Mary formed a very special relationship with each of her grandchildren, but especially with Duane after the passing of his mother Brenda.

She is survived by her daughters: Cathy Coulson, Judy (Lonnie) Sutter, Joanie (Gary) O’Neill, and Carrie Bailey; grandchildren: Valerie (Brian), Bobby (Shauna), Tim “TJ” (Holly), Kim (Chad), Duane, Kory, Wade, Nathan, Kyle, and Craig; great grandchildren: Brian Jr, Destin, Lester, Luella, Bentley, Kaleb, Skyler, Olivia, Evelyn, and Dallas; great-great grandchild Wyatt; siblings: Richard (Rosalie) Hirsch, Lois (Allan) Jones, Tom (Carol) Hirsch; siblings-in-law, Karen Loes and Bob McNinch, along with many nieces and nephews.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry, daughter Brenda Heim, her parents, mother-in-law Marguerite Wharton, siblings: Bill (Loretta) Wittstock, Ruth (Don) Ballenger, Jack (Lorraine) Hirsch, Bob (Jenny) Hirsch, Dorothy McNinch, Donnie Joe Hirsch in infancy, Sandy Kaesbauer, and Ronnie Hirsch.

In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Hawkeye Care Center who also became family to Mary and her daughters, as well as Hospice of Dubuque, especially Amanda for all their care and compassion shown to Mary and her family.