Obituary of Mary Elizabeth Kratzer

Mary Elizabeth (Symmonds) Kratzer, age 87, passed away on Sunday, February 20, 2022, in Surprise, Arizona. She was born September 20,1934, to the late Virgil and Imogene (Knight) Symmonds in Keokuk, Iowa. Mary attended Warsaw (IL) High School graduating class of 1952. In March 1956, she married Gene Kratzer. She raised her family in Fort Madison, Iowa, and moved to Phoenix in 1987. She lived her final years in Wickenburg, Arizona to be near her granddaughter, Desiree Fluet, and her great grandchildren. Mary worked as an executive secretary in various industries for 45+ years. She enjoyed dancing, horses, social outings, and time with her church family. Mary is survived by her four children: daughters, Robyn Wedelich (Hank) of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Jill Hansen (Hans) of Reno, Nevada, Kay Saavedra of Fort Madison, Iowa and son, Kerry Kratzer (Yvonne) of Phoenix, Arizona; five grandchildren and four great grandchildren; sister, Julie Greer of Buckeye, Arizona and many other loving extended family members and friends. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Virgil and Imogene Symmonds, three brothers, Jim, Bill and Jerry Symmonds, and four sisters, Bernice Stoneking, Hazel Huffman, Merle Rose and Ruth Evanchai. Memorial services were held Saturday, March 26th, at 1:30 PM MST at The Place Church, 885 American Street in Wickenburg, Arizona. A memorial service will also be held later this year in Keokuk, Iowa. Mary’s family asks that any flowers be gifted to the sanctuary at The Place Church in Wickenburg, or donations can be made in Mary’s memory to Wickenburg Friends of Music. www.fomwickenburg.org