Mary K. Loney, age 63, of Dubuque, IA, went to be home with the Lord on June 1, 2023, at Sunnycrest Manor, while surrounded by her family and closest friends, after a life-long battle with Myoclonic Epilepsy with ragged red fibers (MERFF) disease.  To honor Mary’s life, her Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at 12:00 noon at the Tri-State Community Church, 12937 Derby Grange Road in Dubuque.  The Tri-State Cremation Center is humbly serving Mary’s family.

Mary was born on December 23, 1959, in Aurora, IL, a daughter to Robert and Anna (Guetel) Besch.  She grew up with a distinct love for all that was good in this life and her family eventually moved to Dubuque when she was young.  She was a proud graduate of Dubuque Senior High School, Class of ’79.  Mary went on to spend her working years in the housekeeping department at Mercy Hospital in Dubuque until her health issues deteriorated and Mary was forced to stay at home with her family.  In time, Mary met her soul-mate, Mark Loney, and the couple was united in marriage on April 25, 2003, and were blessed with 20 loving years together.  They became lifelong members of the Tri-State Community Church where her love for God and family grew with each passing day.  Mary was blessed with a kind and gentle heart that had no limits and was always ready to talk to anyone the Lord brought across her path and made countless new friends throughout the process.  Spending time with family and friends was Mary’s greatest joy, and any opportunity to get a little camping, or side-by-side rides in were always considered a great way to pass the time.  Mary’s love for her husband, daughter, three grandsons, and her unofficial granddaughter was continually on display and never in question.  But, Mary’s heart didn’t stop with the people around her, she also adored the pets that the Lord brought into her life and she had been blessed with countless hours of joy with her cats and dogs by her side as well.  It’s difficult to imagine moving forward in the physical world around us without Mary’s bright love and light residing within it.  Her legacy of love will live on forever in the hearts and minds of all who knew and loved her and we thankfully find peace in the fact that Mary is now free from her earthly struggles and presently residing in absolute eternal perfection in the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Thank you, Mary, for reminding us that this life is a temporal one from the very moment we arrive and each day we are given here is simply another day to give God the glory and build up our treasures in Heaven where rust and thieves can never touch them.  Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your Lord.

Those left behind to cherish the memory of Mary include,

her loving husband of 20 years,

Mark Loney, Dubuque, IA;

her adored daughter,

Rachel (Justin Lumley) Besch, Dubuque, IA;

her three grandsons,

Aden, Blake, and Waylon;

her unofficial granddaughter,

Kayla Pergande;

her siblings,

Bernie (Cindy) Besch, Peosta, IA,

Bernadette (Bob) Cobleigh, Hartford, WI,

and Karen Healy, Dubuque, IA;

along with numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, friends, and neighbors.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Florian “Skeeter” Besch; her father-in-law, Del “Babe” Loney; and many beloved pets. 

Mary’s family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Sunnycrest Manor and Hospice of Dubuque for all of the professional and compassionate care they have provided to Mary and her family. Your sincere kindness brought Mary much peace when she needed it most and for that we are forever grateful.

Online condolences may be shared with Mary’s family at www.tristatecremationcenter.com