LE MARS, IA–Marie Ann Friederich, age 82, of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Society of Le Mars.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at All Saints Catholic Parish – St. Joseph Church in Le Mars. Father Doug Klein will celebrate Mass. Interment will be at a later date in New Ulm, Minnesota. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. There will be a Scriptural Prayer Service at 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

Marie Ann (Zwach) Friederich, the daughter of Jerome and Marcella (Shimshock) Zwach, was born on October 27, 1942, in New Ulm, Minnesota. After graduating from Holy Trinity High School in 1960, she pursued cosmetology school in Fairmont, Minnesota, graduating in 1961. But her greatest adventure that year was when she was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Gene Friederich, on October 23rd in their hometown.

The couple moved eleven times between Minnesota and Colorado while Gene worked with F. W. Woolworth Company, one of the pioneers of the five-and-dime store. While in pursuit of the American Dream, they started their family with Craig, Christine and Gina. In 1971, they landed in Le Mars, Iowa where they bought and operated the Ben Franklin Store. Another joyful surprise that year was the birth of their fourth child, Dan.

Marie had a special gift of creativity and precision that inspired her to open her own small business in 1988, called “Happy Hang Ups”, located in the Ben Franklin Store. A year later, she relocated her frame shop to her own building on Plymouth Street. Serving hundreds of customers for decades, Marie framed over 25,000 pictures. One of her lasting legacies is her framework hung throughout the many hallways of the Floyd Valley Hospital. Marie poured her heart and soul into her work as she joyfully decorated local nursing homes and banks to add her touch of beauty. Known for her “eye” for detail, many of her customers had her come to their homes to hang the artwork she framed.

Over the course of raising her family in Le Mars, Marie invested her time with her friends, her church and her community. She frequently made time to talk and listen over coffee, lunch or “Happy Hour.” Once life transitioned to being grandparents, Marie and Gene spared no expense nor minute on their treasured grandchildren. They spent many hours on the road together traveling to cheer on their grandsons in countless wrestling tournaments, football and baseball games, and their granddaughter’s cheer and dance competitions. Also, they rarely missed attending a school grandparents’ day or meeting their granddaughters’ beloved animals. During the summer months, many fond memories were made at the cabin in Clear Lake, Iowa where Marie and Gene watched their childrens’ families enjoy boating, tubing and relaxing on the beach. The cabin deck was Marie’s happy place to have neighbors and strangers stop a while and visit. Marie will be known for greeting everyone with her smile and finding some humor in life.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Jerome and Marcella; her brother, Roger of New Ulm; and daughter-in-law, Jenn.

Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Gene; children: Craig (Nancy) Friederich, Christine Friederich (Jim Hansen), Gina Friederich, and Dan (Damara) Friederich; grandchildren: Eric Friederich, Nate (Jenni) Friederich, Zach (Miranda) Friederich, Celeste Friederich, Crystal (John) Richards, Colton Hansen (fiancé, Lindsey Mathre), Cade Hansen, Kameron Black, Olivia Black, Luke Friederich, Alana Friederich, and Lewis Friederich; great grandchildren: Mara Friederich, Jack Richards, and James Richards.

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