MaryAnn Urwiler

MaryAnn (Christensen) Urwiler, 85, of Laurel, NE passed away on Monday, October 23, 2023 at Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk, NE.  The visitation will be held on Friday, October 27, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with a prayer service starting at 7:00 p.m. at Faith Community Church, in Laurel, NE.  The funeral will be on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Faith Community Church, with Pastor Chris Clinchard officiating.  The burial will be in the Laurel Cemetery in Laurel, NE.  Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation.  Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield.  

MaryAnn was born on November 27, 1937, to Henry and Mary E. (Hiatt) Christensen in Sioux City, IA.  She attended and graduated from Salix High School in 1955.  On November 16, 1957, MaryAnn married James Urwiler at the Community Methodist Church in Salix, IA.  Together the couple moved to a farm place outside of Laurel, NE and began farming together. 

MaryAnn was active in the Methodist Church, she taught Sunday School and Bible School, served as the President of the Women’s Society and dedicated a lot of her time to the Epworth Village, a Methodist Church project in York, NE.  In her spare time she enjoyed baking and decorating cakes.  MaryAnn and Jim loved square dancing together and helped found the “Town Twirlers” in Laurel.  As the couple got older, they enjoyed traveling to their grandchildren’s activities.

MaryAnn is survived by her sons, Tim (Lois) Urwiler of Laurel, NE, Tom (Debbie) Urwiler of Lake of the Ozarks, MO; 5 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; brothers, Frank Christensen of Lake of the Ozarks, MO, and Ron Christensen of Salix, IA. 

MaryAnn is preceded in death by her parents; husband, James in 2018; sisters-in-law, Karen Christensen, Jeanette Lias, Phyllis (James) Campbell, LaVera (Ralph) Milliken; brother-in-law, Harley (Laverne) Urwiler; and niece, Colleen Knudsen.