***PLEASE NOTE UPDATED SERVICE TIME***

Mary Helen Link, 85, of Maxwell, passed away Wednesday, October 25, 2023.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at the Maxwell Methodist Church (501 2nd Street) in Maxwell. Christian burial will follow at the Maxwell Cemetery.

Mary Helen Link (Clement) was born on July 20th, 1938, to Clarence and Emma Clement in Farrar, Ia. Mary Helen graduated from Farrar High School in 1956. While attending high school Mary Helen was active in sports, being a distinguished left-handed basketball player. Among all of her basketball achievements were being the 1955/1956 Sectional Free Throw Champion and the 1956 District Free Throw Champion. Her passion in basketball landed her a dream offer of playing basketball with the Texas Cowgirls, but Mary decided that starting a family was her larger passion.

On April 27th, 1958, she was united in marriage to Ira Walter Link of Maxwell, at the Farrar United Methodist Church. Four children were blessed to this union, Gary Allen, Linda Sue, Brenda Lee and Kevin Walter.

Mary held many different passions including obtaining her beautician's license from the Thompson School of Beauty Culture and having a love of cooking and gardening. This later inspired her to work for many years for the State of Iowa as a gardener for the State Nursery and as a chef for Iowa State University. In 1997, Mary retired alongside Ira, which they subsequently spent many winters in Mission, TX., meeting people from all over the world and occasionally walking across the border for shopping in Mexico.

Having a love of working with people and keeping busy, Mary enjoyed a second career of 12 years at Mary Greeley Medical Center, working as a chef in their dining service. In addition to all of these passions, Mary alongside Ira, served for over 45 years as caretakers of multiple cemeteries around the Maxwell area.

Mary was a 50+ year citizen of Maxwell, Iowa, serving as a member of the Maxwell United Methodist Church, American Legion Harold Ness Post #249 in Maxwell, the Maxwell Ladies Coffee Club, and the Maxwell Mother's Club. Mary enjoyed gardening, the Iowa Hawkeyes, watching her children in their sports, and supporting her grandchildren in their activities.

Mary is survived by her children, Gary Link of Mingo, Linda Link of Polk City, and Kevin (Sharon) Link of Bondurant and son-in-law Butch Sowers of Nevada; her grandchildren, Brandon (Nicole) Sowers of Missouri, Amanda (Jeff) Kimberley of Collins, Dana (Tim) Huff of Nevada, Gary (Jackie) Link of Van Meter, Whitney (Nick) Myers of Ames, Greg Link of Maxwell, and Jordan Williamson of Des Moines; and 14 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter Brenda Sowers, her husband, Ira Link, her parents, Clarence and Emma Clement, and her brother, Larry (Sharon) Clement.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 1415 28th St., Suite 430, West Des Moines, IA. 50266.

Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Maxwell is handling arrangements for Mary. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.rasmussonfh.com.