Mary Sumpter

Mary Sumpter, age 85, of Brooklyn, passed away Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at her home surrounded by her loving family. A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held from 10 a.m., to 2 p.m., Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Michael J. Manatt Community Center in Brooklyn. There will be a prayer service at 11 a.m., and all are welcome to attend. Memorials may be contributed to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Mary was born on January 30th of 1940 to John & Mary McDonald. She was raised in Victor Iowa where she graduated from St. John’s High School in 1958. She then attended AIB College for Secretary. She worked as a secretary at a Real-estate office until she met Wayne Kriegel. Mary & Wayne married on 4/15/1961. They had five children, Jackie (Mike) Kleitsch, Kerry (Susan) Kriegel, Sandy Kriegel, Rick (Angel) Kriegel, MaryAnn (Roy) Eakins, along with one stillborn Elizabeth. They lived & farmed south of Brooklyn. They enjoyed spending time with their brothers & sisters families. They would take trips to the Ozarks. Mary lost Wayne in April of 1979. She worked from home for many years babysitting many families in order to be home for her own children once dad passed away.

In 1988 Mary was introduced to Don Sumpter through her daughter, Jackie. They were married on 3/16/1990 and she gained two more children, Rick Sumpter, and Tracy Sumpter. She became a favorite housekeeper at the Brooklyn Nursing Home for a number of years. The Residences loved to watch her dance down the hall to whatever music playing. She was the Queen Pitcher of Kickball. If you kicked the ball and it hit her you were automatically out, which happened often. They went to many car shows in the old 50 Ford. They often went to the casino and she would only play the Cash Man slot machine, and more often than not she would come out ahead. They shared their lives together until Don passed in May of 2022.

Mary was preceded in death by her daughter (Elizabeth), husbands (Wayne Kriegel & Don Sumpter), her parents, her mother & father in-laws, 3 sisters & their husbands, along with many brother & sister in-laws.

She is survived by her children, 13 Grandchildren, 10 Great Grandchildren (soon to be 12), her sisters Katherine (LaVerne) Dietrich, Jeanette (Bill) Holtz, sister in-laws Mary Jane Rich, Dixie Kriegel-Emerson, Vickie Langford, and brother in-laws Phil Wertz & Ron Sumpter.