Memorial

Mary Ellen McGlashing, 79, of Cedar Rapids, died on May 5, 2025, at the Hospice House of Mercy. A private family inurnment will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A celebration of the lives of Mary Ellen and Gary McGlashing will be held on August 8, 2025, on what would have been their 55th wedding anniversary. Additional details will be announced at a later date.

Mary Ellen is survived by her children, Jenny Johnson and husband Brad, and Tim McGlashing and wife Keegan; her grandchildren, Karis, Breck, and Maren Johnson; her brothers, Steve Pitzen and wife Diane, and Tom Pitzen; and her sisters-in-law, Patricia Core and Vivian Beatty.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gary, and her brothers John and Nick.

Mary Ellen was born on November 22, 1945, in Mitchell County, Iowa to Sylvester “Sy” and Dorothy (Coan) Pitzen. She graduated from Visitation High School in Stacyville, Iowa in 1963, and later graduated from Mt. Mercy College in 1967 with degrees in English and Elementary Education. Mary Ellen was united in marriage to Gary Allen McGlashing on August 8, 1970. She first worked as a teacher at Adams Elementary and then worked at home caring for her family. She later became a substitute teacher before joining the Cedar Rapids Community School District as an English Language teacher. She retired from teaching in 2009 to devote her time to caring for her grandchildren.

Memorial donations in Mary Ellen’s honor may be directed to Hospice of Mercy.