Memorial
Maria “Terri” Hingtgen, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother passed away peacefully on May 27, 2026 at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, Iowa with her family by her side.
Terri was born on October 12, 1945, the daughter of Luis Bravo and Maria Chavez in Oelwein, Iowa. She graduated from Sacred Heart High School and then obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. As part of her studies in Spanish, Terri spent a meaningful summer in Mexico, deepening her appreciation of the language and culture. She then attended graduate school in the Department of Education at The University of Iowa. It was during this time that she met David Hingtgen. They were married in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1972, and then began a loving marriage in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that continued over 50 years.
She devoted herself wholeheartedly to her family. She spent many years as a stay-at-home mother, creating a home filled with love, care, and joy. After her children left home for college, she spent many rewarding years as a reading assistant at Cleveland Elementary School. In that role, she helped students build confidence, develop skills, and feel supported. Her patience and gentle encouragement reflected the same qualities she brought to every part of her life.
Terri and David shared many wonderful experiences together, including several trips to Europe. Their trip to Italy was especially meaningful and remained one of their favorite memories. They also loved traveling to visit their children and grandchildren in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where Terri’s greatest happiness was spending time with her family.
She had a lifelong love of flowers and plants, a gift she inherited from her mother and lovingly passed on to her daughter, Brooke. She appreciated beauty in everyday life and found joy in caring for plants, doing puzzles, and spending time with those she loved. Terri’s life was rich with the things that mattered most to her, family and faith.
Terri is survived by her devoted husband, David; her son, Shawn (Anne) of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; her daughter, Brooke (Zac) Slavens of New Berlin, Wisconsin; and her grandchildren, Elliott, Bryson and Nathan, as well as her brother Arthur Bravo. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Luis and Maria Bravo, her siblings Joseph, Carmen, Bertha, and Jose Luis, and grandson Lucas.
Terri’s family will remember her as a loving wife, a devoted mother, and a proud grandmother. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 2, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Additional visitation will be held Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. prior to the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1350 Lyndhurst Dr., Hiawatha, Iowa 52233. Interment will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery immediately following the Mass.
Memorial donations may be made to The American Cancer Society in her memory.