Mavis J. Espinosa

Mavis Joyce Holt Espinosa, 101, of Mason City, Iowa passed away Sunday, October 27, 2024, at Heritage Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, November 4, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Ave. with Rev. Dan Gerrietts officiating. Visitation will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania.

Interment will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Music Man Square or Trinity Lutheran Church. 

Mavis Joyce Holt Espinosa was born on July 8,1923 to Peter and Anna (Edwards) Holt in Ottosen, Iowa. She graduated from Ottosen High School in 1941 as Valedictorian and an All-State Basketball player. She graduated from Hamilton Business College and played for and was captain of their Women’s Basketball Team.

She was united in marriage to Paul Espinosa on August 3, 1943. She was the mother of 6 children: Sherry (Gordon) Rundquist of Iowa City, Paul (deceased), Pamela McFarland (deceased), Debbie (deceased), Ann of Ames and Peter (Kari) of Edina, Minnesota.

She has 7 grandchildren: Matthew Rundquist (deceased), Paul (Amanda) Rundquist of Iowa City, Nathan (Amber) Espinosa of Lino Lakes, Minnesota, Jennifer (John) Whyte of Omaha, Nebraska, Joshua (Maddie) Espinosa of Dallas, Texas and Justin and Rachel Espinosa of Edina, Minnesota. She has 10 great grandchildren: April (Dylan) Bickford, Kodi, Paul and Katie Rundquist, Carver, Zachary and Andrew Espinosa, Alexis and Alison Whyte, and Teddy Espinosa. She has three great- great grandchildren: Addilynn and Damon Bickford and Matthew Ronek.

Because her mother died when she was 16, she knew what it was like to come home to an empty house, she vowed she would never work outside the home when she had children, but she could do volunteer work and be there when the children left for school and when they came home.

She believed that to serve was the most important thing in life, so she spent her life doing volunteer work to make this a better place to live. She believed that giving of one’s self is the greatest gift.

She was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottosen and Mason City and taught Sunday School and served on various boards. She was supportive of her children and held every office in P.T.A., including Council President. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader and business manager of Brownie Day Camp.

She was active in United Way and served as Residential Chairman in 1965 and 1969 and Co-chair of the Senior Division in 1999.

She helped to pass 3 School Bond Issues for Roosevelt Elementary, John Adams Middle School and Mason City High School. She served on the Citizen’s Committee for Curriculum and planning the new high school.

She was on the Downtown Council for Urban Development and on the first Crime Commission in 1969. She was Precinct Chairman for elections and Third Ward Party Chairman.

She served on boards of YMCA, United Way, KCMR Radio, American Cancer Society and Trinity Lutheran Church. She helped raise funds for the Mason City Education Foundation. She was president of Church Women United.

Following the death of her 16-year-old daughter Debbie, she learned much about grief, and she attended a seminar with Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. For 20 years she assisted people experiencing grief.

She had a strong interest in genealogy and did research at the archives in Norway and in courthouses in Iowa and Illinois to trace the history of her family. She helped to publish The Holt Family Heritage book.

In 1998, Rotary honored her with the Service Above Self Award. Hamilton College honored her with the Distinguished Alumni Award and inducted her into the Hall of Success. In 1999, she was co-chair of the Relay for Life for cancer, having survived cancer in 1980.

She was the co-chair of fundraising for Music Man Square. In 2001, she was chairman of the Streetscape Committee and in 2002, she was chairman of the Museum Committee.

She was a Minnesota Twins fan and spent many happy hours with her family at old Metropolitan Stadium and never missed a game on TV when she was older. She was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan, and her family took her to many games and 15 bowl games.

She loved to travel with her family. She enjoyed history and reading. She also enjoyed visiting 8 Presidential Libraries.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; her son, Paul; her daughters, Debbie and Pam; her son in law, Gordon; her grandson, Matt; her parents, 4 sisters and 3 brothers.

She is survived by 2 daughters, 1 son, 6 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.