Mary Ann Wetmore's Obituary
Mary Ann Sacco Wetmore, passed away on April 13, 2026 at age 89. She was born on July 20, 1936 to Charley and Mary Valentine Sacco in Clarkdale, Iowa. She graduated from Centerville High School in 1954. She married Joe G. Wetmore in 1955 and they were married 58 years before his passing. Mary Ann began her business career immediately after high school working in several offices including bookkeeper for Mott Construction, accountant and business manager for two auto dealerships. During this time, she managed to accumulate 60 hours in business accounting courses at IHCC and Upper Iowa University. When the dealership closed, she served six years as Deputy Appanoose County Recorder. She was then elected to serve as Recorder in 1986, retiring in 1998 after three terms in office.
Mary Ann was a member of Epsilon Pi Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and a dedicated volunteer donating time and talents to many organizations. She was named Business and Professional Women's "Woman of the Year" in 1987 and served as president in 2000-2001. As a member of Centerville Hospital Auxiliary Mary Ann served two terms as president and donated countless hours and innumerable handcrafted items for the benefit of the hospital.
Avid race fans, Mary Ann and Joe loved auto racing. Notably they attended virtually every sprint car race held in Knoxville, IA, for nearly 40 years, enjoying not only the events themselves but the company of others that attended.
She is survived by a brother, Gary Sacco (Donna); sisters Joann Lasley and Judy (Tony) Buban; special cousin, neighbor and care taker, Linda Seddon; nieces and nephews, Nancy (Alan) Cook, Christine (Jim) Coughlin, Daniel (Penny) Sacco, John (Karen) Lasley, Susan (Bob) Routt, Duane (Cathy) Lasley, Randy (Carla) Sacco, Teresa Kintzer, Angela (Steve) Bean, Jill (David) Hixson, Lisa Oglesby, Kari (Todd) Weber, Anthony (Amy) Sacco, and Michael (Heather MacLennan) Buban; as well as several great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband; brothers, Jasper, Paul, Tom, and Robert Sacco and their spouses; sisters, Dorothy Martin and Frances Kauzlarich and her spouse; brother-in-law, John Lasley; niece, Gina Marie Buban; nephews, Bruce Sacco and David Sacco; infant niece, Donna Jean Sacco; and infant nephew, William Robert Sacco.
She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church in Mystic, Iowa and later St. Mary's Church in Centerville, Iowa.
Services will be announced in the near future. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association, St. Mary's Catholic Church or Every Step Hospice, Centerville, Iowa. Condolences may be shared online at www.thomasfh.com or www.facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome .
What’s your fondest memory of Mary Ann?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mary Ann?
Share a story where Mary Ann's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mary Ann you’ll never forget.
How did Mary Ann make you smile?
