Mary Huffman Obituary

Mary Ann Huffman, 86, passed away on September 2, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. A celebration of life gathering will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 8, 2025, at Iles Norwalk Chapel. Mary will be interred in Glendale Cemetery.

Mary Ann Hoobin was born on July 22, 1939, to Ed and Anita (Allen) Hoobin, at home on the farm. She was a farm girl through and through and that work ethic served her well throughout her life. She loved her family more than anything. She was very active in her children’s and grandchildren’s activities and supported them in everything they did. She was close to her siblings: Sis, Eddie, and Lee and she was “Aunt Mary’ to many nieces and nephews of who she was immensely proud.

Mary worked hard most of her life and was still working well into her eighties. She modeled a hard work ethic that will live on through her children. Her family always joked about her “get back on that horse” attitude and we knew that the only choice was to keep going, keep working and always push through adversity. It was who she was.

She would give you the shirt off her back if she knew you needed help. Mary was selfless and always wanted the best for others. She took in friends if they needed a place to stay as well as countless animals to give them a better life. She had a celebrated stint showing German Shepherds in her younger years and showed horses. She also taught many people to ride and show.

She sat at dance recitals galore for many years for her daughter and nieces and loved supporting her grandchildren in many sporting activities and events. Mary loved going to hockey games as well as watching them on TV. She was the number one supporter of her son’s hockey and loved going on road trips to support him as a coach in later years. She was so proud of her grandchildren and took being “Grandma Mary” very seriously.

Left to cherish Mary’s memory are her children, Jamie Huffman and Kimberly (Todd) Guessford; grandchildren: Matthew (Jessica) Freese, Patrick (Joanna) Freese, Nikkia (Flint) Freese, and Benjamin (Aleesa) Freese; step grandchildren, Rachel and Molly Guessford; seven great grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.

She was preceded by her parents; sisters, Anita Hudson and Elizabeth Fertig; and a brother, Edward Hoobin Jr.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mary’s name can be directed to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, or you can also pay it forward to someone in need in honor of Mary. Just be a good human and do what you can to help others.

Online condolences can be made at Ilescares.com.
Iles Norwalk Chapel is handling services.

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