Mary Arvella Runkle, 90, formerly of Bloomfield and Ottumwa, Iowa, died Saturday, November 16, 2024, at home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Mary was a talented writer and photographer.
She was born July 24, 1934, at home near Glenwood, Missouri in Schyler County, to Millard Alfred Turner and Clio Naomi Tade Turner. Mary married Don Lavern Runkle in Bloomfield, Iowa, on November 22, 1952. To this union they had five wonderful children: Patricia, Donna, Carol, Neal, and Craig.
Mary graduated from Centerville High School in 1952. Mary and young daughter Pat had many incredible European adventures with her husband Don, when he was stationed in England while serving with the U.S. Army. In addition to raising the typical livestock on their farm near Belknap, Mary and Don raised exotic animals—llamas, wallabies, rheas, emus, fainting goats, fallow and sika deer, Sicilian donkeys, and a variety of unusual chickens, ducks, and geese.
Mary started out as a freelance writer and photographer and sold to several publications including, Wallace Farmer, Successful Farming, Farm Wife News, Our Iowa, and Rare Breed Journal. While a correspondent for the Ottumwa Courier, she wrote hundreds of feature articles and took photos for that paper, as well as the Davis County Republican and Bloomfield Democrat. For the Bloomfield Newspapers, she wrote a column, Along the Fence Row, and Upbeat, and later became managing editor, writing countless feature stories and taking photos. Mary was especially known and recognized for her photos and articles in a special edition about the Davis County Fair that won a state award for the Bloomfield newspaper.
Mary wrote and published a book, Strange Animal Stories and Photos and magazine, Animal World, that were filled with photos and delightful stories about unusual animal behavior. She created, wrote, and published a newsletter, The Jumping Pouch, to help disseminate and educate others in the Macropod world, people raising kangaroos, wallabies, and other “large-footed” marsupials.
Mary was civic minded working with and establishing various groups and clubs to further education and sense of community for diverse ventures. By creating the Southeastern Llama Association, Mary and husband Don banned together with local farmers to promote llama ownership, education, and camaraderie. A fiber group evolved from the llama association with local crafters sharing their spinning and weaving knowledge and skills and creating additional income opportunities.
Mary was also a leader in promoting tourism for Davis County including the development of the Davis County Welcome Center. She displayed, taught, and judged photography for 4-H clubs.
A member of Iowa Press Women, Mary won several awards in both writing and photography. In 1986, she was awarded the Governor’s Leadership Award for Iowa Community Betterment. In 1987, Mary was presented the Mayor’s Award for the promotion of Bloomfield & Davis County.
Mary is survived by her daughter Donna and husband Al Dillenburg of Colorado Springs, Colorado, daughter Carol Schumaker of Colorado Springs, Colorado, son Neal and wife Teri of Ottumwa, Iowa, and son Craig and wife Carla of Cherokee Village, Arkansas. She is survived by eight grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, and a sister, Beulah Segar of Polo, Missouri.
Preceding Mary in death were her parents, her husband Don, her daughter Pat O’Brien, and sister Eva Segar.
Cremation services are being provided by the Shrine of Remembrance, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be organized in the Bloomfield, Iowa area in the Spring or Summer of 2025. A notice will be posted in the Bloomfield Democrat when arrangements are finalized.
Burial of Mary’s ashes will be placed next to her husband at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Bloomfield, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Davis County Welcome Center in Mary Runkle’s name are greatly appreciated.
