Mary Dicus
April 19, 1942 ~ March 9, 2026
Mary Arnette Dicus, 83, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Monday, March 9, 2026, at UnityPoint St. Luke’s Hospital, Cedar Rapids.
NEW DATE- CHANGED DUE TO WEATHER A celebration of life for Mary will be from 11 am – 4 pm on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at the Crooked Antler, 107 Main Street, Van Horne, Iowa 52346. Arrangements are with Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids.
Mary was born on April 19, 1942, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Louis and Virginia Saloom. She graduated from Jefferson High School in 1959. On March 19, 1961, she married John Daniel Dicus. Mary spent most of her life dedicated to caring for her home and her family. She worked for a time for Emerson’s Discount and CRST, but was most known as the “Cake Lady”. For 30 years, Mary made cakes for every occasion for families to celebrate milestones in their lives. She also loved baking other treats and adding her famous baked beans to every menu.
Mary enjoyed living a simple life with those she loved. She enjoyed watching the butterflies around her yard, summer feeder visits from the hummingbirds, and having coffee in the morning with the gang at Panera Bread. Her gentle spirit will be missed by those who loved her.
Survivors include her husband, John Daniel Sr.; sons, John (Rhonda) Daniel Dicus II and Dave (Tami) Dicus; granddaughters, Morgan Dicus and Alicia (Casey) Premo; great grandchildren, Skylar and A. Jay; and siblings, Jenny (Mike) Palumbo and Chris Hoffon.
She was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, John Daniel III; great grandson, C.J. Premo; sister, Bonnie Talert; and niece, Caroline Forsythe.
Services
Celebration of Life:
Sunday, March 22, 2026
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Crooked Antler
107 Main Street
Van Horne, IA 52346
319-228-8200
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My grandma was the best grandma I could’ve ever asked for she was the one person I could talk to about literally anything and she never judged or told a single soul she helped me and my fiance so much over the last few months of her life when she didn’t have to she was the best fly high grandma and I hope you’re looking down on me
Sorry to hear of Mary’s passing – she was a CRST friend – my sympathies to her family!!
I worked with Mary at United Fire & Casualty Company in 1961.
We walked to work together which was quite a hike.
She was a very special person.
My prayers for all the family.
My sympathy to all of you. Mary was the “Cake Lady” for many of our kids’ events. My husband, Denny, brought her name home from some of the other policemen, I think, or the bike shop. He thought the world of you both
Sorry to hear about Mary’s passing. Our prayers and condolences to you and your family. I haven’t seen you for awhile but hope you are doing well and still riding!
Blessings
Tom