Mary Louise Tieken — Hansen-Spear

Mary Louise Tieken, age 92, of Quincy, died on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 3:52 am in her home.

Mary was born April 28, 1933, in Pleasant Hill, Illinois, the daughter of Kenneth Glen and Marie Moyers Hobbs. She married Irv Hagemeister. He preceded her in death on November 4, 1993. She later married Merle Tieken on December 26, 1994, in Quincy. He preceded her in death on August 11, 2015.

Mary received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Illinois University and later went on to receive her Ph.D from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Mary worked for Quincy Notre Dame High School as a business teacher and John Wood Community College as Assistant Dean of Instructional Services. She also retired from the Illinois State Board of Education as a Vocational Administrator where she oversaw vocational programs in 13 West- Central Illinois counties which included 118 schools, three community colleges, and Western Illinois University.

In 1976 Mary led the Spirit In ’76 Singers, a group of 30 local teenagers that sang in churches, county fairs, and other organizations during the bicentennial celebration of the United States. She taught Sunday school, played piano and organ, led choir, and directed cantatas for many years at the Loraine Christian Church. She was a member of Bethel Assembly of God in Quincy for many years. Mary is currently a member of The Crossing Church at 48th Street in Quincy.

Mary was a volunteer and on the board of Children’s Medical Ministries for 32 years. She served as a grant writer, Co-Chair, Trustee, Vice President, and President of CMM. Mary and Merle, along with local volunteers, collected used wheelchairs and shipped them to Iowa for refurbishing to be delivered to developing countries across the globe. Mary traveled extensively throughout the world for this ministry distributing wheelchairs and medical supplies, building and funding schools, editing and providing educational materials, and overseeing projects. She believed in helping the poorest of the poor in impoverished areas where wheelchairs and other medical necessities are difficult to obtain along with spreading the gospel and love of Jesus Christ.

Mary chose to donate her body to science in honor of several family members who are in the healthcare field. She always said, “I might as well let someone get good use of my body since I will no longer be needing it.”

Mary is survived by four children, Carrie (Marty) Cook, of Clayton, IL, Becky (Troy) Bowden, of Evansville, IN, Dan (Debbie Conley) Payne of Independence, MO, and Julie (Dan) Gordon, of Vandalia, IL; 10 grandchildren, Dr. Megan (Jordan) York, John (Kendra) Logsdon, Rachel (Chris) Carner, Abigail Bowden, Caleb (Leah) Cook, Brandon (Darrien) Cook, Jordan (Briana Wyckoff) Cook, Isaac (Sarah Faye Foltz) Francis, Leah (Jason) Pappas, Luke (Sarah) Francis; 10 great-grandchildren; two step-children, Jane Eichman, and Dan (Kathy) Hagemeister; seven step-grandchildren, Kassy (Joseph) McCluer, Monique (Lino) Gomez, Shyann Brown, Curtis (Jalea) Gordon, Courtney (Paul) Seipp, Alex Eichman, and Amber (Wes) Loeffler; 10 step great-grandchildren; a sister, June Dykman of Battlefield, MO; four sisters-in-law, Sara Hobbs, of Clever, MO, Jean Evans, Norma Buffington, and Dorothy Ann Spratt all of Quincy, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husbands, Mary was preceded in death by her parents; a son-in-law, Tracy Logsdon; a sister, Donna Holcomb; a brother, Richard Hobbs; six brothers-in-law, Junior Holcomb, Jesse Jones, Harold Dykman, Edward Evans, Jack Spratt, Tom Buffington; and three nephews, Jon Hobbs, Gary Holcomb, and Ken Jones.

Visitation: Thursday, July 10, 2025, 9:00-11:00 am at The Crossing Church 48th Street campus.

Service: Thursday, July 10, 2025, 11:00 am at The Crossing Church 48th Street campus.

Inurnment of Mary’s ashes will be held at a later date in Mendon Cemetery, Mendon, Illinois

Memorials: Memorial donations may be made to Horizons Social Services, John Wood Community College Foundation, Children’s Medical Ministries, or Baptist Bible Fellowship International (for David and Bonnie Jones). Memorial donations may be made online at https://memorials.hansenspear.com/

www.hansenspear.com

Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of the arrangements.