A funeral service for Mary Mittag, age 86, of Spirit Lake, was held Monday, November 24, 2025, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Estherville. Burial was at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake. All memorials given in memory of Mary will be used to fund scholarship opportunities for students pursuing a degree in Education.
Mary Jeanette Mittag, age 86, passed away peacefully on November 15, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Society in Estherville, Iowa. She was born on December 26, 1938, in Cresco, Iowa, to Irvin and Mary (Bieri) Curtis. Mary attended country school through the 8th grade and graduated from Cresco High School with the Class of 1957. She graduated from ISU in 1961 with a degree in vocational home economics from Iowa State University-a field she was passionate about throughout her life. Her first teaching position was in Postville, Iowa.
On December 27, 1961, she married Lawrence Slifka, and together they welcomed three children: Kaaren, Julie, and Paul. They made their home in Swea City where Mary taught for thirty-four years at the North Kossuth Consolidated School District, retiring in 1997.
On June 5, 1992, Mary was united in marriage to Dennis Mittag. They moved to Spirit Lake in 2003 where they settled on East Okoboji.
Mary had a deep connection to her family farming roots and in her youth was active in her 4-H community serving as County 4-H President. She was active in numerous community organizations throughout her life including 4-H judging, serving on the Miss Kossuth Winnebago Scholarship Pageant Board, the Manson library board, Altar Society, Catholic Daughters of America, the American Home Economics Association, and the state board for the Iowa Peer Helping Association. Mary was a faithful member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford.
Mary enjoyed quilting and lovingly made quilts for each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She also found joy in scrapbooking, card making, gardening, genealogy, picnics, and attending Iowa State alumni events. Her love of travel took her to many places, with a particularly meaningful trip to Poland, where she volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to help build an apartment.
For more than fifty years, Mary was known as the family historian. Her greatest joy always came from her family, and she loved to support her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in all their activities.
Mary is survived by her husband, Dennis Mittag; daughters, Kaaren (Jamie) Rogers and Julie (Mike) Hansen; son, Paul (Heather) Slifka; stepdaughters, Sara (Keith) Deitering and Corinne Mittag; sister, LuAnn (Phil) Sosalla; brothers, Ward Curtis and David (Shelly) Curtis; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister-in-law, Judy Curtis.
Arrangements were under the care of Turner Jenness Funeral Home.
