Mary Lou Kredit

Mary Lou Kredit, 91, of Newton, died Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Newton Village. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. The family will greet friends from 10-11 a.m., Saturday, November 22, at the funeral home. Memorials to Newton Dollars for Scholars or the Newton Christian Reformed Church can be left at the funeral home.

Mary Lou Hamburg Van Zee Kredit, the daughter of Leo and Alice (Kiel) Hamburg, was born August 18, 1934, in Corsica, South Dakota. She graduated from Corsica High School in 1952. She was a graduate of the Iowa School of Banking in Iowa City, the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin Madison and received her CFP from the College of Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado. Mary Lou was united in marriage with Virgil Van Zee on January 7, 1954, in Corsica. They moved to Newton, where they made their home. Virgil passed away on May 31, 2000. Mary Lou married Gordon Kredit on October 13, 2007. They enjoyed 6 months in Mesa, Arizona, and also maintained homes in Newton and Corsica. Mary Lou spent over 35 years in the financial industry. She retired from First Newton National Bank after 27 years and spent 8 years at U.S. Bank as the Vice President and Trust Officer, retiring in 2000. Mary Lou was a member of the Newton Christian Reformed Church. She served as Past Director and Officer of the following civic boards: Newton YMCA, Newton Chamber of Commerce, Newton United Way, Jasper County Historical Museum, Salvation Army, Dollars for Scholars, Jasper County Management Club, Newton Ambassadors, National Association of Bank Women, and ABWA (American Woman’s Association.) Mary Lou was active in civic and other communication affairs and was awarded the Community Service Award in 1987. She held offices in Questers (Gulielma Zollinger Chapter) and PEO, LC Chapter. Mary Lou enjoyed traveling to every state in the U.S. and to over 70 countries. She had traveled to all 7 continents. Mary Lou was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and friend.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husbands, Virgil and Gordon; her parents; her grandparents; her granddaughter, Katie Jo Van Zee; her daughter-in-law, Linda Van Zee; her brothers, Melvin Hamburg and Dean Hamburg; her sister, Luverne Vander Werff; her nephew, Larry Hamburg; and great-nephew, Jamie Hamburg.

Those left to honor Mary Lou’s memory include her 3 sons and their spouses: Gregory Van Zee, Kurt and Laura Van Zee, and Scott and Lori Van Zee; her grandchildren: Mary Amanda (Chase) Ashby, Maggie (Aaron) Riggs, Kylie Van Zee (Brandon), Chelsea (Glenn) Wilson, Nathan Van Zee, Tracey DeKoning, and Jill (Anthony) Whitmarsh; her great-grandchildren: Allison (Andy), Gabriel (Kallie), Isaac, Julian, Aubrey, Justine, Lylah Lou, Virgil, Grant, Hallie, and Graham; her great-great-grands: Landyn and Lillyanne; her sister, Marjorie Therrell; and her sister-in-law, Cork Hamburg. Mary Lou’s extended family includes sons: Doug (Sheryl) Kredit and family, Curt (Linda) Kredit and family, and Tom (Tracy) Kredit and family; and daughter, Kathy (Jack) Peterson and family.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Newton Village and Wesley Life Hospice for the excellent care they provided to Mary Lou.