Funeral Services for Mary Ellen Piland, Age 84 of Republic, Missouri (formerly of Ava, Missouri) will be held on Saturday, Auguust 29th, 2026 at The Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, Missouri, beginning at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (one of Mary Ellen’s favorite charities)
Mary Ellen Piland passed away at home on August 24, 2026, in Republic, Missouri, at the age of eighty-four years.
Mary Ellen was born on June 20, 1942, in Diagonal, Iowa, to Mark and Gladys (Taylor) Richardson.
Mary Ellen graduated from Clearfield High School in 1960. In addition to being a loving mother, she worked at Westinghouse Learning Corporation in Iowa City, Iowa, and at Jostens, Inc. in Owatonna, Minnesota.
On July 10, 1960, Mary Ellen was united in marriage with Gerald Piland in Clearfield, Iowa. Together, they built a life centered around family, with Gerald’s work taking them to Solon, Iowa, Tipton, Iowa, Owatonna, Minnesota, and finally to Republic, Missouri.
Mary Ellen was known for her cooking skills, with family favorites of caramel corn and chicken noodle soup at Christmas time. While in Iowa, she was an avid gardener who canned and preserved the fruits and vegetables she grew. Mary Ellen loved spending time with family, both at home and on family trips to Florida, California, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska, and Glacier National Park.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Mark and Gladys Richardson, and her brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Marilyn Richardson.
Mary Ellen is survived by her husband Gerald, her children, Steve Piland of Kansas City, Missouri, Shelly Rypka (husband Dixon) of Owatonna, Minnesota, and grandchildren Ryan Rypka and Katelyn Rypka, both of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
