Mae Presley Arends was born on May 1, 1918, in Sac County, IA, the third of eleven children born to Henry and Ethel Presley of Sac City, IA.  She passed away at the age of 98, on March 11, 2017, in Grand Island, NE.
    Mae married Tony (Anton) Arends on November 30, 1938, in Nobles County, MN.  She and Tony lived and raised their four children in Sac City: Arlene Patricia Arends (known to all as Pat), Bonnie Lou Arends Jarvis, Robert Anton Arends (known as “Butch” or Bob), and Steven Duane Arends. Tony passed away on February 22, 1984.  Mae continued to make Sac City her home until 2003 when she moved to Grand Island to be closer to some of her family. Life may have taken her away from Sac City but her heart remained there.
    Mae was well known and involved in her home town of Sac City through the First Presbyterian Church and many social and civic activities. Mae helped Tony run his farm and excavation businesses. For many years Mae was a welder at Nobles, a farm implement manufacturing plant.  Through the years in Sac City, she raised and bred thoroughbred dogs, was a Senior Advocate for Region XII Department of Governments, was active in establishing the Howard Center for handicapped citizens, was a Hospice volunteer, was a key person in central Iowa for the NOTCH movement (Social Security “forgotten years”), and was a member of The Daughters of the American Revolution. She really loved her country and was civic-minded. She showed this by being politically active whenever she could.
    Mae’s passions in life were her family and her strong Christian faith. Her bond with her daughter Pat was formed on the foundation of Pat's special needs but flourished into a beautiful and unwavering friendship. Wherever Mae went she touched the people around her. 
    Mae loved picking gooseberries, raspberries and rhubarb with her family to make wonderful pies, jams and wine. She also enjoyed playing bingo with friends.  Mae loved to knit and crochet. Through the years she has given away countless beautiful afghans, slippers, baby blankets and prayer shawls to family members, as well as friends, the Veterans Administration, charity organizations and hospitals.
    Survivors include her children: Patricia Arends of Grand Island, NE, Bonnie (Larry) Jarvis of Huntsville, AL,  Bob (Nancy) Arends of Grand Island, NE, and  Steve (Dawn) Arends of Fort Collins, CO; 15 grandchildren: Cheri (Randy) Hodges of McCarney, TX, Allison (Aaron) Kerkywich of Culman, AL, Julie Jarvis of Huntsville, AL, Chris (Kim) Jarvis of Huntsville, AL, Shane (Lisa) Arends of Grand Island, NE, Brad (Shree) Arends of Grand Island, NE, Robyn (Blu) Peterson of Wood River, NE, Brooke Arends of Grand Island, NE, Tanner Arends of Grand Island, NE, Molly Arends of Grand Island, NE, Natalie (Peter) Bosler of Centennial, CO, Seth Arends of Englewood, CO, Graham (Frances) Arends of Fort Collins, CO, Emily Andersen-Arends of Fort Collins, CO, and Jessica Andersen-Arends of Fort Collins, CO;  18 great grandchildren:  Pamela Jarvis, Michelle Jarvis, Kristin Rodarte, Sean Thies, Jason Thies, Caitlin Jarvis, Chase Jarvis, Adelynn Jarvis, Sierra Arends, Levi Arends, Noah Arends, Colton Arends, Jesse Arends, Elijah Arends, Bobby Arends, Clay Arends, Tahlea Bosler, and Asher Bosler; 4 great-great grandchildren: Braxton Klein, Kayden Rodarte, Ryleigh Rodarte and Adler Arends; plus a multitude of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews who all loved Mae very much.
    Mae was preceded in death by her husband, Tony; parents Henry & Ethel Presley; two grandchildren Blake and Spencer Arends; all ten of her Presley siblings: Sam, Irene (Love), Elbert , Anna (Flink-Rogers), Bob, Joyce (Grodahl), Herb, Bessie Grace Presley, Alvin Duane (Dutch), and Marvin (Scott); several nephews and nieces; and all brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law preceded her also.   She will be having a wonderful, blessed reunion in heaven.
    Mae will be missed by everyone who knew and loved her.  Her smile and love of family was unmatched! Mae's legacy lives on through her family as they aspire to live a life with the same level of love, faith and compassion that she demonstrated.