Mary Ann Chollar, 88, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Sunday, October 1,  2023, at Brookestone Acres in Columbus, Nebraska.

The funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 7, at Highland Park Church with Pastor Mike Escen officiating. Visitation will be on Friday, from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue on Saturday, from 9:00 AM until service time at the church. Interment will be in Columbus Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Highland Park Church or Columbus Rescue Mission.  The service will be broadcast live on Gass Haney Funeral Home Facebook page.

Mary was born on Christmas, December 25, 1934, in rural Platte County, Nebraska, to Gustave and Martha (Treinies) Lange.  The family attended Shell Creek Baptist Church where Mary's great-grandparents were founding members and elders and deacons in the church.  Mary and her sisters sang in the church choir. Mary graduated from Kramer High School in 1952, then went on to Wayne State College where she obtained her teaching certification.

Mary married James Chollar, Sr. on July 27, 1954, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  The couple lived in rural Platte County where they raised five children, and later moved to Columbus. The family enjoyed frequent camping, boating, and fishing trips.  Many, many fond family memories, and much laughter have been shared around the table about these times.

Mary taught elementary school in District 3, rural Platte County, for several years. She worked at Becton Dickinson for 39 years and retired in 1997.  In her "part-time" she was an independent sales representative for Avon, earning the Avon President's Club award for exceptional sales for 35 consecutive years.  More important than the awards, she enjoyed her many customers and they became life-long friends. After retirement she spent another 18 years working in the cafeteria at Columbus Middle School.

Mary was a long-time member of Highland Park Church where she served in many ministries, including Sunday School teacher, Awana Club leader, and Turning Point host. She was an inaugural supporter of the Columbus Rescue Mission, and in her later years a volunteer at the Columbus Hospital.

Mary will be remembered as a great prayer warrior and a person who loved her family and would do absolutely anything for them.  She shared such a special bond with her sisters and treasured their daily chats and endless coffee and dessert gatherings, especially their famous eat-a-thons.

Mary is survived by:
Son James Chollar, Jr of Columbus, Nebraska
Daughter Donna Steffen (Gene) of Hartington, Nebraska
Daughter Debra Prester (Steve) of Lincoln, Nebraska
Son Delbert Chollar (Vicki) of Columbus, Nebraska
Daughter Janine Korgie (Mike) of Overland Park, Kansas
Twelve grandchildren (Tracy, Tanya, Clayton, Holly, Clint, Mitch, Andy, Cody, Nicole, John, James, and Matthew)
Eleven great-grandchildren (Amber, Micheal, Jordan, Tristan, Tanner, Bryce, Gage, Kihana, Ian, Jameson, Liam)
Seven great-great-grandchildren (Carter, Cayden, Rhenessa, Breyson, Jhett, Vidal, Waylon)
Sisters: Doris Blair (Harold) of Norfolk, Shirley Rayman (Joe), Betty Harlow, Ruth Brunken (Rich) all of Columbus, and Joyce Lange of Plano, Texas
Many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews

Mary was preceded in death by:
Husband James Chollar, Sr.
Parents Gustave Lange and Martha Treinies Lange
Brother Harold Lange