Mary Lou Holmes

Mary Lou Holmes, age 104 passed away peacefully with her friend and long term care giver Mary Horstman, by her side. Mary Louise Vulcano was born on the South Side of Des Moines and was part of a large Italian family. Her father and mother, Nick and Grace Vulcano immigrated to Iowa from Terravecchia, Italy in 1914 and they had three children Frances, Mary Lou and Tony. After Grace’s death Nick remarried and had a daughter Virginia Vulcano. Mary Lou met John B Holmes while touring with the Army Special Services Unit, the entertainment branch of the military. John was stationed in California serving our Country, which is where they married. They returned to Iowa and settled in Windsor Heights and had three sons, John, Nick and Tim. Mary Lou and John were very active in the community and St. Theresa’s Catholic Church. Both John and Mary Lou were entrepreneurs. John had a meat market in Windsor Heights and Mary Lou had her dance studio originally in their home and later by the meat market. Mary Lou was known throughout Des Moines for her dance competitions and love of her students. She was a petite, spirited teacher with the costumes to match. Mary Lou continued to teach dance well into her late 70’s. She often said that she should have never given it up. She was the first to try a new venture including her own line of perfume and other moneymaking ventures. She did not shy away from something she felt was an injustice. Including taking on Hustler Magazine when they featured John’s meat market in their magazine. Mary Lou’s passion later in life was spending time at the Prairie Meadows or any of the regional tracks due to her love of dog and horseracing. You may have found her at the sports desk or taking a spin at the wheel of the roulette table. She enjoyed meeting people and being part of the excitement, including knowing the Jockeys that rode to the finish line. She is survived by her friend and caregiver of over 30 years, Mary Horstman and her daughters Heather and Victoria. Mary Lou’s sister Virginia (Jim) Johnston as well as her son Tim (Marian) Holmes. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Nick (Colette) Holmes, Tanya (Darin) Holmes-Belgrade, Jonathan (Heidi) Lyons, Lauren Holmes, and JB Holmes. She also is remembered by her great granddaughters Bailey (Joseph) Rauenhorst and Harper Holmes. Her great grandson Max Lyons and her many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Nick and Grace Vulcano, her sister Frances and Bus Lamberti, brother Tony and Willadean Vulcano. Her husband John B Holmes, her son and daughter in law John and Jodi Holmes, and son Nick. The Holmes family would like to thank Mary, Heather and Victoria Horstman, Angela and Jeremy Schopp and Mary’s brother Steve Thilges for their loving care of Mary Lou for so many years.