Meet the 2024 Corks for the Cause Co-Chairs

The 2024 Corks for the Cause co-chairs are Rodney and Mary Wells. Rod and Mary have lived in Sumner since 1980. They met on a blind date when both attended Iowa State University in 1971. Rod graduated in 1973 with a degree in Animal Science. Mary graduated from Mount Mercy College in 1973 with a degree in Nursing. In July 1976, they married and moved to the East Coast, living in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

When they returned to Iowa, Rod farmed and raised livestock, while Mary took a nursing job at Community Memorial Hospital and worked the night shift. They have two children, Courtney and Matthew. Mary said “we loved raising our kids in the safe community of Sumner and having them educated in the wonderful school system Sumner offered.”

Courtney is an nurse practioner and lives in Florida with her husband and three young children. Matthew and his wife, Jennifer, own Wells Hollow Landscaping in Waverly and have three children, as well.

Rod and Mary are now retired. Ron stepped away from farming and the Target Distribution Center. Mary finished a 40-year career in nursing in 2015. She said “I treasure the many wonderful lasting relationships I have with staff members and patients I cared for at CMH.”

Their interests now revolve around family and vacations together, playing golf, serving their beloved community as needed on committees and fundraisers. Mary states “Co-chairing this Corks for the Cause event to help CMH provide quality and state-of-the-art health care is an honor to us both!”

For more information and purchase tickets, go to https://www.cmhsumner.org/ways-to-give/corks-for-the-cause.