Harper, Marlene 'Marty'

Marlene “Marty” Harper, 75, of Manchester, died Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, at her residence after a 10-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Visitation: 2 to 6 p.m. Friday at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home & Crematory in Manchester. Funeral Service: 10 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Manchester, with Pastor Ruth Tibbott officiating. Interment: Oakland Cemetery, Manchester.

She was born Feb. 23, 1934, in Winthrop, Iowa, the daughter of James and Ruth (Leatherman) Smith. Marty was raised and educated in Burlington and Waterloo and graduated from West Waterloo High School in 1951. She attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls.

On Feb. 14, 1954, Marty was united in marriage to Dave Harper in Waterloo when Dave was home on furlough from the Army. Two children were born to this union. In September 1957, they moved to Manchester. Marty worked for the Area Special Education office for several years, but her love for the travel business was hard to get out of her blood. In 1968, she opened her own travel agency which she operated from her home until earlier this year.

Survivors include her husband, David Harper of Manchester; her two children, Laura and husband Joe O'Leary of Cedar Rapids and Jeff and wife Carol Harper of Manchester; her five grandchildren, Josh and wife Sara O'Leary of Coralville, Jordan O'Leary of Cedar Rapids, Jacob O'Leary of Iowa City and Aaron and Sara Harper of Manchester; and one great-grandson, Jack O'Leary.

Marty was preceded in death by her parents.

Donations may be designated to GDCCF (Greater Delaware County Community Foundation) - Marty Harper Scholarship Fund.

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