Ruppert, Marie E. Cole

Marie E. Cole Ruppert, 93, of 1406 N. Dubuque Rd., Iowa City, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, May 7, 2010. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 12, at Zion Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Kathy Gerking officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery. Friends may call Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Church or a charity of the donor's choice.

Marie was born Nov. 4, 1916, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Vincent Frank and Margaret Gillpatrick Cole. She grew up in Newport Township in rural Johnson County, attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls and taught in several rural Johnson County schools.

She married Charles W. Ruppert on May 17, 1937, in Rock Island, Ill. She was a devoted wife and the loving mother of seven daughters. After raising her children she got a temporary job with Northwestern Bell, introducing direct dialing to Iowa City residents. She made such a good impression that she continued to work there for over 20 years while fulfilling various positions in the company. She was a life member of the Communications Workers of America and the Telephone Pioneers of America.

Marie enjoyed gardening, crocheting and playing cards, dominoes and Chinese checkers. She loved adventure and went white river rafting and hot air ballooning. She traveled to Europe and especially liked England and Germany as well as hiking in the Alps. She was always happiest when her family was gathered around her and took great pride in the fact that she attended the graduations and important events in lives of her children and grandchildren, all of whom are scattered in all sections of the United States.

Survivors include her seven daughters, Kathryn (Paul) Davis of North Liberty, Mary (Lee) Hitchcock of Leesburg, Fla., Ruth (John) McCall of Albuquerque, N.M., Louise Clark of Austin, Texas, Janet (Scott) Earle from Maine, Judy Ruppert (Allan Felsot) of Kennewick, Wash., and Charlene Ruppert of Cottonwood, Ariz.; 13 grandchildren, Kevin (Patty) Davis, Brett (Stephenie) Davis, Neal (Elaine) Davis, Lisa (Ken) Schuppner, Robert Hitchcock, Chris (Tracy) McCall, Scott McCall, Lindsey (Sam) Levitan, Jori (Asako) Ruppert-Felsot, Jules Ruppert-Felsot, Charles Petrosky, Sierra Petrosky and Matthew Petrosky; seven great- grandchildren, Emily Davis, Amy Davis, Evan Davis, Paige Davis, Kelly Schuppner, Katie McCall and Ryan McCall; and one sister, Evelyna Kron of Iowa City.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two brothers and four sisters.

The family would like to thank our sister, Janet, and her husband, Scott Earle, for their care and devotion to our mother since our father's passing.

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