Mary McElmeel

MARY MCELMEEL

Cedar Rapids

Mary Simons McElmeel, 98 years, 9 months, 20 days of age, died March 24, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center, with her family at her side. Funeral Service: 10 a.m. Saturday, March 29, at St. John's Catholic Church in Delhi. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home, 520 Wilson Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery, Delhi.

Mary was born June 4, 1915, the daughter of Thomas and Hilda (Simons) Jakelin. She attended teachers training college in Cedar Falls and began her teaching career at Stoney Point near Delhi. She met Elmer John McElmeel and they married in St. Joseph's Church in Earlville on Nov. 23, 1937. Together they farmed west of Delhi in Hazel Green Township until Elmer's death in 1952. She moved her family to Delhi and continued her teaching career in Delaware County for another 30 years. Eventually she relocated to Cedar Rapids and most recently had been residing at Garnett Place.

She is survived by two daughters and two sons and a daughter-in-law: Joyce (Ron) Christen of Walford, E.J. "Jack" (Sharron) McElmeel of Cedar Rapids, Rosemary (Terry) Clark of Jefferson, Texas, Steven (Ellen) McElmeel and daughter-in-law, Carolyn McElmeel. She also is survived by 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson, including Joyce's children: David (Deidre) Christen (and their children, Caleb and Faith), Robert (Diana) Christen (and their children, Matthew and Lisa), Patrick Christen, MaryAnn Christen; Jack's children: Michael (Starr) McElmeel (and their children, Michael Joseph, Jade, Tarrah and Jessie), Deborah (John Clark) McElmeel, Thomas (Tiffany) McElmeel (and their children, Aubrey (Tyler Balkman) McElmeel and their son, Pryor Balkman, Griffin, Gavin and Ava), Steven (Chris-tina) McElmeel (and their children, E.J., Kylie, Kaydence and Marissa), Matthew (Jennifer) McElmeel and Suzanne McElmeel; Rosemary's son: Timothy (Michelle) Clark (and their daughters, Alyssa and Samatha); Jerome's children: Mark (Renee) McElmeel (and their sons, Ryan and Alex), and Brian (Dawn) McElmeel (and their daughter, Mae); and Steven's daughter: Julie (Todd Giesking) Jones (and her daughter, Taylor Crumes). She further is survived by a sister, Jane Mautino of Clinton, Mo.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer John McElmeel (April 15, 1952); their infant daughter, Kathryn Elaine (Sept. 28, 1950), their son, Jerome Francis (March 7, 2007); their grandson, James (Delores) Clark; and her seven sisters and one brother.

A memorial fund has been established in Mary McElmeel's name.

Please sign the guest book at www.murdoch funeralhome.com under obituaries.