Dedich, Mrs. John

Mrs. John Dedich, known to her friends as Eloise, passed away, due to “failure to thrive” (as the doctors say), on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at 10:15 p.m.

The former Eloise Ruth Jenkins was born in Hermansville, Mich., on June 1, 1933, and married John Dedich at Nadeau, Mich., on Sept. 17, 1955. She considered Nadeau, Mich., her hometown. Eloise graduated from Stephenson High School in 1951. After her marriage, she worked at the University of Michigan Hospital for three years while her husband attended college. In 1958, John graduated from the University of Michigan, they moved to Marion, Iowa, where they have lived until now. In 1986, she graduated from Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Summa Cum Laude, with degrees in religion and psychology.

Eloise was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion, Iowa, where she served as the church's secretary for 13 years, starting in 1960. Starting in 1973, she was a social worker for the Catholic Metro office of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Survivors include her husband, John Dedich; a brother, Ronald Jenkins of Carney, Mich.; and a sister-in-law, Patricia (Tousignant) Jenkins of Carney, Michigan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Veronica (O'Sullivan) Jenkins; and two brothers, Bernard O'Sullivan and Daniel Jenkins.

Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, May 25, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, where a vigil service will take place at 6 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 26, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Marion, by Father John Gossman and Father Bernard Grady.

The Anderson-Diehm Funeral Home in Stephenson, Mich., will direct the interment at Nadeau Township Cemetery in Nadeau, Mich., at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to a hospice organization of the donor's choice in Eloise's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Eloise at under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette May 24, 2012.