Manternach, Mary E. 'Jeanne' (Tallman)

Mary E. “Jeanne” (Tallman) Manternach, 88, of Iowa City, died Thursday, June 3, 2010, at the Solon Nursing Care Center. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 7, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, with the Very Rev. Rudolph Juarez officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City, where a rosary will be recited at 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Patrick's Church or Iowa City Hospice.

Jeanne was born Nov. 28, 1921, in Farley, Iowa, the daughter of William and Cora Tallman. She attended St. Martin's Elementary School and was a graduate of East Cascade High School. Jeanne attended Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, and the University of Iowa. On Dec. 2, 1942, she married Ray Manternach at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Cascade.

Jeanne was a lifelong learner and teacher. She taught at East Cascade Grade School in the same classroom where her mother had previously taught. She also taught at St. Patrick's Catholic School in Iowa City, Riverside Elementary School, Riverside, Iowa, and Solon Elementary School, Solon, Iowa. She was a teacher who made a difference in her students' lives. Many have kept in contact with her over the years.

Jeanne was dedicated to her church, St. Patrick's, and was a lifetime associate of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. She was a volunteer at Mercy Iowa City and a member of the St. Patrick Needleworkers. Jeanne loved to travel, especially to her beloved Ireland, where she was able to continue her genealogy search. She loved her family and especially enjoyed watching her great-grandchildren just being themselves.

The family extends their appreciation to the caregivers at Solon Nursing Care Center and Hospice who so lovingly cared for their mother and grandmother.

Jeanne is survived by her son and four grandchildren, Michael (Sue) Manternach of Davenport, their two children, Matt and Molly; her daughter-in-law, Wendy Manternach of Avon Lake, Ohio, and her two children, Bryan and Gregg; her sister, Cathy (Jerry) Steele of Elm Grove, Wis.; four nephews; one niece; six great-grandchildren; and her first cousin and lifelong friend, Pat Eglehoff of Dubuque.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband; her son, Russ; and her sister and brother-in law, Clete and Peg Burke.

Memorials may be directed to St. Patrick's Catholic Church or Iowa City Hospice.

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