Mary Ruplinger

MARY RUPLINGER Iowa City Mary Conkity Ruplinger, 87, of Iowa City, formerly of Harper, died Friday, Oct. 10, 2014, at Mercy Iowa City. Mary was born March 28, 1927, near Keota in Washington County to Frank and Rose (Bohr) Conkity. Mary attended St. Elizabeth's grade school and high school, graduating in May 1944. She joined the Army Cadet Nurse Corps and attended St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in January 1948. On July 11, 1953, she married Francis S. Ruplinger at St. Elizabeth's Church in Harper. They embarked on their honeymoon to visit Mary's brother, Omar Conkity, in Spokane, Wash., and liked it so well they decided to make it their first home. They returned to Harper after a year-and-a-half. Mary and Francis lived there for the rest of their lives together. Mary moved to Iowa City in 2005. She was a registered nurse, working in several positions in various hospitals. She was especially proud of the fact that she opened the Keokuk County Public Health Nursing service in August 1950. She was a staff nurse and then 4 Center Nursing Unit supervisor at Mercy Iowa City for 22 years until her retirement in 1987. Survivors include a daughter, Judy (Tom) Saluri of Marion; two sons, Frank (Joyce) Ruplinger and Mike (Jane) Ruplinger, both of Iowa City; three granddaughters, Laura Ruplinger of Iowa City, Megan (Evan) Malcom of Kansas City and Rachel Ruplinger of West Des Moines; and a stepgrand-son, Mike Saluri, and his son, Lance, of Cedar Rapids. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Francis, on June 3, 1978; her parents; and two brothers, Wayne on Nov. 7, 1929 and Omar on March 26, 2009. Memorial Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Holy Trinity Parish-St. Mary Catholic Church in Keota, with the Rev. Charles Fladung officiating. Burial will be in Holy Trinity Cemeteries-St. Elizabeth Cemetery in Harper. Visitation will be from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church. A memorial fund has been established for Mercy Hospital Foundation, 500 E. Market St., Iowa City, IA 52245. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Keota is caring for Mary and her family. Condolences may be made at www.powell funeralhomes.com. Thanks to the staff at Emerson Point for their excellent care of our Mother, Mary.