Fleming, Etta Marlene (Rehkopf)

Etta Marlene (Rehkopf) Fleming, 79, of Marion, died Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. Services: 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, at First United Methodist Church, Marion, by the Rev. Mike Morgan. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Jip; a daughter, Tana (Tom) Leaverton of Cedar Rapids; a son, Morrie Fleming of Marion, and three grandchildren, Michael, Holly and Tommy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Dick Rehkopf.

Etta was born June 8, 1931, the daughter of Floyd and Myrtle (Walker) Rehkopf, in Stockport, Iowa. She graduated from Stockport High School in 1949. Etta married Jip Fleming on March 25, 1951, at the Stockport Methodist Church. She began working as a secretary for Rockwell Collins in 1954 and was made secretary to the Engineering Division Director in 1957. In 1961, she became a mother and homemaker. In 1973, she went to work as church secretary of First United Methodist Church in Marion. Etta and Jip moved to Chicago in 1983, and she became Engineering Department Head Secretary (Rockwell). They then moved back to Marion in 1985 and Etta became secretary to the Advanced Technology Engineering Head (Rockwell). She retired in 1994.

Etta's hobbies were reading, spending time with family and friends and watching the Cubs with Jip. She became adept at keeping score for Jip's Little League and Babe Ruth teams, which she helped with for almost 20 years.

She will be remembered for her love of others and her incredible faith. Etta was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Marion, Four Score, United Methodist Women, Sarah Circle and was a volunteer at St. Luke's Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Etta's memory.

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