Margene Rule

MARGENE HELEN RULE

Cedar Rapids

Margene Helen Rule, 82, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, at her home. Memorial service: 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at All Saints Catholic Church with Father John Flaherty officiating. A visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home with a vigil service beginning at 4:30 p.m. Private interment will take place in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery at a later date.

Margene was born Jan. 27, 1935, on a farm near Manning, Iowa. She married Gerald Rule on Dec. 28, 1955, in Manning. In 1965, they moved their family to Cedar Rapids following Gerald's job.

Margene was a longtime member of All Saints Catholic Church; her spiritual growth was an important part of her life. Ensuring her children received a religious education was very important to her, and she worked hard to make this a reality. All five of her children attended All Saints Parish School and then Regis High School. Margene worked as the school secretary at All Saints School for 17 years, serving as an integral part of the church community and a mother figure to the numerous children stopping into her office daily. In the evening, Margene worked at Sears in the credit department. She then worked briefly for Garnett Place Care Center as a bookkeeper before taking a position as church secretary of All Saints Parish for

17-plus years.

Margene generously donated her time to the cancer center, hospice house and All Saint's Church and School.

Margene never hesitated to lend a hand when needed and always was there with a kind word.

She was an avid baker providing exquisite cakes for weddings, and was famous for her peanut brittle, which she made during Christmas and was always eagerly awaited by those she gifted it to.

Survivors include her loving husband of 61 years, Gerald Rule; two sons, Randy (Penny) Rule of Cedar Rapids and Duane (Emma) Rule of Colorado; two daughters, Pamela (Scott) Rule of Montrose, Colo., and Karen Wertheim of Ottumwa; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Janice and Donna, and two brothers, Lyle and Larry, all of western Iowa; and daughter-in-law, Tracy Rule.

She was preceded in death by her son, Brian Rule; parents, Edward and Viola Drees; four brothers, Arden, Edward, Dennis and Merlin; and son-in-law, Eric Wertheim.

The Rule family would like to extend its gratitude to the church and school community, and all those who offered prayers and support, as well to the wonderful caregivers from Hospice of Mercy.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to All Saints Parish in memory of Margene.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.