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Mary Schlenk
MARY ELIZABETH FAIRLIE SCHLENK
Cedar Rapids
Mary Elizabeth Fairlie Schlenk, 91, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, May 23, 2016,
in her home following a short illness. Services: 10:30 am.
Friday, May 27, at St. Ludmila's Catholic Church, 211 21st Ave. SW, where friends may call from 9:30 a.m. to service time. Services conducted by the Rev. Dennis Juhl. Friends may also call at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home, 520 Wilson Ave. SW, from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 26, with a Scripture service at 7 p.m. Burial: Saint John's Cemetery.
Survivors include her four children, Elizabeth A. Schlenk and husband James D. O'Leary of Pittsburgh, Pa., Kathryn M. Olson of Marshfield, Wis., Joan S. Schlenk and Dennis A. Hill of Cedar Rapids and John J. Schlenk and wife Maria H. Schlenk of Hudson, Ohio; three grandsons, Erik D. Olson and wife Grace Cooper-Olson of Columbus, Ohio, Kyle D. Olson and Hannah J. Reed of St. Paul, Minn., and Evan J. Schlenk of Hudson, Ohio; and great-granddaughter, Annika L. Olson of Columbus, Ohio. She is further survived by her siblings, Jean Dressler and husband Derald of Fort Madison, Elizabeth Munemitsu and husband Saylo of Monte Sereno, Calif., Patricia Sherman of Cincinnati, Ohio, Donald Fairlie of Fort Madison, Nancy Gaynor of San Jose, Calif., and Thomas Fairlie of San Jose.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph J. Schlenk, on July 14, 2002; her parents; and her brothers, Austin Fairlie, William Fairlie and Stanley Fairlie.
Mary was born the daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Kottenstette Fairlie on Dec. 18, 1924, in Fort Madison, Iowa. She earned a diploma from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Iowa City as a member of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps in 1948. On Aug. 4, 1951, she was united in marriage to Joseph J. Schlenk at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fort Madison. Mary worked as a
registered nurse at Mercy Iowa City before moving to Cedar Rapids. She was an active member of St. Ludmila's Catholic Church and St. Monica's Circle in her younger years. Mary was an avid reader, enjoying fiction and The Gazette.
The family would like to acknowledge the Eucharistic Ministers from St. Ludmila's Catholic Church who graciously brought Holy Communion to Mary over the last few years. They would also like to thank the UnityPoint Health Palliative Care and hospice services for the care that was provided. Mary was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be greatly missed.
Memorials may be made to St. Ludmila's Catholic Church.
Please share a memory of Mary at www.murdochfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.
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