Patricia Luse

PATRICIA WELTER LUSE

Marion

Patricia Welter Luse, 86,

of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Marion, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 14, 2017, at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha. A parish vigil service and rosary will begin at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, followed by visitation from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion. There will be visitation one hour before the service at the church. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 18, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion by Father David O'Connor. Burial: Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion.

Surviving are her children, Jennifer Luse and husband Brad Keown of Phoenix, Ariz., Joseph Luse and wife Cynthia of Cedar Rapids, Jean Luse-Lawrence of Weatherford, Texas, and Judith Lamoreaux of Weatherford; seven grandchildren, Lea Howell of Phoenix, Natalie Luse (DeLane Cooper) of Cedar Rapids, Meagan Luse (Garre LaGrone) of Coralville, Adda Lynn (Dennis) Thoene of Florida, Jayk Lawrence of Florida, and Audrey and Dylan Lamoreaux of Weatherford; her great-grandchildren, Deija and Daxton Cooper, Kurtis and Kelsey Thoene and Finn Lawrence; and many loving nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jim; a brother, John Welter; two sisters, Lula Cutright and Susan Meroshek; and her faithful and loving dog, Gracie.

Pat was born the daughter of Fredrick and Mildred Hazlett Welter on Nov. 28, 1930, in Marion. She graduated from Marion High School in 1948. On May 27, 1950, in Marion, she was united in marriage to James N. Luse. He died Dec. 3, 2005. In her junior year in high school, she was employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. as an operator. In 1957, she was transferred to the Cedar Rapids office, working as a long-distance operator, repair clerk, administrative clerk and a maintenance administrator. She retired from US West in 1986, after 35 years. Pat then joined the staff at Murdoch Funeral Home in Marion as a secretary, retiring after 23 years.

Pat was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion, Telephone Pioneers of America, Communications Workers of America Local 7101 and a former member of Marion Business Girls.

Pat enjoyed jogging, reading, traveling and being with family and friends. She will be missed by all who loved and knew her.

Pat's family would like to thank the Ridgeview Assisted Living family and Hospice House of Mercy for the care and kindness provided to our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

The above was written by our mother before her death. We, her children, remember her as a loving mother, a wonderful and caring grandmother, and the best event planner ever. Christmas, holidays and her parties were grand occasions. Mom had enormous perseverance and a deep intelligence. She will be missed greatly.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, 315 18th Ave., Hiawatha, IA 52233; or to the Cedar Valley Humane Society, 7411 Mount Vernon Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 5240.

Please share a memory of Pat at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.