Renchen, Marian K.

Marian K. Renchen, 82, died Tuesday, April 27, 2010, at Heritage Nursing Home after a short illness. Services: 10 a.m. Friday at Teahen Funeral Home, by the Rev. Brenda Peconge. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 9:30 a.m. Friday until the time of service.

Marian is survived by her stepchildren, Daniel (Sue) Sommers of Dubuque, Michael (Patricia) Sojka of Moorhead, Minn., Mary Sojka of Buford, Ga., and Theresa (Jim) VerHulst of Holland, Mich.; and stepgrandchildren, Brad, Michelle, and Brett Sommers, Joshua (Breanna), Nathan, Charlie, Mark, Jason, Janelle and Shawn.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Lillian; her brother, Frank Jr; and stepson, Clifford Sojka.

Marian was born June 29, 1927, to Frank and Lillian Stauffenberg Renchen. She grew up on her parents' farm near Peotone, Ill., and in 1945 at age 18, moved to Cedar Rapids, where she attended Coe College, graduating in 1949. That same year she completed local nurse's training at both Mercy and St. Luke's hospitals and graduated from St. Luke's Nursing School. In 1950, Marian married Robert Stodola and had seven years of matrimony until 1957. In 1960, Marian married Robert Sommers and had eight years of matrimony until 1968, when he passed away. She remarried in 1970 to Leonard Sojka and they had 11 years of marriage until 1981. During these married years Marian helped parent stepchildren, including Daniel Sommers and Michael, Mary, Theresa and Clifford Sojka. Marian was employed at St. Luke's Hospital for 26 years from 1950 to 1977 as an operating room nurse, student nurse instructor, and med-surgery instructor. She was also the owner and manager of E Avenue Tavern in Cedar Rapids for 19 years, from 1963 to 1982. Beginning in 1984, Marian enjoyed visiting her Avon customers for more than a dozen years.

Memorials may be directed to the Cedar Valley Humane Society.

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