Scheetz, Grace Helen

Grace Helen Scheetz, 94, of rural Oxford, died Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, at Melrose Meadows in Iowa City.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Cosgrove. The Reverend Edmond Dunn will officiate. Visitation will be from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Lensing Funeral Service in Iowa City with a parish rosary at 3:30 p.m. A wake service will begin at 7:30 p.m. Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery in Cosgrove. Instead of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Peter's Catholic Church, Melrose Meadows, or Iowa City Hospice.

Grace was born April 27, 1918, in Hardin Township in Johnson County, the daughter of Philip and Clara (Laschke) Murphy. Growing up near Iowa City, she graduated from St. Patrick's High School. Grace received her teaching certificate from the University of Iowa and taught in rural Johnson County schools. She married Cletus Scheetz June 23, 1943 at St. Patrick's Church in Iowa City. Together the couple worked the family farm while raising their 11 children.

Survivors include her children, Mary Mossman (Ron Moormeister), Porter Ranch, Calif., Judy (Jim) Swaggerty, Oswego, Ill., Betty (Kevin) Wood, Iowa City, Rose (Ted) Grace, Tiffin, JoAnne (Dan) Bigelow, Avon, Ind., Ed (Linda) Scheetz, North Liberty, John Scheetz, Oxford, Dan (Patty) Scheetz, Oxford, Barb (Craig) Fenton, Burlington, Pat (Gary) Swenka, North Liberty, and Laura (Mike) Pitlick, Iowa City; 24 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; her sisters, Rita Burns of Oxford and Ellen Coan of Iowa City; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Cletus; two brothers, Ray and Ralph; and one sister, Marie Pasterino.

Condolences may be directed to .

Published Nov. 8, 2012 in The Gazette