DOWNING, Marjorie M. 1927-2009
DOWNING, TOPF, KEIPE, CARD, WERKMEISTE MAHONEY, ARONSON
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 6/19/2010 at 21:36:40
[Waterloo Courier, Thursday, December 3, 2009]
CEDAR FALLS - Marjorie Marie Downing, 82, passed away at Western Home Community on December 1, 2009, from complications of MSA.
Marjorie Marie Downing was born in Iowa in the Ute-Charter Oak area. She was the youngest daughter of Fred and Marie Sophia Wilhemina Topf Keipe. She graduated from the Ute High School in 1945. After graduating from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, Marge taught country school until she married Melvin Sherlock Downing on June 30, 1946 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ute.
They began their married life in Ute where Mel worked as lineman for the local telephone company and Lloyd Olson Construction Co. until moving to Shell Rock in 1959.
Marge’s first job was cooking and cleaning for Mrs. Henry Gosch followed by baby sitting. She later worked at Ellis’ Produce, wrote news for the Ute Independence, was a waitress in Denison Hotel, and was bookkeeper for Warren Brethauer and Dr. Sharp.
In Shell Rock, Marge worked in the commissary and Mel ran the power plant diesels for the Waverly Air Force Base. Marge also worked at Wells Department Store and had partnership in Marlys’s Square Dance Apparel from 1975-1980. Marge and Mel had their own business, M&M Engraving, until Marge retired in 2000.
She loved to read, camp, and crochet and did some embroidery in her younger days. Mel and Marge were active square dancers and were members of the Promenaders, Circle Eights and Haylofters. They loved camping and belonged to The Forget N’ Go and Kueens & Kings Camping clubs.
They were winter Texans in Harlingen for 14 years until Marge’s failing health required her moving into the Western Home in the fall of 2007.
Marge was preceded in death by her parents, Fred in 1980 and Marie in 1955; one infant daughter, Louann Marie Downing in 1949; an infant brother, Fred Kiepe in 1918; sisters Helen Elizabeth Ida Mahoney in 1981 and Elsie Sophie Henriette Aronson in 2009; one granddaughter, Brandy Starr Downing in 1988; and brothers-in-law Clifford J. Aronson and Archbald Wellington Mahoney.
Survivors include: husband Mel; daughters Linda and husband Gene Card of Cedar Falls and Peggy and husband Jim Werkmeister of Denison; son Roger and wife Nancy Linhart Downing of LaPorte City; grandchildren: Jeff Card and wife Connie; Aaron Card and wife Sara; Mickey Fuller and wife Kim; Tina Fuller and Doug Leitz; Carrie Perkins and husband Aaron; Casey, Amber, Winston and Savannah Downing; seven great-grandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; and a stepgreat-great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 4, 2009, at Peace Lutheran Church in Shell Rock. Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, December 3, 2009, at Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Shell Rock. Burial will be in the St. Claire Cemetery in Ute, Iowa, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2009. Memorials may be directed to the family and online condolences may be left at www.kaisercorson.com .
Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Shell Rock is in charge of arrangements.
NOTE: Social Security Death Index shows
MARJORIE M DOWNING 27 May 1927 01 Dec 2009 (V) 50613 (Cedar Falls, Black Hawk, IA)
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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