Harriet (Nemmers) McKay 1923-2012

NEMMERS, MCKAY, BERLINGER, CORNETT, JACKSON, BLONDIN, WALKER, LEOPOLD, JUDGE, MIROYIANNIS, GERKEN, BERTSCH

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 5/30/2016 at 22:05:12

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) — Sunday, September 9, 2012

Harriet N. McKay, 88, of Dubuque, died Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, at ManorCare Health Services. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 10, at Nativity Catholic Church, with the Rev. Scott Bullock officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West, Iowa. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. today at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2659 Kennedy Road. A Nativity Parish Rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the church.

She was born on Nov. 13, 1923, in La Motte, Iowa, daughter of Nicholas J. and Rose (Beringer) Nemmers. Following a childhood in La Motte, she graduated from Dubuque Senior High School (Class of 1941) and the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing (Class of 1944). She worked as a surgical nurse and in private offices until her marriage to Dr. James M. McKay on May 16, 1955; he preceded her in death.

Harriet's life revolved around her family, her faith and a love of sports. For years she graced bleachers throughout the Midwest following her children and grandchildren's activities: swimming, football, basketball, softball, tennis, golf, volleyball, soccer, dance and theatre. Tennis was her personal passion, unless the Hawkeyes were playing. She was a woman of great faith and fierce determination. Despite the challenges of the last years, she was able to find purpose and humor in every day.

Surviving are her children, Edith Cornett, of Dubuque, Jim (Pat) McKay, of Brentwood, Tenn., Ellen Jackson, of Dubuque, Ann (Mike) Walker and Martha (Tom) Blondin, both of Iowa City; grandchildren, Christina (Devin) Leopold and Leigh-Anne Cornett, Kate, Abbey (Daniel Johnson) and Jim McKay, Sarah and Heather Jackson and Maria, Molly and Scott Blondin; a great-granddaughter, Kate Judge; her siblings, Ruth Miroyiannis, Joan Gerken, Roger (Liz) Nemmers and Carol Bertsch; sisters-in-law, Jean McKay and Joni McKay; and many nieces and nephews.

She also was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Glenn (Mary) Nemmers; brothers-in-law, Stanley Miroyiannis, Adrian Gerken, Robert Bertsch, Richard (Betty) McKay, John McKay and Tom McKay.

Memorials may be given to Hospice of Dubuque or the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.egelhofsiegertcasper.com The family would like to express their appreciation to the caregivers of the Dubuque VNA for their years of kind assistance and most recently to the staff of ManorCare of Dubuque. Above all a very special thanks to the wonderful neighbors and friends who nurtured Harriet's spirit and supported her independence these past 17 years.